Time for Ten with Bristol County Commissioner and candidate for re-election, John Mitchell

Time for Ten is a series where we ask past and current elected officials ten questions. Because it is an election year, we have also included candidates in our series.

1. John! You are the last of the three candidates running for Bristol County Commissioner to do a Time for Ten. You must be a busy guy.  Tell our readers what you do on an average day during campaign season.

Very busy, particularly with County business. Wrapped up the school building project in September, have at least two monthly meetings at the Aggie, plus other issues that come up regarding public employment matters like union contracts, employee relations, and of course, most critically, financing. Likewise with the County business. Again, there are several meetings a month, along with other issues that arise, particularly with the funding of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

 Bristol County received $111 million, 90% of which will pass to the 20 cities and towns in the County, but we have retained $11 million to do work on the County buildings and registries. We currently have some 20 projects underway, varying from the considerable building rehabilitation projects at the Taunton and New Bedford Superior Courts, to various smaller improvements in various other buildings. 

Also, as President of the Bristol Aggie Educational Foundation, the group that this year raised $70,000 to be disbursed as grants to Aggie students, we have just completed our annual Farm-to-Table Fundraiser a few weeks ago, and that takes a considerable amount of time. Now it’s time to award the money. 

In addition, I have my law practice, which keeps me occupied, and of course, family commitments. Can never neglect these, particularly during a campaign when you’re easily distracted and preoccupied.

2. You are the sole incumbent running for re-election.  Have you met either of the two candidates seeking one of the two seats available? If so, what are your thoughts?

I have met both Greg and Julie in earlier life. I’ve known Greg since the 90s, when I was Mayor of Fall River and he and his family assisted us with travel arrangements while in office. I have known him since and have seen him intermittently throughout the years. Julie and I have had a real estate closing or two professionally, have known her father forever, and her great uncle was one of my key supporters as mayor. So, I’ve known the whole Ferreira/Silvia family for some forty years or more. Small world here in Bristol County.

3. I’ve asked the other candidates what they think the job of County Commissioner involves, but you’re the only one who actually does it.  Tell us what you’ve been doing in this role since you were first elected. 

The role of County Commissioner is limited to a great extent by statute and regulation and policy. But we do oversee, most importantly, the Agricultural High School. That is a critical duty of the Commissioners. We are three of the seven-member Board of Trustees, which serves as the School Committee. Like all school committees in Massachusetts, we oversee the operation of the school, set policy, approve the budget, and hire the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Chief Financial Officer. Also, on the County side, while it is essentially a more administrative job, overseeing the court houses and Registries of Deeds in Fall River, Taunton, New Bedford and Attleboro, it is still a public position of public trust, and requires a scrupulous review of budgets, dealing with unions, employees, the public, and all the other aspects of public office. Additionally, when space becomes available in one of our county buildings, it’s our job to place a suitable tenant to maximize the facility’s use. When the Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River was closing a decade ago, then-County Commissioners, myself included, worked with the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River to bring that museum, with all its cultural benefits and activities for our children, to its current location. The Children’s Museum is a perfect tenant for that space and I’m proud of the Commission’s role in being able to offer such a great resource to our community.

4. For those who don’t know, can you give us some background on your political career?  Have you run for or held any other office before?

In 1981, I was elected to the Fall River City Council, where I served until 1991 when I was elected Mayor of Fall River, and served through 1995. Thereafter, I was appointed to the County Commission in 2011, and have served there with delight and great interest in this late-in-life new opportunity to serve the public. 

5. Not all counties in the Commonwealth have county commissioners and some are considering eliminating the position.  Can you tell me why Bristol County needs to keep these positions?

All politics is local. We are outside of Boston, so we don’t get the political attention we should. To give up the Agricultural School, court houses, and registries would just leave them to the will of Boston politicians. At the Agricultural School in particular, though students attend from the diverse 20 cities and towns across the county, they create a thriving community that not only serves to support the school itself but also then gives back to the County. Many students go on to establish their own businesses or return to work in those same cities and towns. This kind of organic growth should be supported by Commissioners whose own background, interest, and focus is on that same community – not from an outsider who might view the County as a stopping point on a journey to higher politics, or a Boston transplant who doesn’t understand the particular needs of our region.

6. What are some of your professional accomplishments since you’ve been elected?

Professionally, I am currently the Treasurer of the Massachusetts State County Association, and have served in that position for the last decade. I was the chair of the School Building Committee at the Aggie School as it underwent a $110 million building project. The school received seven renowned architectural and environmental awards, including Gold LED Certificates for Gilbert Hall and the new CSE Building. And am a co- founder and President of the Bristol Aggie Educational Foundation.

7. Let’s talk a little bit about the campaign.  We’ve seen lots of signs out there for Julie Ruggerio and Greg DeMello has been out at events across the county.  What has this election season been like for you?

It’s been busy. I have been to numerous political events throughout the county, as well as social occasions that come up through my political and professional life. I’ve been getting around the County with signs and leaflets, and am planning numerous radio ads, online advertising (including with the Fall River Reporter!) and others. I’ve even joined the 21st century with a presence on social media! Follow my campaign page on Facebook for information on the past, present, and future of Bristol County.

8. When you are out talking to voters, what are constituents saying that matters the most to them this election?

The Aggie School – that’s the focus of everyone when it comes to County government. People are very appreciative of the work done at the school, both in the new building and improvements to the campus, and the increased enrollment, which was the purpose of the expansion project. We’ve been able to increase enrollment from approximately 430 students to 650. We did this in response to a study that showed we were declining admission to those whose qualifications  were nearly indistinguishable from the students we admitted. The expansion has worked and we can now extend admission to a greater number of students. Our applications have been up since the new campus opened, and we are excited to offer an agricultural education to more of the county’s students.

9. Do you have any future plans to run for higher office?

Not really – I’ve already been there. 

10. It’s a Saturday night and you’re heading out to dinner.  Where are you going and what are you eating?

Most likely one of the many fine Portuguese restaurants in Fall River, New Bedford, and the entire Southcoast. Depending on where I go, it’ll likely be some type of fish, but if I’ve worked out hard or played enough tennis, I might treat myself to something more fattening. I also love supporting the restaurants in walking distance of my office, like Taqueria el Habanero, Sherri’s Cafe, Harry’s, or Dunny’s.