Hours after a group of petitioners began official efforts to recall Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey deemed its submitted affidavit invalid, putting a pause on recall efforts.

Using caselaw as a basis for his opinion, Rumsey told The Herald News he reviewed the Committee to Recall Mayor Paul Coogan’s affidavit on the morning of May 4, and said, “the recall petition is invalid because it is not in compliance with the affidavit requirements,” citing section 8-5(b) of the City Charter.

Rumsey made the distinction that the 13 signatures in the attestation of the affidavit filed with the City Clerk's Office that morning at 8:30 a.m. were notarized, but not sworn.

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