Press Release
A group of concerned citizens has launched a campaign to recall Selectman Daniel Freitas. For the last few years, Selectman Freitas has increasingly demonstrated his inability or unwillingness to represent the people of Fairhaven. His failed leadership has reached critical mass with the botched recruitment of a Town Administrator, the most important administrative position in town government. This failed recruitment is the result of Selectman Freitas’ attempts to manipulate the process to favor an unqualified insider candidate.
In addition to this egregious dereliction of duty, Mr. Freitas has been abusive toward his fellow selectmen, particularly Selectman Espindola, who he has routinely silenced and insulted, and working with Selectman Silvia, flouted tradition to block Mr. Espindola’s access to chairmanship. Again after this election they did the same and he is still the Chair of the board.
Mr. Freitas has created a circus of the Selectboard by abandoning meetings in anger, skipping meetings to delay decisions, gaslighting the public to place blame for his bad behavior on other people. Other examples of Mr. Freitas’ bad behavior include:
• Wasting $10,000 of taxpayer money on Town Administrator Screening consultant with no intention of accepting the results of recruitment
• Manipulating Town Administrator hiring process to favor insider candidate
• Libelous social media attacks on a Town Administrator finalist
• Open meeting violations (deliberating and conversing with Selectman Silvia outside of posted meetings)
• Refusing to accept the assistance of the DOR to review best practices without grounds
• Refusing to allow public/media attendance in meetings while Covid protocol allowed it
• Ignoring questions and emails from constituents; and berating constituents for their feedback
• Attacking and discrediting the press for holding him accountable
• Allowing a fellow board member to participate in TA hiring process while that member’s involvement was in violation of state ethics laws
Most importantly, Selectman Freitas stands accused of a July 1, 2020 incident in which he allegedly assaulted a young man and woman in a Fairhaven parking lot. We have gotten to the point where we have accepted and normalized this kind of behavior from Selectman Freitas.
Fairhaven deserves better. It’s not too late to fix our political climate and move forward with Fairhaven’s best interests in mind. Join our recall campaign — sign, collect signatures, volunteer your property for signage… every bit helps. We need 20 percent of the voters to turn out and sign. This is a BIG TASK (2,500 signatures!), which means we need help from you! We have to collect the signatures by this weekend, 4/23.
We will be available at signature drives, permanent signing locations, and we will even come to you. Our volunteers will observe social distancing, masking, use sanitizing protocols, and our vaccinated volunteers will facilitate no-contact petition delivery to those who wish to remain at home.
For more info: website recalldanfreitas.com; call or text, 508-306-1669 with questions.
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