MassVoter.com← Fall River City Council
Fall River City Councilor
Christopher M. Peckham, Sr.
At-large · 2 terms in this record
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Council terms
Your Fall River ballot: 16 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Council
On split votes, Peckham voted the same way as…
- Michelle M. Dionne75% (44 of 59)
- Pamela S. Laliberte73% (44 of 60)
- Shawn E. Cadime58% (35 of 60)
- Cliff A. Ponte58% (30 of 52)
- Leo O. Pelletier58% (34 of 59)
- Bradford L. Kilby51% (29 of 57)
- Trott Lee47% (28 of 60)
- Linda M. Pereira39% (23 of 59)
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2020–2021 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Peckham as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
Campaign money
Where the 2025–26 contributions came from
Gifts from individuals
Loans from the candidate to the campaign in 2025–26: $2,220 (counted in “raised”, not in the shares above).
Year by year
| Year | Raised | Spent | Cash at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0 | $77 | $1 so far |
| 2025 | $9,426 | $9,502 | $78 |
| 2024 | $0 | $39 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 | $1,649 | $39 |
| 2022 | $0 | $100 | $39 |
| 2021 | $2,864 | $2,793 | $89 |
| 2020 | $0 | $427 | $18 |
| 2019 | $7,060 | $6,616 | $445 |
As reported to OCPF. See the full reports at OCPF
How to read this
- Candidates report to OCPF, the state’s campaign finance office. Most file with a bank that reports to OCPF, so totals are updated often.
- “Raised” is all money the campaign took in, including loans from the candidate. “Cash on hand” is what was left on the latest report.
- Shares count contributions only, from the line-by-line reports up to the latest bank report date, so they are shown as percentages. “PACs and other political committees” includes party committees. “Small gifts not listed one by one” are gifts of $50 or less that the law lets campaigns report as one total.
- Outside spending is money spent by groups that are not part of the campaign, such as independent expenditure PACs. The candidate does not control it.
- Federal candidates (U.S. Senate and U.S. House) report to the Federal Election Commission, not OCPF, and are not shown here.
- MassVoter updates these numbers every night from OCPF. Last update: October 12, 2026.
These numbers describe the money; they are not a grade. Raising more or less is neither good nor bad. MassVoter does not connect donations to votes or positions.
In the news
- Fall River City Councilor Christopher Peckham expresses concerns over city’s fiscal condition after approval to purchase former Bishop Connolly for $28 millionFall River Reporter · Jun 12, 2026
- City Council votes to launch formal investigation into the Fall River Police DepartmentFall River Reporter · Mar 25, 2026
- Councilors Ponte and Peckham file motion for formal investigation into Fall River Police Department’s questionable search warrantFall River Reporter · Mar 24, 2026
Stories that name Christopher M. Peckham, Sr. in the headline or opening, newest first, from 25 free news outlets (see the list). Headlines appear as each outlet published them; MassVoter does not write, choose or rate them. Only stories that are free to read are listed.
Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.
Attendance
At the start of 43 of 46 City Council meetings in 2020–2021 Council.
Missed
- Aug 17, 2021 · Regular: Absent
- Dec 1, 2020 · Regular: Absent
- Aug 11, 2020 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (46)
- Dec 28, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Dec 14, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Nov 30, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Nov 16, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Oct 26, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Oct 18, 2021 · Special: Present
- Oct 12, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Sep 28, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Sep 14, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Aug 17, 2021 · Regular: Absent
- Jul 13, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jun 29, 2021 · Special: Present
- Jun 22, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jun 8, 2021 · Regular: Present
- May 25, 2021 · Regular: Present
- May 11, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Apr 20, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Apr 6, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Mar 23, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Mar 9, 2021 · Joint: Present
- Mar 9, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Feb 23, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Feb 9, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jan 19, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jan 5, 2021 · Special: Present
- Dec 15, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Dec 1, 2020 · Regular: Absent
- Nov 17, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Oct 27, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Oct 13, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Sep 22, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Sep 8, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Aug 31, 2020 · Special: Present
- Aug 11, 2020 · Regular: Absent
- Jul 14, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jun 23, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jun 9, 2020 · Regular: Present
- May 19, 2020 · Regular: Present
- May 5, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Apr 14, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Mar 10, 2020 · Joint: Present
- Mar 10, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Feb 25, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jan 28, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jan 14, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jan 6, 2020 · Inauguration: Present
Votes where councilors disagreed · 2020–2021 Council
Dec 28KP Law, P.C invoice for professional services from July…Motion: to approve the matterPassed 8–1 · Peckham: Yes
December 28, 2021 · Item 21: KP Law, P.C invoice for professional services from July 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021
To approve the matter
Voted: Yes
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Kilby, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham, Pelletier, PonteNo: Pereira
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Peckham, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay to approve the matter, with Councilor Pereira voting in the negative.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Peckham)
Dec 14Proposed Ordinance — Salary AmendmentsMotion: to reject the proposed ordinancePassed 8–1 · Peckham: Yes
December 14, 2021 · Item 10: Proposed Ordinance — Salary Amendments
To reject the proposed ordinance
Voted: Yes
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: Kilby
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Dionne and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay to reject the proposed ordinance, with Councilor Kilby voting in the negative.” (Motion: Dionne, second: Cadime)
Dec 14Proposed Ordinance — Cemetery FeesMotion: to pass the proposed ordinance through ordinationPassed 8–1 · Peckham: Yes
December 14, 2021 · Item 12: Proposed Ordinance — Cemetery Fees
To pass the proposed ordinance through ordination
Voted: Yes
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Kilby, Laliberte, Peckham, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: Lee
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Pereira, and seconded by Councilor Laliberte, it was voted to pass the proposed ordinance through ordination, with Councilor Lee opposed.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Laliberte) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Dec 14Proposed Ordinances — Water and Sewer RatesMotion: to pass the proposed water ordinance through ordinationPassed 5–4 · Peckham: No
December 14, 2021 · Item 13: Proposed Ordinances — Water and Sewer Rates
To pass the proposed water ordinance through ordination
Voted: No
Yes: Cadime, Kilby, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: Dionne, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 5 yeas, 4 nays, to pass the proposed water ordinance through ordination, with Councilors Dionne, Pam Laliberte, Trott Lee and Christopher Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Kilby)
Dec 14Proposed Ordinances — Water and Sewer RatesMotion: to pass the proposed sewer ordinance through ordinationPassed 5–4 · Peckham: No
December 14, 2021 · Item 13: Proposed Ordinances — Water and Sewer Rates
To pass the proposed sewer ordinance through ordination
Voted: No
Yes: Cadime, Kilby, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: Dionne, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Cadime, and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 5 yeas, 4 nays, to pass the proposed sewer ordinance through ordination, with Councilors Dionne, Pam Laliberte, Trott Lee and Christopher Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Kilby)
Nov 30Special Act to appoint retired police officers as special…Motion: to adopt the order as amendedPassed 8–1 · Peckham: No
November 30, 2021 · Item 4: Mayor and Special Act to appoint retired police officers as special police
To adopt the order as amended
Voted: No
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Kilby, Laliberte, Lee, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: PeckhamThe scanned minutes read "7 nay"; the singular "nay" and the one councilor named voting no show the count is 1.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 8 yeas, 7 nay to adopt the order as amended, with Councilor Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Cadime)
Nov 30Proposed Ordinance — Cemetery FeesMotion: to pass the proposed ordinances through first readingPassed 5–4 · Peckham: No
November 30, 2021 · Item Late 6d: Proposed Ordinance — Cemetery Fees
To pass the proposed ordinances through first reading
Voted: No
Yes: Cadime, Kilby, Pelletier, Pereira, PonteNo: Dionne, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 5 yeas, 4 nays to pass the proposed ordinances through first reading, with Councilors Dionne, Pam Laliberte, Trott Lee and Christopher Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Kilby)
Nov 16Order appropriating $550,000 as follows: 350,000 from Sewer Retained…Motion: to adopt the orderPassed 7–1 · Peckham: Yes
November 16, 2021 · Item 8: Mayor and order appropriating $550,000 as follows: 350,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings to reduce sewer departmental receipts 200,000 from Water Retained Earnings to reduce sewer departmental receipts
To adopt the order
Voted: Yes
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Kilby, Laliberte, Lee, Peckham, PelletierNo: PonteAbsent: Pereira
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 7 yeas, 1 nay to adopt the order, with President Ponte voting in the negative and Councilor Pereira absent and not voting.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Kilby)
Oct 26Order appropriating $1,299,433 from the General Fund Stabilization Fund…Motion: to adopt the orderFailed 3–6 · Peckham: No
October 26, 2021 · Item 4: Mayor and order appropriating $1,299,433 from the General Fund Stabilization Fund to: FY21 Appropriation Deficit $ 759,721 FY21 Snow & Ice Deficit $ 539,712 1,299,433
To adopt the order
Voted: No
Yes: Kilby, Lee, PereiraNo: Cadime, Dionne, Laliberte, Peckham, Pelletier, Ponte
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Pereira, it was voted 3 yeas, 6 nays to adopt the order with Councilors Kilby, Trott Lee and Linda Pereira voting in the affirmative and the motion failed to carry.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Pereira)
Oct 26Order appropriating $1,965,338 from the following funding sources: From…Motion: to adopt the orderFailed 3–6 · Peckham: No
October 26, 2021 · Item 5: Mayor and order appropriating $1,965,338 from the following funding sources: From the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) For Revenue Loss ($1,694,983) For Rehire Positions $2,909,785 From Ordinary Revenue and Municipal…
To adopt the order
Voted: No
Yes: Kilby, Lee, PereiraNo: Cadime, Dionne, Laliberte, Peckham, Pelletier, Ponte
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Pereira, it was voted 3 yeas, 6 nays to adopt the order with Councilors Kilby, Trott Lee and Linda Pereira voting in the affirmative and the motion failed to carry.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Pereira)
Votes with no disagreement (902)
From the official minutes kept by the Fall River City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are scanned documents; we read them with text recognition, check every vote count against the councilors named, and quote the exact sentence for each vote. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: the nine 2026–2027 councilors from the City of Fall River's official councilor photos (Contact the Council page, fallriverma.gov); earlier councilors cropped from the 2024–2025 council group photo and the 2022–2023 council group photo (as published by Fall River Reporter, September 2022). Trott Lee: from his campaign Facebook page (facebook.com/trottlee4cc). Ricky Tith: from Fall River Reporter (April 2025). 2018–2019 councilors (Steven A. Camara, Stephen R. Long, Derek R. Viveiros) and the 2018–2019 group photo: from the City of Fall River’s FY2019 budget book. Richard Cabeceiras, Raymond A. Mitchell and the 2016–2017 group photo: Herald News photo by Jack Foley (January 2016), provided by the Fall River City Clerk. The 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 group photos: provided by the Fall River City Clerk.
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