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Photo of Laura-Jean Sampson

Fall River Former City Councilor

Laura-Jean Sampson

At-large · 2 terms in this record

Listed as Laura-Jean Washington in the minutes until 2023.

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Council terms

2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council

35 of 38meetings attended (92%) · whole council 93%
686votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
11no votes (2% of votes cast) · whole council 3%
6 of 53split votes where Sampson was in the minority (11%) · whole council 24%
0abstained
–committee seats (current council only)

On split votes, Sampson voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Sampson 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.

Attendance

At the start of 35 of 38 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (38)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council

Apr 22Resolution authorizing submission of the Community Development Agency's Five…Motion: to adopt the resolutionPassed 8–0 · Sampson: Yes

April 22, 2025 · Item Late 4: Mayor and resolution authorizing submission of the Community Development Agency's Five Year Consolidated Plan and Year One Annual Action Plan

Adopt resolutionPassed · 8–0

To adopt the resolution

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonAbstained: Ponte

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Sampson, it was voted 8 yeas to adopt the resolution, with Councilor Ponte abstaining.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Sampson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 22Committee on Public Safety convene with the Police Chief,…Motion: to adopt the resolutionPassed 7–2 · Sampson: Yes

April 22, 2025 · Item Late 9: Committee on Public Safety convene with the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Chief of Emergency Medical Services to provide quarterly updates

Adopt resolutionPassed · 7–2

To adopt the resolution

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Hart, Kilby, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonNo: Joseph D. Camara, Ponte

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Ponte and seconded by Councilor Hart, it was voted to adopt the resolution, with President Camara and Councilor Ponte opposed.” (Motion: Ponte, second: Hart) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Apr 22Committee on Ordinances and Legislation convene with the Director…Motion: to adopt the resolutionFailed 4–5 · Sampson: No

April 22, 2025 · Item Late 9a: Committee on Ordinances and Legislation convene with the Director of Human Resources and Corporation Counsel to discuss the creation of a Screening Committee for the Chief of the Police, Fire…

Adopt resolutionFailed · 4–5

To adopt the resolution

Voted: No

Yes: Hart, Kilby, Pereira, PonteNo: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Raposo, Sampson

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Hart and seconded by Vice President Pereira, it was voted 4 yeas, 5 nays to adopt the resolution, with Vice President Pereira and Councilors Kilby and Ponte voting in the affirmative, and the motion failed to carry.” (Motion: Hart, second: Pereira)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Apr 14Action Orders — Fiscal Year 2026 Enterprise Fund budgets…Motion: to reduce the Water Enterprise Fund Revenue by $527,000.00Failed 4–5 · Sampson: No

April 14, 2025 (Special meeting) · Item 2: Action Orders — Fiscal Year 2026 Enterprise Fund budgets for Water and Sewer Divisions

ApproveFailed · 4–5

To reduce the Water Enterprise Fund Revenue by $527,000.00

Voted: No

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Ponte, RaposoNo: Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Sampson

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Ponte and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 4 yeas, 5 nays to reduce the Water Enterprise Fund Revenue by $527,000.00, with Councilors Dionne, Ponte and Raposo voting in the affirmative.” (Motion: Ponte, second: Cadime)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Apr 14Action Orders — Fiscal Year 2026 Enterprise Fund budgets…Motion: to adopt the Water Division appropriation for Water, SalariesPassed 8–1 · Sampson: Yes

April 14, 2025 (Special meeting) · Item 2: Action Orders — Fiscal Year 2026 Enterprise Fund budgets for Water and Sewer Divisions

ApprovePassed · 8–1

To adopt the Water Division appropriation for Water, Salaries

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Ponte, Raposo, SampsonNo: Hart

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Ponte and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay, to adopt the Water Division appropriation for Water, Salaries, with Councilor Hart voting in the negative.” (Motion: Ponte, second: Cadime)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Apr 8Confirmation of the appointment of Kelly Furtado to Police…Motion: to confirm the appointment and adopt the order approving the Chief's…Failed 4–5 · Sampson: Yes

April 8, 2025 · Item Late 5: Mayor and request for confirmation of the appointment of Kelly Furtado to Police Chief and order requesting approval of contract

Confirm appointmentFailed · 4–5

To confirm the appointment and adopt the order approving the Chief's contract

Voted: Yes

Yes: Hart, Kilby, Raposo, SampsonNo: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Ponte

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Sampson and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 4 yeas, 5 nays, to confirm the appointment and adopt the order approving the Chief's contract, with Councilors Kilby, Raposo and Sampson voting in the affirmative, and the motion failed to carry.” (Motion: Sampson, second: Kilby)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Apr 8Confirmation of the appointment of Kelly Furtado to Police…Motion: to reject the appointment and grant the order approving the Chief's…Passed 5–4 · Sampson: No

April 8, 2025 · Item Late 5: Mayor and request for confirmation of the appointment of Kelly Furtado to Police Chief and order requesting approval of contract

WithdrawPassed · 5–4

To reject the appointment and grant the order approving the Chief's contract leave to withdraw

Voted: No

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, PonteNo: Hart, Kilby, Raposo, Sampson

From the minutes

“On a further motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Ponte, it was voted 5 yeas, 4 nays to reject the appointment and grant the order approving the Chief's contract leave to withdraw, with Councilors Kilby, Raposo and Sampson voting in the negative.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Ponte)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Mar 25Resolution for approval of a TIE Agreement for 295…Motion: to adopt the resolutionPassed 8–1 · Sampson: Yes

March 25, 2025 · Item 2: Mayor and resolution for approval of a TIE Agreement for 295 Bedford Street, LLC at 295 Bedford Street

Adopt resolutionPassed · 8–1

To adopt the resolution

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Ponte, Raposo, SampsonNo: Dionne

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Raposo, it was voted to adopt the resolution, with Councilor Dionne opposed.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Raposo) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Mar 25Regular Meeting of the City Council — March 11,…Motion: to adopt the orderPassed 8–1 · Sampson: Yes

March 25, 2025 · Item 23a: Regular Meeting of the City Council — March 11, 2025: 112 Flint Street (former Davol School) (Parcel ID K-14-001 1) i

Adopt orderPassed · 8–1

To adopt the order

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Ponte, SampsonNo: Raposo

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Dionne and seconded by Councilor Sampson, it was voted to adopt the order, with Councilor Raposo opposed.” (Motion: Dionne, second: Sampson) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Feb 25Confirmation of the appointment of Drew Carline to the…Motion: to confirm the appointmentPassed 6–0 · Sampson: Yes

February 25, 2025 · Item 1: Mayor and confirmation of the appointment of Drew Carline to the Conservation Commission

Confirm appointmentPassed · 6–0

To confirm the appointment

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cadime, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonAbstained: PonteAbsent: Dionne, Kilby

From the minutes

“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Sampson, it was voted 6 yeas to confirm the appointment, with Councilor Ponte abstaining and Councilors Dionne and Kilby absent and not voting.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Sampson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (680)

    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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