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Photo of Brian K. Gomes

New Bedford City Councilor

Brian K. Gomes

At-large · 7 terms in this record

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Council terms

2026–2027 Council2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council2020–2021 Council2018–2019 Council2016–2017 Council2014–2015 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2022–2023 Council

60 of 66meetings attended (91%) · whole council 93%
526votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
64no votes (12% of votes cast) · whole council 11%
61 of 193split votes where Gomes was in the minority (32%) · whole council 26%
0abstained
–committee seats (current council only)

On split votes, Gomes voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2022–2023 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Gomes 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

$4,552raised in 2025–26
$3,279spent in 2025–26
$2,023cash on hand through Sep 30, 2026

Where the 2025–26 contributions came from

  • Individuals76%
  • PACs and other political committees13%
  • Unions and associations11%
  • From Massachusetts90%
  • From other states7%
  • Small gifts not listed one by one3%

Gifts from individuals

  • $200 or less57%
  • More than $20043%
Year by year
YearRaisedSpentCash at the end
2026$1$745$2,023 so far
2025$4,551$2,534$2,767
2024$1$819$750
2023$3,781$5,107$1,568
2022$27$639$2,894
2021$3,601$1,781$3,506
2020$1$265$1,686
2019$3,160$1,230$1,951

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

Stories that name Brian K. Gomes 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 60 of 66 City Council meetings in 2022–2023 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (66)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2022–2023 Council

Dec 14Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order,…Motion: Reconsideration FAILEDFailed 3–7 · Gomes: No

December 14, 2023: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order, authorizing the City to enter into a five-year lease with All American Investment Group, LLC for the purchase of eleven vehicles…

ApproveFailed · 3–7

Reconsideration FAILED

Voted: No

Yes: Burgo, Morad, OliverNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, MarkeyAbsent: Pereira

From the minutes

“Reconsideration FAILED – Yeas 3, Nays 7. (Councillor Burgo, Council President Morad and Councillor Oliver IN FAVOR.) (Matter #2009).”

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

Dec 14Ordered, that the City of New Bedford is hereby…Motion: RECONSIDERATION FAILEDFailed 3–7 · Gomes: No

December 14, 2023: Ordered, that the City of New Bedford is hereby authorized to enter into a five-year lease with all American Investment Group, LLC, for the purchase eleven vehicles as follows: Backhoe…

ApproveFailed · 3–7

RECONSIDERATION FAILED

Voted: No

Yes: Burgo, Morad, OliverNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, MarkeyAbsent: Pereira

From the minutes

“RECONSIDERATION FAILED – Yeas 3, Nays 7. (Councillor Burgo, Council President Morad and Councillor Oliver IN FAVOR.) (Matter #2010).”

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

Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Ninety-three Thousand, Six Hundred…Motion: AdoptedPassed 9–2 · Gomes: Yes

November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Ninety-three Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy- Three Dollars ($93,673.00) now standing to the credit of the account from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts be and the…

ApprovePassed · 9–2

Adopted

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Oliver, PereiraNo: Giesta, Morad

From the minutes

“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Council President Morad and Councillor Giesta OPPOSED.) (Matter #1766).”

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

Nov 21Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council…Motion: Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - PassedPassed 8–3 · Gomes: No

November 21, 2023: Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Order as Amended, appropriating $1,544,391.00 from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts to General Government Unclassified, Charges & Services.

ApprovePassed · 8–3

Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - Passed

Voted: No

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Gomes, Lima, Markey

From the minutes

“Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - Passed Yeas 8, Nays 3. (Councillors Gomes, Lima and Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1946).”

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

Nov 21Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council…Motion: Adopted as AmendedPassed 10–1 · Gomes: Yes

November 21, 2023: Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Order as Amended, appropriating $1,544,391.00 from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts to General Government Unclassified, Charges & Services.

ApprovePassed · 10–1

Adopted as Amended

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Markey

From the minutes

“Adopted as Amended – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1946).”

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

Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred…Motion: Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - PassedPassed 8–3 · Gomes: No

November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Seventy-two Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($2,172,445) Five Hundred Forty-four Thousand, Three Ninety-one Dollars ($544,391) now standing to the credit…

ApprovePassed · 8–3

Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - Passed

Voted: No

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Gomes, Lima, Markey

From the minutes

“Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - Passed - Yeas 8, Nays 3 (Councillors Gomes, Lima and Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1768).”

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

Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred…Motion: Adopted as AMENDEDPassed 10–1 · Gomes: Yes

November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Seventy-two Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($2,172,445) Five Hundred Forty-four Thousand, Three Ninety-one Dollars ($544,391) now standing to the credit…

ApprovePassed · 10–1

Adopted as AMENDED

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Markey

From the minutes

“Adopted as AMENDED – Yeas 10, Nays 1 (Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1768).”

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

Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of One Million, Four Hundred…Motion: AdoptedPassed 10–1 · Gomes: Yes

November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of One Million, Four Hundred Fifty-five Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Dollars ($1,455,609) ) now standing to the credit of the account from Ordinary Revenue and…

ApprovePassed · 10–1

Adopted

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Baptiste

From the minutes

“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 1 (Councillor Baptiste OPPOSED.) (Matter #1770).”

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

Oct 26An Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Article II, relating to…Motion: Passed to be OrdainedPassed 10–1 · Gomes: Yes

October 26, 2023: An Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Article II, relating to the residency of the Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors. (Passed to a Second Reading– September 28, 2023.)

Ordinance: final passagePassed · 10–1

Passed to be Ordained

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Burgo

From the minutes

“Passed to be Ordained – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Burgo OPPOSED.) (Matter #1265).”

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

Oct 26Home Rule Petition, authorizing the Administrative Assistant to the…Motion: Home Rule Petition AdoptedPassed 10–1 · Gomes: Yes

October 26, 2023: Home Rule Petition, authorizing the Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors of the City of New Bedford, to be a non-resident.

ApprovePassed · 10–1

Home Rule Petition Adopted

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Burgo

From the minutes

“Home Rule Petition Adopted - Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Burgo OPPOSED.) (Matter #1263).”

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

Votes with no disagreement (358)

    From the official minutes kept by the New Bedford City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are text documents; we read every action, check every roll-call count against the councilors named, and quote the exact wording. Most items pass by voice vote, and the minutes record only the result for those; how each councilor voted is shown only for roll calls. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: cropped from the City of New Bedford's official 2026 City Council photo (newbedford-ma.gov). The 2024–2025 group photo, and the photos of Maria E. Giesta and Linda M. Morad cropped from it: City of New Bedford, provided by the City Clerk.

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