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Photo of Joseph P. Lopes

New Bedford City Councilor

Joseph P. Lopes

Ward 5 · 6 terms in this record

Ward 6 councilor in 2014–2021.

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

Council terms

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

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Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Council

48 of 50meetings attended (96%) · whole council 95%
500votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
12no votes (2% of votes cast) · whole council 3%
6 of 66split votes where Lopes was in the minority (9%) · whole council 20%
0abstained
–committee seats (current council only)

On split votes, Lopes voted the same way as…

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 Lopes 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

$12,835raised in 2025–26
$9,624spent in 2025–26
$6,202cash on hand through Sep 30, 2026

Where the 2025–26 contributions came from

  • Individuals95%
  • PACs and other political committees0%
  • Unions and associations5%
  • From Massachusetts97%
  • From other states3%

Gifts from individuals

  • $200 or less91%
  • More than $2009%
Year by year
YearRaisedSpentCash at the end
2026$503$802$6,202 so far
2025$12,332$8,821$6,502
2024$552$1,184$2,991
2023$10,804$16,650$3,623
2022$155$1,807$9,468
2021$25,209$17,533$11,120
2020$102$3,538$3,444
2019$8,156$7,556$6,880

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 Joseph P. Lopes 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 48 of 50 City Council meetings in 2020–2021 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (50)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2020–2021 Council

Dec 16Ordered, That the Minimum Residential Factor of 0.8116 for…Motion: AdoptedFailed 6–4 · Lopes: No

December 16, 2021 (Special meeting): Ordered, That the Minimum Residential Factor of 0.8116 for Local Assessment Be and the Same Is Hereby Adopted Fiscal Year 2022. (Shift of 1.75%.) Hearing Continued until December 16, 2021…

ApproveFailed · 6–4

Adopted

Voted: No

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Dunn, Gomes, LimaNo: Giesta, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Coelho

From the minutes

“Adopted – Yeas 6 Nays 4 (Councillors Giesta, Lopes, Markey and Morad OPPOSED.) Waiving Rule 40 – FAILED – Yeas 7, Nays 3. (Councillors Lopes, Markey and Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1850).”

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

Dec 16Ordered, that to balance the budget for the fiscal…Motion: Adopted and Rule 40 WaivedPassed 9–1 · Lopes: Not recorded

December 16, 2021 (Special meeting): Ordered, that to balance the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022 the sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) now standing to the…

ApprovePassed · 9–1

Adopted and Rule 40 Waived

The minutes record 9–1, more votes than the 9 councilors listed as present; this looks like a typo. Individual votes are not shown until it is confirmed. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.

From the minutes

“Adopted and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 9, Nays 1. (Councillor Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1845).”

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

Dec 9Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, requesting reconsideration of…Motion: Motion was made to amend to Step 2. Salary $103,174.00 FAILEDFailed 4–5 · Lopes: Yes

December 9, 2021: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, requesting reconsideration of the starting salary Robert Dickinson as City Auditor at a Salary Step 4 ($108,926) on the Unit C Salary schedule which…

ApproveFailed · 4–5

Motion was made to amend to Step 2. Salary $103,174.00 FAILED

Voted: Yes

Yes: Dunn, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyNo: Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, MoradAbsent: Abreu, Coelho

From the minutes

“Motion was made to amend to Step 2. Salary $103,174.00 FAILED – Yeas 4, Nays 5. (Councillors Dunn, Lima, Lopes and Markey IN FAVOR.) (Matter #1737).”

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

Dec 9Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, requesting reconsideration of…Motion: Motion was made to amend to Step 1, Salary $100, 169,00…Passed 8–1 · Lopes: Yes

December 9, 2021: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, requesting reconsideration of the starting salary Robert Dickinson as City Auditor at a Salary Step 4 ($108,926) on the Unit C Salary schedule which…

ApprovePassed · 8–1

Motion was made to amend to Step 1, Salary $100, 169,00 APPROVED

Voted: Yes

Yes: Baptiste, Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, MoradNo: MarkeyAbsent: Abreu, Coelho

From the minutes

“Motion was made to amend to Step 1, Salary $100, 169,00 APPROVED – Yeas 8, Nays 1. (Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1737).”

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

Nov 23A Bond Order to Authorize A Borrowing to Pay…Motion: Removed from the Table and AdoptedPassed 8–3 · Lopes: Yes

November 23, 2021: A Bond Order to Authorize A Borrowing to Pay the Costs of Capital Planning and Construction of Water Distribution and Treatment Systems Improvements Including Quittacas Water Treatment Plant Upgrades, A…

Table (set aside)Passed · 8–3

Removed from the Table and Adopted

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyNo: Carney, Gomes, Morad

From the minutes

“Removed from the Table and Adopted – Yeas 8, Nays 3. (Councillors Carney, Gomes and Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #0874).”

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

Nov 23A Bond Order to Authorize A Borrowing to Pay…Motion: Removed from the Table and AdoptedPassed 8–3 · Lopes: Yes

November 23, 2021: A Bond Order to Authorize A Borrowing to Pay the Costs of Projects Outlined in the City’s Long Term Cso Control and Integrated Capital Improvements Plan Including Capital Planning, Wastewater…

Table (set aside)Passed · 8–3

Removed from the Table and Adopted

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyNo: Carney, Gomes, Morad

From the minutes

“Removed from the Table and Adopted – Yeas 8, Nays 3. (Councillors Carney, Gomes and Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1071).”

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

Oct 14Written Motion, requesting, that the City Council authorize the…Motion: Adopted and Referred to the AdministrationPassed 8–2 · Lopes: Yes

October 14, 2021: Written Motion, requesting, that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute such documents, including but not limited to mortgages and covenants in a form substantially similar to those attached…

ApprovePassed · 8–2

Adopted and Referred to the Administration

Voted: Yes

Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyNo: Giesta, MoradAbsent: Baptiste

From the minutes

“Adopted and Referred to the Administration – Yeas 8, Nays 2. (Councillors Giesta and Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1112).”

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

Oct 14Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment…Motion: Referred to the Committee on Appointments and BriefingsReferred 11–0 · Lopes: Not recorded

October 14, 2021: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Kimberli Bettencourt, New Bedford, MA, to the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School District Committee; this term will…

Send to committee or departmentReferred · 11–0

Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings

The minutes record 11–0, more votes than the 10 councilors listed as present; this looks like a typo. Individual votes are not shown until it is confirmed. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.

From the minutes

“Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0685).”

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

Oct 14Loan Order, Appropriating, $57,000,000,00 to finance the costs of…Motion: Motion to Table by Councillor Morad FAILSPassed 4–6 · Lopes: No

October 14, 2021: Loan Order, Appropriating, $57,000,000,00 to finance the costs of the projects outlined in the City’s Long Term Cso Control and Integrated Capital Improvement Plan, including capital planning, wastewater treatment plant…

ApprovePassed · 4–6

Motion to Table by Councillor Morad FAILS

Voted: No

Yes: Carney, Giesta, Gomes, MoradNo: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyAbsent: Baptiste

From the minutes

“Motion to Table by Councillor Morad FAILS – Yeas 4, Nays 6 (Councillors Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Lima Council President Lopes and Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1071).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Oct 14Loan Order, Appropriating, $57,000,000,00 to finance the costs of…Motion: Referred to the Committee on finance – FAILSReferred 4–6 · Lopes: No

October 14, 2021: Loan Order, Appropriating, $57,000,000,00 to finance the costs of the projects outlined in the City’s Long Term Cso Control and Integrated Capital Improvement Plan, including capital planning, wastewater treatment plant…

Send to committee or departmentReferred · 4–6

Referred to the Committee on finance – FAILS

Voted: No

Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, LimaNo: Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Baptiste

From the minutes

“Referred to the Committee on finance – FAILS – Yeas 4, Nays 6 (Councillors Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Markey & Morad OPPOSED.) Motion to RECONSIDER matter PASSES – Yeas 10, Nays 0. TABLED – Yeas 10, Nays 0. (Matter #1071).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (434)

    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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