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Council rejects nonbinding ballot question on U.S. citizenship for police hires, refers proposed ordinance to committee
Summary
A nonbinding municipal ballot question asking whether U.S. citizenship should be required to be hired as a New Bedford police officer failed 5–6. Separately, the council voted unanimously to refer a proposed ordinance to the Committee on Ordinances that would require U.S. citizenship for new police hires.
The New Bedford City Council voted down a nonbinding municipal ballot question asking whether United States citizenship should be a requirement to be hired as a police officer in New Bedford, then separately voted to refer a related ordinance proposal to the Committee on Ordinances for further study.
The ballot question — presented as a proposed public‑opinion question for the November 4, 2025 municipal ballot — failed in a roll-call vote, 5–6. The council recorded votes as follows: Yes — Councilors Ian Abreu, Naomi Carney, Leo Choquette, Joseph Lopes and Sean Oliver; No — Councilors Derek Baptiste, (name transcribed as Bruego/Bergau), Maria Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Linda M. Morad and Ryan Perera. The motion to place the nonbinding question on the ballot…
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