Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and a sitting New Bedford city councilor, has suspended his statewide campaign after being arrested on charges stemming from a rollover crash that struck five parked vehicles.
New Bedford police said officers responded around 11:40 p.m. Saturday to 448 Dartmouth St., where a vehicle had overturned after hitting multiple parked cars. Two of the five vehicles struck sustained extensive damage. Oliver, 42, was identified by police as the driver and was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Following an investigation at the scene and the hospital, officers charged Oliver with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding, according to police.
Oliver announced on X that he was suspending his campaign, saying “the election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters.”
Running mate calls for his exit
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue, a businessman and military veteran challenging Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, said he spoke with Oliver before publicly calling on him to step back.
“I am extremely disappointed. Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt,” Minogue wrote on X. “There is no excuse for driving under the influence.”
“After speaking with Shawn, I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation,” he wrote.
Minogue also addressed Oliver’s family circumstances directly, writing that Oliver “is a father and grandfather, and he needs to put his family first. He needs to do the work to ensure this never happens again. If he needs help with that, I will help him.”
He went on to criticize his Democratic opponent, writing: “As governor, I will put the Commonwealth first. That starts with accountability, something Massachusetts has not seen from Maura Healey.”
City and state react
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, a Democrat, said in a statement posted to Facebook that the crash occurred in the city’s South End.
“This morning, I was made aware that City Councilor Shawn Oliver was involved in a car accident in the South End and taken into custody,” Mitchell said. “I’m grateful to the New Bedford Police Department for their prompt response and relieved that no one was seriously injured.”
Mitchell added that “the allegations against Councilor Oliver are deeply concerning, and the public deserves to hear his explanation of what happened.”
Oliver is also employed by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. A department spokesman, Scott J. Croteau, confirmed Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty at the Massachusetts Treatment Center while the matter is reviewed.
The suspension of Oliver’s campaign comes just weeks before the November election, in which Minogue is challenging Healey and Democratic Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is seeking another term.
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