Politics
New Bedford councilor suspends lieutenant governor bid after crash, OUI charge
Republican nominee Shawn Oliver suspended his campaign after police said his car struck five parked vehicles and overturned in New Bedford. His name will remain on the ballot as early voting continues, and he is due in court Monday.
Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for Massachusetts lieutenant governor and a New Bedford city councilor, suspended his campaign Sunday after being charged with operating under the influence following a crash in his city.
Police said Oliver’s vehicle struck five parked cars on Dartmouth Street at about 11:40 p.m. Saturday and overturned. Oliver, 42, was treated at St. Luke’s Hospital, according to the State House News Service.
He faces charges including operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked-lanes violation and speeding. Oliver is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue urged Oliver to step aside Sunday. Minogue said he would seek Oliver’s resignation if the pair win the election.
Oliver’s name will remain on the ballot. Early voting is underway, and hundreds of thousands of ballots have already been submitted, leaving voters to decide whether to support a ticket whose lieutenant governor nominee has suspended his campaign.
Oliver was nominated at the Massachusetts Republican Party convention in Worcester in April. The crash and charges come as voters are already casting ballots in the statewide election.