Sousa Targeted for Recall

A recall petition has been submitted in an effort to remove Town Council member Joe Sousa from office.

The petition was taken out by Timothy Connick who now must get about 500 signatures to get the recall vote on a ballot, according to the town charter.

The petition claims that Sousa “failed to represent a positive and professional manner the wishes and will of the citizens of the town of Tiverton.”

In an e-mail, Sousa said that “seems I am having an effect on the Good Old Boy system that ran this town in to the ground.”

Sousa said he believes in democracy and he “has no problem” with people getting involved, even if it means he has to defend himself against the recall petition.

“I will meet them head on,” he said.

The motivation behind the recall seems to be based on several aspects of Sousa’s behavior on the council.

Connick, in comments on the “Don’t Mall Tiverton” Facebook page, said the “tipping point” was a “disrespectful sarcastic unprofessional response” in an email he sent to his daughter.

“I WILL be gathering the required 497 signatures to cause a recall election to take place,” Connick said.