After tumultuous year, Taunton mayor delivers State of the City address

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — After a turbulent year for Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell, she said she’s looking ahead following Thursday’s State of the City address.

O’Connell was in court throughout 2024 for domestic violence charges.

The mayor was accused of attacking her husband with a gasket cleaner but ultimately reached a deal in court in December 2024 requiring that she be on probation for six months.

Despite some calls for her to step down at that time, O’Connell said she remains committed to bettering the city.

“I was born and raised in Taunton, I love this community, the people here are so caring and compassionate,” she said. “They have been here every step of the way for my five years in office, and I am grateful.”

One of the enticing opportunities for the mayor to improve the city’s economy is the budding South Coast Rail project, which will connect Taunton to Boston in March.

“We are already going to be having a 280 apartment complex built right next to the rail, and that is going to include retail space as well,” O’Connell said.

In addition, the Clarion Hotel shelter, which has been used to house migrants for more than a year, is set to close at the end of June.

“We would like to see our hotel return to being a hotel,” O’Connell said. “It’s a privately owned business, so I’m sure on their end they’re going to need to make some upgrades and do some work on that.”

O’Connell added her thoughts about being a Republican mayor in a blue state during the Trump Administration.

“My team and I, we work hard, no matter what, whoever is in any office, we always come out ahead because we are so hard working, and we’re looking forward to the next year ahead,” she said.

The mayor said that a key goal for her and her team was to drive an influx of visitors to the city throughout the year.