Candidate Profile: Debora Coelho

New Bedford old-timers speak out on Councilor At-Large candidate Debora Coelho

Azorean born Debora Coelho has spent most of her life in the same New Bedford neighborhood. Despite humble beginnings, Debora Coelho has clawed her way near the top of city politics and has served longer than any other councilor except for bloviating Brian Gomes. Much to Brian's chagrin, Debora ousted Brian as chair of Public Safety and Neighborhoods in January of 2016. With an Associates degree in Ethnic Studies, Coelho is the most scholarly individual to ever hold the office of Councilor.

Debora's proclivity for advanced learning was evidenced when she was accepted into New Bedford's elite MorningWood Academy as the first girl student in the all boys school. According to NB old-timer Nate, "Debora quickly became popular with all the boys. There is not a student there who doesn't have very fond memories of Debora."

When asked about Debora's role as public servant, the old-timers are not quite so enthusiastic. According to Ed, "Debora must be the laziest person in New Bedford." Ed was corrected by Jose who stated "Ed, you haven't seen Debora's husband. He's even lazier than she is." Jose's wife Rebecca chimed in, "Ed, Debora's main problem isn't that she's lazy. She's just too [foreign language expletive] focused on those ridiculous outfits she wears."

When asked whether New Bedford is safer with Debora driving the Safety committee bus, the room buzzed with discontent. "Brian has always been involved. Debora just sits on her fat ass. The only ideas she has are pretty stupid." said Nate. The group of old-timers turned into an angry mob when the 44% city council pay raise of 2012 came up. A resident of Coelho's north end crime-infested neighborhood (who preferred to remain anonymous) vented his spleen. "That worthless piece of trash! She got elected promising to represent us. Once she was in, she quickly forgot about all that. No one in the neighborhood ever sees her. She likes to go downtown and pretend she's hot shit. People are getting shot here. And she has the balls to vote herself a huge raise for doing nothing! Plus, that raise is factored into her pension that taxpayers will be funding for decades. I'm going to be voting for the two challengers. They can't be any worse." Most of the group grumbled in agreement.