Fall River's two mayoral candidates had the opportunity to speak directly to Portuguese-speaking members of the community at a forum held at Santo Christo Church on Columbia Street on October 25, 2007. Organized through the leadership of the Espirito Santo, St. Michael and Santo Christo parishes representing over 5,000 registered voters in the City, the event offered instant translation into Portuguese of both candidates' remarks, neither of which speak fluent Portuguese. The forum drew about a hundred parishioners to the church hall for the one-hour event and social hour following. For more information about the event, contact Father Gastao Oliveira at 508-676-1184.
 

(Top row, left) Representative David Sullivan, center, arrives at the parish hall for the evening forum. (Top row, center) Moderator Joao Gonsolves explains the rules of the forum in both English and Portuguese and tells the audience that the forum will be held in English but instant translation is available through headsets. (Top row, right) Representative Robert Correia talks with a member of the audience prior to the forum. (Middle row, left) Nalia Pereira and Mr. Gonsolves address the mayoral candidates. (Middle row, right) Translators are seated near the audience to translate every word into Porguguese. (Bottom row) Candidates Sullivan and Correia each respond to questions submitted through the parishes.