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Controversy surrounds Lawrence mayor

The Globe has reported that Mayor William Lantigua of Lawrence is the target of a probe by federal and state authorities for possibly using city business for his own profit. Lantigua has denied wrongdoing.

Related

Police report on Arevalo

Antonio Arevalo, a prominent Lantigua critic, said he was beaten by a 6-foot-9 nightclub bouncer who called him "a snitch." Here is a copy of the police report on the incident.

Key players

Lorenza Ortega
Lantigua's live-in girlfriend, Ortega works at Lawrence City Hall. Despite the couple's combined income of $145,000, the Eagle-Tribune newspaper reported that Ortega accepted federal fuel aid to cover heating bills at the condominium she shares with Lantigua.
Mayra Lantigua
Lantigua’s wife, Mayra Lantigua, sits on the Lawrence board that determines which businesses are allowed to serve alcohol. Lantigua has grown close to the city’s growing number of nightclub operators frequenting the clubs.
John Romero
Under Lantigua, the city's police chief has seen a reduction in officers, and had to disband the antigang unit.
Melix Bonilla
Lantigua upset some in the police department when he installed his former campaign manager, Melix Bonilla as the new deputy chief.

Coakley sues Lantigua over campaign finance irregularities

Attorney General Martha Coakley sued Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua today for failing to file a 2011 campaign finance report or pay daily fines imposed by the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. (Boston Globe, 1/9/13)

State files $5,475 tax lien against Lantigua

The state revenue department filed the lien against the Lawrence mayor, whose three-year tenure has been dogged by controversy and a corruption investigation. (Boston Globe, 1/3/13)

Lawrence mayor, in Spanish, says he will run for re-election next year

The controversial mayor of Lawrence who has been buffeted by allegations of political corruption in his administration, announced Friday that he will run for reelection next year. (Globe, 12/28/12)

Two associates of Lantigua arraigned on corruption charges

Details of the case against the two associates emerged from the indictments handed down. (Boston Globe, 9/12/12)

Recall organizers still hopeful

Petition leaders in Lawrence were optimistic that they could salvage enough signatures from the more than 1,000 rejected by election officials and still put Mayor Lantigua on a recall ballot. (Boston Globe, 8/13/11)

Lantigua recall drive falls far short

A jubilant Mayor William Lantigua celebrated as an effort
to force him from office failed by more than 800 voter signatures, handing him a victory as he faces federal and state investigations. (Boston Globe, 8/13/11)

Island city enjoyed Lantigua largesse

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua’s administration has overseen the illegal shipment of city and private vehicles from Mass. to the Dominican Republic. (Boston Globe, 6/25/11)

Subpoenas issued in Lantigua case

State campaign finance officials have subpoenaed billing records from at least six restaurants and clubs in the Lawrence area as part of a burgeoning investigation into the fund-raising practices of Mayor William Lantigua of Lawrence. (Boston Globe, 6/7/11)

Mayor’s helping hand list draws criticism

Mayor William Lantigua, who has overseen deep cuts in the police force since taking office last year, insists that he is only helping out constituents, but critics say that Lantigua should be judged by how often he comes to the aid of people who have allegedly broken the law. (Boston Globe, 6/2/11)

Lantigua’s finance reports
rife with suspect gaps

Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua has repeatedly failed to list who paid for his many fund-raising events.
 (Boston Globe, 5/29/11)

Chief of staff quits for personal reasons

Leonard Degnan, the chief of staff of Mayor William Lantigua of Lawrence has resigned for personal reasons, the mayor said in a statement. (Boston Globe, 5/25/11)

Dwindling police force tries to hold its own

Five years ago, Lawrence police were touting a steady drop in crime. Today, the antigang unit and other specialized squads no longer exist, the victims of cuts imposed last year by Mayor William Lantigua. (Boston Globe, 5/25/11)

State inquiring whether Lantigua,
girlfriend accepted federal fuel aid

State officials launched an investigation yesterday into a report that Mayor William Lantigua of Lawrence and his live-in girlfriend improperly accepted federal fuel aid to cover the heating bills at their condominium in one of the state’s poorest cities. (Boston Globe, 5/12/11)

March supports police, firefighters

Chanting “Yes we can’’ in Spanish and English, about 100 supporters of the city’s fire and police departments rallied in front of City Hall yesterday and marched through downtown in what organizers said was a response to Mayor William Lantigua’s critical remarks earlier this year about the departments. (Boston Globe, 5/8/11)

Critic of mayor beaten

A prominent critic of embattled Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua alleges that he was beaten by a 6-foot-9-inch nightclub bouncer who called him “a snitch’’ and the “man who took the mayor to court.’’ (Boston Globe, 5/3/11)

Defiant Lawrence mayor answers critics

In a defiant speech about the state of the city, Mayor William Lantigua disputed assertions that he is corrupt and insisted yesterday that his year-old administration is presiding over sweeping changes to straighten out the finances of this cash-strapped mill city and improve services. (Boston Globe, 5/3/11)

Lantigua is focus of federal, state probe

Federal and state authorities are investigating Mayor William Lantigua of Lawrence on possible corruption and other wrongdoing, intensifying controversy surrounding the leader of one of the state’s most financially troubled cities, according to law enforcement officials and one person who was interviewed by the FBI. (Boston Globe, 4/22/11)
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