Sam Sutter
C. Samuel Sutter, better known as Sam Sutter, is an American attorney and politician who served as the District Attorney of Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 2007 to 2014, and then as the 43rd Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts from 2014 to 2016.
Sam Sutter | |
|---|---|
| 43rd Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts | |
| In office December 29, 2014 – January 4, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | William A. Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Jasiel Correia |
| District Attorney of Bristol County, Massachusetts | |
| In office January 21, 2007 – December 29, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Paul F. Walsh Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Thomas M. Quinn III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clifford Samuel Sutter August 3, 1952 Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Early life
Sutter was born August 3, 1952, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to former tennis player Cliff Sutter and Suzanne T. Sutter. Sutter attended Brown University from 1971 to 1976, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in American Civilization. While at Brown, he played for the varsity tennis team. After spending several years traveling the world while working as a tennis instructor and professional tournament player, Sutter enrolled at Vanderbilt University Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1983.
Political career
Before successfully running for District Attorney in 2006, Sutter worked as both an Assistant District Attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney's office and as a private attorney specializing in criminal defense and personal injury. Sutter was re-elected to this office twice, in 2010 and again in 2014. During this time, he also unsuccessfully ran for the newly configured 9th congressional district, against sitting congressman Bill Keating. On December 16, 2014, Sutter defeated incumbent Fall River Mayor William A. Flanagan in a recall election, the first successful recall of a mayor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On November 2, 2015, Sutter lost his bid for reelection to current Fall River Mayor Jasiel F. Correia, II.
Personal life
Sutter is married to Dorothy Feliz Sutter, a paralegal, and has two children, Clifford Samuel Sutter III, and Ava Linda Sutter, and one stepchild, Alexander P. Jean. He currently practices law in Fall River, Massachusetts.