Mass. GOP candidate for lieutenant governor suspends campaign after arrest, OUI charge

Shawn Oliver, the running mate of Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue, suspended his campaign Sunday after he was arrested following a car crash. He is now facing one count of operating under the influence (OUI), among other charges.

“After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Lieutenant Governor,” Oliver said in a statement posted to social media Sunday. “This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and ask that my family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

The Hill has reached out to Massachusetts’s New Bedford Police Department for more information.

New Bedford police told The Boston Globe that Oliver flipped his car after he struck five parked vehicles — two of which sustained “extensive damage” — late Saturday night. A department spokesperson said officers learned of the crash at around 11:40 p.m. After first responders arrived, Oliver was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford to be treated for injuries.

The city council member was alone at the time of the crash and did not appear to be hurt, according to a report from local news outlet The New Bedford Light .

Oliver faces charges of operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding, the Globe reported.

He was released at around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, less than three hours after he was booked, according to Massachusetts state government news outlet State House News Service . Oliver’s arraignment is scheduled for Monday morning.

Oliver announced the campaign suspension after Minogue called on him to do so.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Minogue wrote on social media Sunday. “Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt. There is no excuse for driving under the influence. After speaking with Shawn, I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation.”

Minogue said he will help Oliver to “do the work to ensure this never happens again.” The Republican candidate added that as governor, he will “put the Commonwealth first.”

“That starts with accountability, something Massachusetts has not seen from Maura Healey,” he said, referring to the Bay State’s Democratic governor and his electoral opponent. Oliver was seeking to replace Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll (D).

Amy Carnevale, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, told the Globe she “supports” Oliver’s decision and that “Lives were put at risk and that is never acceptable.”

The incident comes more than two weeks before Massachusetts voters head to the polls to vote. The Hill’s election partner Decision Desk HQ projects a safe win for Healey, with a 99 percent probability that she will defeat Minogue.