LAWRENCE — City Councilor Fidelina Santiago, with “profound respect and a heart full of gratitude,” submitted a letter of resignation from her post late Friday afternoon.
Her letter came just two days after she pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges.
A special meeting is now scheduled for Tuesday night for city councilors to handle her resignation.
“Making this decision has not been easy,” she wrote in a letter submitted to City Clerk Eileen O’Connor Bernal. “Representing my community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I have always done so with commitment, dignity, and a sincere desire to bring our constituents together, listen to them, and work for their well-being. Through the Neighborhood Council, community activities, and spaces for dialogue, I have served as bridges where there was once so much distance.
“Every project and every meeting was motivated by the love I have for this city. I leave with the peace of mind of having given my all, but also with the hope that whoever comes after me will continue to strengthen community ties and continue the initiatives we began together.”
Santiago pleaded guilty Wednesday to numerous criminal charges leveled after the November 2023 election, including illegal voting or attempt to vote, conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally, unlawful interference with a voter and obstruction of voting. Some charges Santiago faced were not prosecuted, according to court records.
Santiago is due back in court in October for sentencing.
Santiago’s attorney, Ted Cranney, previously submitted a sentencing memorandum suggesting she could serve several years of probation with the condition she resign from the Lawrence City Council. She was up for re-election to the District A council seat this fall.
The voter fraud charges stem from an incident Oct. 16, 2023, at a residence in the 600 block of Howard Street. A Ring camera captured images of a woman exiting Santiago’s car and “walking to the front porch … and removing multiple/brown manila envelopes from a mailbox before returning to the defendant’s automobile.”
Jennifer Lopez of Lawrence was also charged as a result of the incident. Her criminal case in superior court is pending.
Both women were released without bail following their initial Superior Court arraignments. Santiago has regularly attended City Council meetings and events, as well as meetings in her own district during the past year.
Cranney, Santiago’s attorney, did not return a message seeking comment.
The indictments were the result of an investigation conducted by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office following a referral by Secretary of State William Galvin’s office concerning allegations of fraudulent voting associated with the November 2023 local election.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill and on Threads at jillyharma.