In 1974, Rogers returned to New Bedford politics as a Councilor-at-Large. Later that year, he was also elected to the Massachusetts Senate. In 1978, Rogers was convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery and was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $5,000.[4]
In 1980, Rogers was once again elected Councilor-at-Large, a position he held until 2003. From 1999 to 2003, he simultaneously held seats on the New Bedford City Council and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Rogers was defeated in the 2002 Democratic primary by Freetown, Massachusetts Selectman Mark A. Howland.[5] Rogers's defeat came months after he was accused of showing pornography to a minor; he was eventually found not guilty.[6][7]
Later career
Rogers lost re-election to the New Beford City Council in 2003. He ran for the Democratic nomination for his old House seat in 2004, finishing third behind Stephen Canessa and Mark A. Howland.[8] In 2015, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the New Bedford School Committee.[9][10] Rogers died in 2018 at age 84.[11]