Pace quickens in mayor's race

WOONSOCKET - Residents will reorient the city's political direction when they cast ballots in Tuesday's election.

After 14 years, Mayor Susan D. Menard is relinquishing the helm of the city's ship of state. The first woman to hold the position and the longest serving mayor in city annals is not seeking re-election.

Former state representative and retired police detective sergeant Todd R. Brien and City Council President Leo T. Fontaine are campaigning to succeed Menard. Brien is making his third bid for mayor and Fontaine his first.

Besides a new mayor, about 22,000 registered voters are eligible to select a slate for City Council and School Committee.

All 16 voting precincts will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Estelle Corriveau, Board of Canvassers acting manager.

Based on the activity in her office, Corriveau says she believes the upcoming election has piqued voter interest.

"A lot of people are coming in for emergency ballots," she said of one sign that voter interest in the election has picked up.

The election of a new mayor for the first time in 14 years has generated more voter interest, both mayoral candidates agree.

In crisscrossing the city in search of votes, Brien and Fontaine say they sense a heightened interest among the electorate.

Brien says interest is keener in this election because voters believe "there's a lot at stake" in the outcome.

Fontaine echoes similar sentiments.

"People recognize there's going to be a change in leadership so they're taking more interest in the election," he said.

Both candidates are pleased with voter response to their campaigns.

"The people are open and appreciative of our vision for what we're going to be doing for Woonsocket," Brien said.

Fontaine said voter response to his message has been "very positive" and he finds it "very nice" that people are recognizing his long service to the city as well as acknowledging his efforts to save taxpayers' money.

Fontaine has campaigned on an overall theme centering on the city's need for experienced and trusted leadership, which he claims he has supplied the city during his 16 years as a councilor.

Another cornerstone of his campaign, Fontaine says, is that he has a proven record of making difficult decisions and not backing down from tough challenges.

In this tough economic climate, the city cannot afford to elect "someone requiring on-the-job training," Fontaine said of Brien.

Brien's campaign theme has focused on change and accountability, which, he says, he's best qualified to bring to the mayor's office.

"We cannot do business as usual. I'll represent you. I'll represent change," he said during a mayoral debate before the primary.

Brien describes Fontaine's performance on the council as "woeful."

"If this (city) was a private business and Leo Fontaine was chairman of the board, he would not get the job of CEO based on his 16 years of performance," Brien said.

Brien also hammers Fontaine's support of a supplemental tax bill to erase a multimillion-dollar deficit.

"Courage is not going to taxpayers twice in one year for a tax hike, but having a plan to deal with tough times," which Fontaine doesn't possess, Brien says.

Fontaine counters Brien's criticism of his vote for a supplemental tax hike is misleading.

At the time he voted for the supplemental tax hike, Fontaine explains, the city faced a $3.6 million cut in state aid and a $3.7 million school deficit, and faced "the real possibility" of going bankrupt.

Although he backed it individually, the council rejected the supplemental tax hike in favor of borrowing up to $7 million, of which $5 million has already been borrowed, and the total borrowed could balloon to $9 million, Fontaine says.

Adding in interest charges and legal fees associated with the borrowed funds, Fontaine says he still believes it would have been more fiscally prudent to pass a supplemental tax hike, saving the taxpayers the added costs of borrowing.

Fontaine also counters that throughout the city's fiscal difficulties, Brien has remained silent and has offered no plan for eliminating the budget deficit.

Brien responds he's crafted a comprehensive plan to control taxes and promote economic development to put city finances on a solid foundation.

In their first face-to-face encounter since the primary during an appearance on WOON's Midday Show with Don Brunelle last Friday, both mayoral candidates shared more common positions on issues than differences.

Both candidates said they support giving tax breaks to businesses considering locating in Woonsocket, agree more budget cuts can be made, support a charter amendment giving the City Council, rather than just the mayor, a say in the hiring and firing of the city solicitor, and favor appointing, rather than electing, the School Committee.

Both candidates also said the new mayor, City Council and School Committee must work as a team to achieve a fair school funding formula from the state.

However, Brien and Fontaine did part ways over the fate of the World War II Veterans Memorial State Park in the Social district.

"I see a city takeover (of the park) in a couple of years. It's a park that's very viable to Woonsocket," Brien said.

Fontaine said a city takeover of the park is not his first choice, preferring, instead, to "push the state to honor its agreement to keep a state park in the city."

Both candidates said they also support the concept of reducing the density at the city's two subsidized housing projects, but the city must proceed cautiously.

In other races, seeking a seat on the City Council are incumbents Christopher A. Beauchamp, Stella G. Brien, Roger G. Jalette Sr., William D. Schneck Jr., Suzanne Jean Vadenais and John F. Ward.

Challengers seeking a council seat are David B. Ashworth, Daniel M. Gendron, Philip E. Labrecque, Kathryn LeBlanc, Michael E. Moniz and Thomas W. Wrona.

School Committee incumbents seeking re-election are Chairman Marc A. Dubois, Linda M. Majewski, Anita Ann McGuire-Forcier and Eleanor M. Nadeau. Also running for the school board are Anthony J. Gabriele, George E. King, Evelyn G. Mack-Loggins and Vimala Phongsavanh.