Surprise! Menard endorses Fontaine

WOONSOCKET - Mayor Susan Menard surprised the city Friday morning when she announced her support for Leo Fontaine, the City Council president who hopes next week to capture the seat she’s vacating.

Menard, who had maintained throughout the campaign season that she wouldn’t endorse anyone, called Fontaine “best for the city for the next two years.”

She said Fontaine, who has served on the council for 16 years, most clearly understands the challenges ahead, including continuing school budget deficit concerns and a threatened loss of $1.3 million in state aid this spring.

Menard said she was pushed by her friends to express publicly her support for Fontaine after many were asking how she’d be casting her own vote on Nov. 3.

She did say several times during her five-minute endorsement of Fontaine on the WNRI radio station Friday morning that “we haven’t always agreed.”

Indeed, conflicts between Fontaine and Menard over government transparency, spending and personnel have been legendary in the past.

Still she said, “This is a very difficult job. You’re responsible for 43,000 people and the future of city. I think he understands the city and will make decisions that are right for the city.”

She closed her comments reiterating, “Even though I didn’t always agree with you.”

Fontaine’s opponent is Todd Brien, a retired police officer who ran in 2008 and 2006 against Menard.