Mayor announces re-election bid
WOONSOCKET – With her nomination papers already in to the Board of Canvassers and confirmed, Mayor
Lisa Baldelli-Hunt on Wednesday issued her official announcement for seeking re-election in the upcoming Nov. 6 general election.
Baldelli-Hunt is seeking a third term in office, having been elected to an initial three-year term due to a char- ter change for the scheduling of local elections in 2013, and then re-elected to a two-year second term in office in 2016. “Today, I announce my official candidacy for re-election for a third consecutive term for the office of Mayor of the City of Woonsocket because I believe that my executive experience, problem solving skills, personal drive and talented administrative team will continue to make good things happen for
our city,” Baldelli-Hunt said in her announcement statement.
“I am humbled that Woonsocket voters entrusted me to be their Mayor during the
most difficult period in our great City’s history, and I am pleased to report that during my tenure as Mayor we have stabilized our finances, enhanced our City services, rebuilt our infrastructure, improved our recreational quality of life, strengthened our education and lowered our taxes.”
As a result of filings for the mayor’s seat in the 2018 election, Baldelli-Hunt is facing challenges from former City Council President Albert G. Brien and real estate developer Albert R. Beauparlant.
The trio of candidates are to face off initially in the city’s non-partisan primary on Sept. 12, a Wednesday.
The state Senate Dist. 24 seat being given up by Sen. Marc A. Cote has drawn five contenders and will have two Democrats City Councilwoman Melissa A. Murray
and former local elementary school principal Carol A. Frisk facing off in the Sept. 12 primary. Running as independents for the Dist. 24 seat are Michael Disney, Glenn F. Dusablon and Richard L. Garrepy.
City voters will also be electing a new five member school committee in November after voters last month agreed to reverse a charter change making the longtime elected panel one appointed by the mayor with concurrence of the city council. A total of 14 candidates are seeking election to city council’ s seven seats on Nov. 6.
Baldelli-Hunt served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives as Woonsocket’s District 49 representative from 2006 to 2013.
In regards to her service in the mayor’s office since leaving the General Assembly in 2013, Baldelli-Hunt noted she was “handed some very difficult circumstances when I became Mayor, but I have always set high goals for my administration, and we have worked very hard to overcome obstacles and move our City forward. I have a vision for Woonsocket’s future success, but more importantly I also have the know-how, dedication and energy to bring that vision to reality,” Baldelli-Hunt said.
“I am honored to place my administration’s accomplishments before Woonsocket’s voters once again, and if reelected, I will continue to bring my tireless efforts and energy to bring a brighter future to all of our City’s residents,” she said.
“Woonsocket is a city with strong traditions and a proud
history, and we are also a city that has a new, vibrant diversity,” the mayor said. “Our traditions remind me of what made Woonsocket great and why our City is now exceptional. Woonsocket’s residents are a collage of people from different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and dreams and I am continually inspired by them to develop new ways of guiding our City to ensure that everyone, not just a chosen few, is represented by City government,” Baldelli-Hunt said.
Baldelli-Hunt said she is not burdened by the failed politics of the city’s past and added “I will never resort to tired, old, unsuccessful ways of doing things to meet our modern-day challenges. I have enthusiastically tackled Woonsocket’s long list of challenges, and I have a plan to build upon our past achievements to make Woonsocket greater,” she said.
“I ask Woonsocket voters to give me their vote during the upcoming elections so that I can continue to serve them as their Mayor,” she said.
The mayor’s announcement noted that Baldelli-Hunt has developed budgets and managed operations that have replaced the city’s accumulated financial deficit with an operating surplus. The city’s focus on responsible budgeting and managed spending has allowed it to significantly lower property tax rates for three fiscal years in a row,” she said.
Baldelli-Hunt said she has also helped orchestrate annual improvements to the city’s bond rating to where it is now seven steps higher
than it was at the start of her administration, rising from junk bond status up to an “A” investment grade quality level.
She also pointed to significant investments that have been made in infrastructure repair, road resurfacing and reconstructing, city vehicle replacement, and blight removal during her time in office – all without incurring any additional, new general obligation debt, she noted.
Woonsocket has reconstructed over 36 roads since the Baldelli-Hunt administration implemented the only in-house road reconstruction program in the state, she noted, and has demolished 24 unsightly properties. The city has also beautified its parks and enhanced recreational facilities and activities for residents, seniors and children, as evidenced by the revitalization of World War II Veterans Memorial Park, and the ongoing development of a new athletic/ recreational complex at Cass Park, the mayor noted.
“Woonsocket is now poised to move forward on a path that is grounded in both fiscal responsibility and an improved quality of life for its residents, and fueled by new ideas, hard work and common sense leadership,” she said. “We are making Woonsocket a more attractive place to live and work, and by doing so we are becoming more tempting for businesses to relocate to.” she added.
“Economic development has always been a cornerstone of my administration, but it is far more critical now that we not only find novel ways to support our existing businesses, but also to give new businesses a great reason to come here. The Diamond Hill Road retail strip is coming back to life, and we are working diligently to achieve similar successes throughout our City,” Baldelli-Hunt said.
The mayor also pointed to her administration’s work with community and state education leaders to build a stronger public school system and replace fiscal operating deficits of the past with annual surpluses.
Progress in local schools has continued with the implementation of full-day kindergarten, building improvements, athletic field enhancements, technology upgrades and unique academic/ job-training programming, she noted.
“Woonsocket’s public schools are in far better shape now than they were in only a short time ago. Proper budgeting and operations have turned our School Department’s huge financial deficit into a surplus,” Baldelli-Hunt said.
The mayor also pointed to the school department’s P-Tech curriculum providing a rapid route to an associate’s degree from the Community College of Rhode Island and the city’s selection for the Northern RI Higher Education Center, as evidence of the “many exciting new things happening with education in our City...”
“Improvements to our public schools have certainly provided better learning opportunities for our students, and will attract more families into Woonsocket.”
Baldelli-Hunt is a lifelong Woonsocket resident, and noted that as a current business owner in the city she has made a personal financial investment in the city’s future. She and her husband Edward have three sons Gary, Victor and Sam.