Who’s in, who’s out of city politics?
As candidates declare for local races, newcomers emerge, old faces depart
WOONSOCKET – The 2016 election cycle has preliminarily shaped up into a contest featuring 19 candidates for City Council and four for mayor, a field big enough to trigger a primary in both arenas.
The electoral picture sharpened after nine more candidates tossed their hats into the race for a seat on the sevenmember council on Wednesday, the final day of the declaration period. The roster includes a mix of incumbents, newcomers and others with past political experience. They include: • David A. Fisher, who ran for the first time in the 2013 primary that also included Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt and then-incumbent Mayor Leo T. Fontaine.
• J. Michel Martineau, who served on the city council for 12 years previously, from 1993-2003 and again from 2005-2007.
• Incumbent Councilmen Christopher Beauchamp, Garrett Mancieri and Vice Chairman Albert G. Brien Jr.
• Newcomer Philip E. Labreque, founder of the Woonsocket Taxpayer Coalition, a group that usually
supports conservative spending policies.
• Richard R. Masse, a member of the Zoning Board of Review
• Roland D. Michaud, a frequent and outspoken attendee of various public meetings.
• Scott A. Maclennon, making his first foray into politics.
But the list is as notable for who’s on it as who isn’t – Council President Robert Moreau. In a brief phone interview a few minutes before the filing deadline, Moreau explained that he’s decided not to seek a third term on the council.
The former city policeman and head of security for the Woonsocket Housing Authority said he’s been doing public service work of one sort of another for more than two decades, and he thinks it’s time for a break.
“Twenty-four years on the police department, 10 years on the zoning board and – at the end of this term, it will be five years on the council – I think it’s time for me to move on,” he said.
Moreau said he wants to devote more time to his family and to the boxing program he launched years ago at the Boys and Girls Club of Woonsocket.
One of the highest vote-getters on the council since he entered the fray, Moreau wouldn’t rule out a return to politics in a couple of years, saying, “You never know what the future holds.”
Earlier this week, 10 other candidates for council filed papers at the offices of the Board of Canvassers to initiate the process of securing a spot on the ballot. They are:
• Zoning Board member Richard Fagnant.
• Former School Committeeman Jose Rivera.
• Incumbent Councilman Daniel Gendron and Councilwoman Melissa Murray.
• Former state representative Jon D. Brien, son of Albert Brien, the incumbent councilman.
• Eric “Chip” Cartier, making a second run for council since 2013.
• James Cournoyer, a goodgovernment advocate.
• Newcomer Thomas Keith, a real estate professional.
• Denise Sierra, owner of the Burrito Company restaurant
• Kenneth Finlay, a fire chief in Cumberland since 2009 and a former Woonsocket fire chief. As previously reported, all of the city’s House and Senate members filed papers to run for re-election. And while it appears that all five are running without opposition, efforts to confirm that were not successful as of press time.
They include Sen. Marc A. Cote (DDist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 22, Woonsocket, Cumberland), Rep. Michael A. Morin (DDist. 49, Woonsocket), Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland) and Rep. Stephen Casey (DDist. 50, Woonsocket).
The third day of the declaration period did nothing to alter to prospect of a four-way race for the city’s most powerful elective office.
The candidates are Mayor Baldelli-Hunt, who is seeking her second term; veteran Councilman Roger G. Jalette Sr.; Michael E. Moniz, a perennial candidate who seldom draws more than a handful of votes; and newcomer David A. Desautell.
Because the field is so crowded, it will be necessary to pare it down in a primary runoff prior to the general election on Nov. 8.
The primary will be held on Sept. 13.
Only the top 14 vote-getters in the primary will proceed to the general and, in the mayor’s race, only the top two.