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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Candidates' forums traditionally allow challengers and incumbents the opportunity to speak about their backgrounds and their goals if elected. They are usually fairly polite affairs, but the gloves came off at a candidates' night sponsored by the Armory-Common Civic Association last Wednesday night with more than one challenger accusing incumbent city councilors of incompetence. NEWS ANALYSIS Perhaps the reason for the heated rhetoric was due to the large field of City Council candidates this year. Perhaps it was because there is a guaranteed open slot on the Council or because the incumbents seem vulnerable in light of the city's financial situation. Whatever the reason, some of the candidates didn't mince words. "If you worked for me, I'd fire you," challenger John Lysak said while looking at the incumbents present. Turning to the audience he added, "It's time to fire our City Council." Clodo Concepcion, another City Council hopeful, said that Councilors came to neighborhood meetings with "flowery speeches," but then changed their positions and "sold the community down the river." James Anziano said he didn't want to "offend anyone," but he believes there needs to be a "clean sweep" of the existing City Council. Don Silverman noted that Mayor Charles Ryan had been "thwarted" by the City Council in his reform effort. Silverman pledged his support to Ryan, a move echoed by several other candidates. While Hamilton Wray said he had friends on the City Council, those relationships didn't prevent him from saying, "it's time for a change." And Libertarian candidate Robert Underwood said that voting for the incumbents would mean "more of the same." *** Although all of the challengers spoke about their goals if elected, only Bruce Stebbins, Norman Oliver and James Ferrera avoided direct attacks. Stebbins outlined a specific program of actions he would take to encourage new business growth in the city and accountability from City Hall. Stebbins, who has substantial experience in business development, said that other cities the same size as Springfield "would be jealous" of what this city has: a Fortune 100 company, 700 acres of city parks, and four colleges, among other attributes. "We need to move beyond the indictments and the finger-pointing," Stebbins said. Ferre ra said that he brings voters " a message of hope," and asked the audience to consider what kind of city Springfield will be when the Finance Control Board leaves in 2007. "This is what this election is about," he said. Oliver explained to the group how he served for a decade in a jail ministry program while working at the Post Office and that his run for City Council is motivated by a deep concern for the city's children. He also has been involved in the fight for ward representation. "I see the future of Springfield in the children yours, mine and others'," Oliver said. *** Incumbents at the forum included Domenic Sarno, Rosemarie Mazza Moriarty, Kateri Walsh, William Foley, Timothy Rooke and Jose Tosado. Missing were Angelo Puppulo and Bud Williams. Dan Kelly is not seeking re-election. Sarno led off the forum and said public safety in the city was his number one priority, a concern shared by many of the candidates. He spoke of his accomplishments not only on the Council as a strong advocate for the police, but also in his role as executive director of the South End Community Center. He said that, while the perception of the city is not good, there are "a tremendous number of good people here." Foley, the longest serving member of the Council, told a joke, which he said summed up his feelings for the city. He recounted that two children one an optimist and one a pessimist had different reactions to their Christmas presents. The pessimist who received every present on his list still complained that he didn't get the batteries he needed. The optimist, who received a ton of horse manure as his present, was gleeful despite what he was received. When asked by his parents, the child said, "I just know there's got to be a pony here someplace." Foley added that, in 24 years of public service, as a member of the School Committee and as a City Councilor, he has never missed a meeting. He said the biggest issue facing the city is working with the state to secure an adequate level of state aid. Jose Tosado spoke of his background in the mental health field and said that his work on the Council has been aimed to help people who have been disenfranchised. He noted his collaboration with State Senator Steven Buoniconti on sponsoring workshops to address questions of Medicare Part B and with Western New England College Professor Michael Meeropol on forums concerning potential Social Security reforms. Tosado said that he would like to work with the School Committee on working on the youth on youth violence. "We just can't leave it for the police," he said. Kateri Walsh described herself as a "cheerleader for Springfield." Walsh and Kelly have been subjects of criticism in recent speeches made by Mayor Charles Ryan for their role in derailing a $20 million grant from the state that Ryan had negotiated in the first months of his administration. Comments made by the councilors helped convince members of the Legislature to adopt a different aid program for the city a Finance Control Board with a $52 million line of credit. Walsh said there was a "proud tradition of service" in her family and noted that her background includes experience as a teacher and broadcaster, as well as a stint on the state Commission on the Status of Women. She said she was an "independent voice," and thought that non-elected bodies such as the Finance Control Board shouldn't be allowed to make decisions. *** Only two incumbents addressed the issues raised by the challengers. Mazza Moriarty said she "took offense at the finger-pointing." She noted that, since being elected, she has made numerous money-saving and efficiency suggestions and that the Ryan Administration has implemented many of them. "If I'm lucky enough to be re-elected, I'll continue making suggestions," she said. She added that her record shows that she has consistently supported neighborhood groups coming before the Council and that she has frequently been the only Councilor who has voted with the desires of neighborhoods. Rooke, who is the current Council President and a member of the Finance Control Board said that, during his 10 years on the Council, he has been a fiscal conservative who has "tried to bring accountability back to City Hall." Rooke has criticized over-spending on school building projects, favored stripping the police chief of civil service status and opposed a needle exchange program. Rooke admitted that his stands on issues have "rubbed people the wrong way," and that during the last City Council election he dropped from finishing fourth to ninth. "If that's going to offend some people I apologize, but it's your money," he said. He said that, during past years, the Council was given incorrect information about city budgets and said that the Council may not have asked enough questions. "I have learned from those mistakes," he added. *** Also attending the forum were Mayor Charles Ryan and School Committee candidates Victor Davila and Orlando Santiago. |