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Mayoral challengers debate in Sarno’s absence

Date: 9/6/2011

Sept. 5, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

NEWS ANALYSIS

SPRINGFIELD — The first chance for voters to see all three candidates for mayor discuss issues and ideas turned out to be an event that benefited the two challengers because the incumbent didn’t show up.

City Council President Jose Tosado and School Committee member Antonette Pepe spoke at the candidate’s forum on Aug. 31 presented by the McKnight Neighborhood Council at American International College. Mayor Domenic Sarno did not attend with scheduling problems cited as the reason by the organizers.

The result was a civil discussion between the two candidates, who described themselves as friends, about issues confronting the city with occasional sharp barbs tossed at Sarno.

The event probably challenged some members of the public’s perception of the two candidates. Tosado appeared more decisive and he offered a number of specific steps he would take as mayor. He also was willing to challenge Sarno’s record.

Pepe spoke about subjects other the city’s schools and showed a self-deprecating sense of humor.

The subject of the side agreements to the school superintendent — the issue that has added much heat to the mayor’s race this summer — did not come up in the discussion, although one might assume if Sarno had been present, both candidates would have addressed that issue.

Moderated by Walter Kroll, the neighborhood council’s president, the two-hour discussion touched on crime, business development, the biomass plant and working with the City Council.

In the introductory remarks, Tosado discussed his background as a social worker and as a member of the School Committee and City Council, while Pepe spoke of her transition from stay-at-home mother to school paraprofessional, union president and then member of the School Committee.

Tosado, noting Sarno’s absence, said, “I’d like to thank my good friend Antonette for showing up.” Pepe said she wanted an empty chair to be put on stage.

On the subject of the city’s level of crime and police strategy, Pepe called for a return of community policing, with the use of neighborhood council offices as a base of operations for officers assigned to an area of the city.

Explaining that truancy is a gateway to gang involvement, Pepe added that parents must take truancy seriously and suggested parents should be required to pay a fine each time their child was absent.

She said she would be sitting down with rank and file police officers to get their ideas and making sure the leadership of the department accountable.

“We should be able to walk around free and unafraid,” she said.

Tosado took aim at one of Sarno’s favorite campaign phrases of “putting boots on the street” and said such rhetoric is “not a public safety strategy.”

He said the city must move to a culture of crime prevention and called Sarno’s record on public safety “horrendous.”

If elected Tosado would develop a “gun squad” — a special unit devoted to the removal of illegal guns. He would fund it by auctioning off the car belonging to the person caught with illegal firearms.

He would also bring back a civilian police commission that would have the responsibility of hiring, firing and overseeing discipline in the department.

On the subject of economic development, Tosado charged, “We do the same thing over and over and we fail and we do it over and over and we get the same results.”

He cited the annual developers’ conference as an event that is repeated with no tangible results. Tosado would rather work with existing small businesses to make sure they have access to capital and credit so they can grow.

“Rather than try to import a middle class, we should grow our own,” he said.

Pepe believes the city must lower taxes for businesses as well to retain and attract businesses. She strongly questioned why the city’s Office of Economic Development must hire consultants to advise on economic development issues.

She noted Springfield’s importance to the area economy and said a more successful City of Homes “would be a catalyst for surrounding towns.”

Tosado and Pepe both addressed a lack of transparency in the Sarno administration. Tosado asserted, “There is a lot of arrogance in City Hall.”

He added some city employees don’t return phone calls about concerns such as blight in neighborhoods and they “don’t go out of their way to solve problems.”

When asked about residency requirements for city employees, both candidates voiced their support. Tosado said the current ordinances aren’t being enforced, while Pepe said Sarno is giving waivers to requirements to some employees.

On the controversial biomass plant, Pepe said the City Council should never have approved the original special permit. Tosado, who voted for that permit, said after receiving more information he changed his mind and supported the effort to rescind the permit.

Speaking to how the mayor should interact with the City Council, Pepe said with Sarno if a councilor isn’t “in” with him, he or she doesn’t have access to the mayor.

“I plan with meet with the City Council and talk with them to solve problems,” she said.

Tosado described Sarno and his administration as “insular and secretive.” He said with a smile, “The mayor calls 56 press conferences a day and gives the City Council 45 minutes lead time [if they would like to attend].”

“As a practicing social worker, I have my thoughts why he behaves in that manner,” Tosado added.

Pepe claimed the technique used by Sarno is to “divide and conquer” any possible opposition.

“It’s the worst it’s ever been,” Tosado said. “No one is talking to each other. It’s an intentional practice. There’s a fear factor there.”

The neighborhood council is sponsoring another forum on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts center at the college.



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