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Election clock ticking

Candidates for the West Springfield School Committee participated in the debates at Town Hall last Thursday. Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron
City council and school committee candidates heat up debates

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD With the election less than two weeks away, candidates for the West Springfield School Committee and City Council participated in a debate last week at town hall, which spawned many viewpoints amongst candidates particularly about the city's dilapidated high school building and ever-rising taxes.

The debates began with opening remarks from the candidates for the six-seat School Committee: incumbent Dr. Joseph Foresi, Jr., incumbent Nancy Farrell, incumbent Patricia Garbacik, incumbent Daniel Sullivan, challenger Carmino Santaniello, Jr., and incumbent Peter Andrew. The seventh candidate, incumbent Kathleen Alevras, was unable to attend the debate due to illness. During his opening remarks Foresi noted his commitment to the School Committee over the past seven years. He said if elected for a fifth consecutive term he would continue his work on the School Committee as well as various subcommittees to improve the school system and bring his 45 years of experience as an educator.

Farrell said she is seeking reelection so that she may continue her work to "negotiate contracts and establish School Committee goals." She said her 30 years experience of working on behalf of children and as a math teacher makes her significantly qualified.

In her opening remarks Garbacik said she believes that "children are a gift and that no greater responsibility falls on a community than [their] education." She also noted her qualifications with 30 years experience in the field of education.

Sullivan said he is seeking reelection with a "main focus" on the condition of the school buildings and serving the 4,027 students in the public school system.

During his opening remarks Santaniello, the only challenger, said, "Effective town government needs some turnover." He noted that he has lived in West Springfield his entire life and has put five children through the town's school system.

Andrew said he is seeking reelection because he recognized the need for "every student to have a quality education." He noted his qualifications as a retired teacher of 34 years.

After opening remarks candidates were each asked a series of questions from a two-person panel.

Foresi was asked about his views on the current state of school buildings. He responded by saying that the committee's top priority must be the deplorable condition of the high school.

Farrell said problems will arise in finding math, science, foreign language and special education teachers. She added that she would like to see the state offer alternative ways of achieving teacher certification for those that have been working in alternative fields such as business.

The panel asked Garbacik her opinion about the possibility of instituting longer school days. She said she does not believe in instituting longer school days without enrichment programs such as art, otherwise the students are exhausted by the end of the day.

Sullivan was asked what he thinks are the most pressing issues for this school system. He responded by saying the two most pressing issues are the condition of the school buildings and staff stability. He added that students need stability and not to see new teachers come and go every year.

The panel asked Santaniello what actions are most critical to be taken by the committee next year. He said the committee must act on repairing the high school and find ways of combating the dropout rate.

Andrew was asked about how the Committee can increase the high school's 75.2 percent graduate rate. He responded by saying that increasing the graduation rate is a priority item and that students at risk need to be reported so that they may be helped along the road to graduation.

Next on the debate agenda were the 10 participating candidates for City Council. District One Councilor Angus Rushlow, 2nd District Councilor Cynthia Romaniak, and 3rd District Councilor Michael Finn were present at the debates but were only allowed to participate in opening remarks as the three incumbents are running unopposed.

Five of eight City Councilor at large candidates were present at the debates including challenger Ralph Shapiro, challenger Travis Chaput, incumbent Kathleen Bourque, challenger Vernon Coleman, and incumbent Paul Boudo. The other candidates, incumbent Gerard Matthews, challenger Robert Mancini and challenger Richard Newman, were not in attendance.

The two candidates for 4th District City Councilor, incumbent John Sweeney and challenger Michael LaRiviere, also participated in the debate.

In his opening remarks Shapiro noted his nine years of service on the Finance Committee before the mayoral form of government and his commitment to putting the tax dollars to the "highest and best use."

Chaput said he is committed to exercising "fiscal restrain," and hiring a grant writer for additional state and federal funding.

Bourque said she is seeking reelection because she wants to "continue her commitment to West Springfield." Bourque said taxes are a "main concern" of hers.

In his opening remarks, Coleman said he is working for what voters feel is important such as safety and public schools.

Sweeney said he is seeking reelection because he is committed to the improvement and needs of the 4th District.

Boudo said in his opening remarks that he is committed to the establishment of a five-year plan even though those in government say it cannot be done.

LaRiviere said he is running a campaign on clear stances of every topic, particularly when it comes to his opposition of an operating budget that exceeds more than a three percent growth.

Shapiro was issued the first question from the panel about the relevance of the tax shift and its effect on businesses. Shapiro said the tax shift is "key" because he wants to invite businesses here, not "tax them out of existence."

When asked what he would do if an override was needed to build a new high school, Chaput said he would try to find better avenues of funding the project rather than an override, such as the hiring of a grant writer. However he would support the project if he believed the new high school would be built "on time and on budget."

Bourque was asked about what she would do better to entice businesses to locate here. She said West Springfield is in an excellent location, at the "crossroads of New England," which should entice businesses.

When asked a similar question Coleman said West Springfield has to be "business friendly" because businesses bring jobs to the town.

The panel asked Sweeney about the function of town government especially because the West Springfield government is so young. He responded by saying that as a 4th District Councilor he does what 30 town meeting members used to do. He said the function of the town government can be improved through "heightened communication."

Boudo was asked by the panel to explain his five-year plan in further detail. He said the plan would stabilize the budget, improve roads and infrastructure, update buildings and see schools built.

When asked about how he believes the town's stabilization account could be put to good use LaRiviere said it could be used to reduce property taxes.

During closing remarks each candidate highlighted what they believed were the most important issues facing West Springfield such as attracting businesses, land development, renovation of Route 5, rising taxes, traffic and safety.

For more information call the Town Clerk's office at 263-3012.