EAST PROVIDENCE — The League of Women Voters Rhode Island and East Bay Media Group, parent company of The Post, hosted a trio of forums for East Providence City Council candidates in early October at the Riverside Branch Library.

Evening notes

Frank Rego and Ed Wencis opened the evening in a meeting of newcomers seeking to fill the Ward 1 seat being vacated by three-term incumbent Bob Britto, who is running for State Senate as a Democrat in District 18.

(Rego is the brother of East Providence Post editor Mike Rego. For more information on Rego’s candidacy visit frankrego.com. Find more about Wencis at his page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/eddie.wencis.)

In addition, the opponents of incumbents Nate Cahoon in Ward 3 and Anna Sousa in Ward 2 declined invitations to participate. Because of the League's non-profit, non-partisan tax status, Cahoon and Sousa were not allowed to speak but were introduced to the audience viewing the forum.

At-Large forum

Next up, one-term incumbent Bob Rodericks and Brian Castro met in a forum for At-Large position.

To open the discussion, asked why either is the better candidate Rodericks referred to his previous experience as a School Committee member and his accomplishments during the last four years on the council.

Rodericks added he “knows the city well…I don’t get involved in petty politics…I try to reach compromises.” He noted, as well, his opponent hasn’t often attended any council meetings and has not engaged in many issues publicly.

Castro countered, saying he would be “a better listener.” He criticized Rodericks for not holding community meetings, which is a setting where “you get to know what we as a community wants.”

Both candidates said they supported funding the school district to a greater extent than the roughly 48 percent the city does currently.

Castro said he did not know where the money would come from, but that he “was willing to learn.”

Rodericks said “not only would I, but I have.” He added supports upping the city’s contribution to at least “50-50” and that it “should be closer to 60-40.”

The candidates again found common ground on the controversial issue of speed cameras.

Both said the time period daily should change from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. to the school rush hours of 7-9 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Rodericks said he did not think the cameras, which are placed in so-called “school zones,” were needed near Riverside Middle School on Forbes Street because students do not walk to the building via that road. He said he was open to other changes as well.

Castro’s main complaint was the lack of signage leading up to the zones, saying the neon green placards currently in place were insufficient and do not alert drivers soon enough.

One of the other topics broached was if the candidates supported the council-mayor form of government now completing its first four-year cycle since implementation in 2019?

Both said they did.

Rodericks implied it has brought stability to city governance, recollecting previous councils hired and fired a handful of city managers prior to the change.

He noted the system “still needs some tweaks.” Rodericks said would to see aspects of the city clerk’s office to be better defined as well as the council’s access to department heads be improved. He added he hoped the next Charter Review Commission soon to be seated could address those concerns and others.

Castro, likewise, said he supported the change in form, but charged the majority of the current council, including his opponent, was “just going along with mayor’s agenda.”

Ward 4 forum

Another one-term incumbent, Ricardo Mourato, met Rick Lawson in the forum for Ward 4 candidates to close the evening.

When asked about their goals for the city if elected, Lawson said he followed “four pillars,” public safety, public education, public works and qualify of life. It was imperative to focus on proper funding, training and equipment for city employees. In addition, he said for Ward 4 specifically his initial aim is to have the concession stand built at Crescent Park Carousel.

Mourato said his main goal was for transparency in the budget process. He also said he, too, supported getting the concession stand built at the carousel and would also continue to eye more upgrades at Riverside Square and Willett Pond.

Asked about what types of businesses does the city need to lure in the future, Mourato

didn’t exactly answer the question, but did claim the city has “millions of square footage” of empty commercial spaces it should help fill before any new construction takes place.

He also there remains a need to streamline permitting and to lower tangible taxes, but did not cite specifics in either case.

Lawson said East Providence is a “bedroom community” and that it should use the arts among other things to draw business to the city.

He also cited an “up-and-coming restaurant scene” as another enticement, while saying the city should emphasize its micro business loan program and continue to upgrade infrastructure.

On the topic of speed cameras, the candidates found some common ground in their opposition. Each agreed there were other traffic calming measures that could used in their place, like speed bumps.

Lawson echoed the call to only have the cameras active during arrival and departure times at schools. Mourato urged the police department to better monitor school zones in the mornings and afternoons.

The gloves came off a bit in their closing remarks as Lawson challenged Mourato for his opposition to proposals made by the council and the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva, with whom the incumbent has had a strained relationship to put it mildly.

Lawson said Mourato had voted against several items that could have aided the Riverside community as well as the city’s operational budget.

“You can say your for things, but your actions need to match your words,” Lawson said.

Mourato countered by saying Lawson had “quit” every board and commission he had been appointed to in the city and asked whether he would do the same if elected when things got “tough” on the council.

View all three forums in full on the League of Women Voters Rhode Island website, https://my.lwv.org/rhode-island, “2022 Candidate Forum Videos” section.