Candidates gather in East Providence for 2016 election forum

Three of six contested races are represented

By Mike Rego
Posted 10/22/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — There was some subtle though meaningful separation interspersed with points of agreement between the candidates who answered questions from those in attendance at the 2016 …

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Candidates gather in East Providence for 2016 election forum

Three of six contested races are represented

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — There was some subtle though meaningful separation interspersed with points of agreement between the candidates who answered questions from those in attendance at the 2016 East Providence election forum co-hosted by the Rhode Island League of Women Voters and East Bay Newspapers, the parent company The Post, Thursday night, Oct. 20, at the Weaver Library.

The evening featured just three of the six contested races taking place in city November 8 — State Senate District 32, State Representative District 63 and City Council Ward 3. At least one of the candidates for the others — City Council Wards 2 and 4 and School Committee Ward 4 — were unable to attend. For tax purposes, the non-profit League only allows discussions between all candidates.

First-term incumbent Democrat Cindy Coyne and Republican Jimmy Kazounis opened the proceedings in their race for Senate 32. Both candidates back the reinstitution of a state ethics commission, agreed regionalization was a worthy topic of discussion, specifically for school districts, and each said East Providence needs to be included in an effort to construct a second water source for the upper East Bay.

The candidates seemed to differ on banning the sale of automatic weapons. A former state trooper, Mrs. Coyne said she agrees with the ban and would also ban the sale of "high capacity magazines." "I do support the second amendment, but I've seen what gun violence does." Mr. Kazounis was a bit ambiguous in his response, saying the "extremes" on both sides of the gun control issue were too rooted in their views. He said he would seek to mediate a reasonable solution to the matter.

On General Assembly legislative grants, Mr. Kazounis called the program "horrible and corrupt." And if it remained, a "bipartisan committee outside the legislature" should oversee it. Mrs. Coyne said she supported the program, but called for it to be reviewed more closely.

The other point of disagreement between the candidates came on the question of using state funds to entice investment in the wake of the 38 Studios debacle. Mr. Kazounis said he was against the idea, saying deregulation would help lure more investment. Mrs. Coyne said she remained behind the notion, but that it needed more transparency.

The forum remained in the Assembly next when two-term Democrat incumbent Katherine Kazarian and Republican Christopher Holland took to the dais.

Ms. Kazarian noted in her four years on Smith Hill she has helped cut Social Security taxes, beach fees, the corporate tax rate from 9 to 7 percent and utility taxes on non-manufacturing businesses in response to a question about lessening the levy burden in the state. Mr. Holland said Rhode Island "must cut unnecessary spending," be more aggressive about regionalization and simply "be more efficient."

On a line item veto for the executive branch, Ms. Kazarian said she was "open minded," but was against "making one branch of government stronger than another." Mr. Holland said he supports the line item veto, saying it "would even out the power of the governor…give the governor more control over the state budget."

Ms. Kazarian said she would support a law preventing guns on school grounds as well as the issuance of licenses to those with a record of domestic violence. Mr. Holland did not address the domestic violence issues directly, though said was against a gun ban on school grounds if the people have concealed carry permits.

On climate change, Mr. Holland, who noted he had a bachelors degree in science, called it a "ruse," adding the science is not settled. Ms. Kazarian differed greatly, calling climate change "real and scary."

The candidates concluded their forum on the issue of tolls, Mr. Holland voicing his opposition while Ms. Kazarian, who voted for the measure, said the legislature had "no choice" to implement them as one way of helping repair the state's infrastructure.

The final forum was between city council candidates from Ward 3 Joe Botelho and Candy Seel.

Asked their views for the proposed switch to a strong mayor form of government, Mr. Botelho said he was for the change. He said the council has "no accountability" or a "check" under the current manager form and compared it to the U.S. Congress picking the president or the General Assembly choosing the governor. Mrs. Seel is against the change, saying the council has a check and balance…"the voters." And if the council followed city charter, the switch would not be necessary.

At first, Mrs. Seel said she "did not have an answer" for a question regarding the need to build a new high school, but later clarified saying she was for it, but that the city had a litany of matters to be addressed and that the council must "prioritize" those based on the city's means. Mr. Botelho issued an emphatic yes, saying the city needed to "invest in our future." He said the city could "find a way to get it done and done efficiently."

— Photos by Rich Dionne

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.