PORTSMOUTH — There were sharp disagreements, laughter, applause, a sarcastic slow-clap and, before it was all over, an apology and a handshake.

Portsmouth voters got a lively look at nine town council candidates Tuesday night during a candidates forum at the Little Theatre at Portsmouth Middle School, where differences emerged over everything from taxes and open space to nonpartisan elections and the proper role of council members under the town charter.

But some of the evening’s most spirited exchanges involved Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, the local watchdog group known as PCC, which drew both vigorous criticism and defense from candidates.

The forum, presented by the League of Women Voters of Newport County and several partner organizations, was moderated by East Bay Media Group Publisher Scott Pickering. Nine of the 12 council candidates attended.

Democrats Leonard Katzman, John McDaid, Juan Carlos Payero, M. Conley Wake Zani, David Fiorillo and Alexander Lewis Roberts shared the stage with Republicans David Reise, Keith Hamilton and David Gleason.

Independent Mary McDowell, Republican Sharlene Patton and Democrat J. Mark Ryan did not attend. See related story.

The format gave candidates one minute to answer questions, with six 30-second “wild cards” available to jump back into the conversation — a feature candidates used liberally as the evening became more animated.

By the end, even Christine Stenning, president of the League of Women Voters of Newport County, seemed impressed. “This is our first forum of 10 more that we have to put on, and let me say: Wow, what a great night!” she said.

Juan Carlos Payero answers a question during the forum, held in the Little Theatre at Portsmouth Middle School. The others pictured are (from left) Leonard B. Katzman, John G. McDaid, and David G. Reise.

RICHARD W. DIONNE, JR.

PCC takes center stage

Perhaps no question produced more sparks than one asking candidates about PCC, including whether they were members and whether the organization was sufficiently transparent.

Payero said he was “proud not to be with the PCC,” criticizing what he characterized as a lack of transparency and the group’s influence in town affairs.

Reise readily acknowledged membership. “I’m a member of the PCC. I see nothing wrong with it,” he said, describing it as a nonpartisan organization that researches local issues and provides information.

That “nonpartisan” description drew snickers from some audience members.

“Laugh, but we have all kinds of members,” Reise responded.

Zani offered one of the evening’s sharpest assessments. “I think that organization is toxic, and I would be ashamed to be part of it,” she said. “Maybe there’s some good intentions there, but it’s turned into a beast, and it doesn’t serve our town.”

David M. Gleason defended Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, despite not being a member of the organization.

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McDaid disputed Reise’s characterization of PCC as open to everyone, saying he had tried unsuccessfully to join.

Fiorillo said he would “never be a PCC member,” criticizing what he called deceptive practices surrounding a recent Portsmouth Multi-Purpose Senior Center election.

Gleason, meanwhile, defended the organization while stressing he had never belonged to it. PCC has endorsed him in some elections and not others, he said. “I think what they do is commendable,” Gleason said. “I don't see an organization like that from the Democrat side.”

Payero responded: “The Democrats don't need one because we actually endorse our candidates and we state it publicly.”

At one point, Gleason responded to Payero with a sarcastic slow-clap. Near the forum’s end, however, Gleason returned to the episode.

“I have all the respect for Carlos Payero and I want to publicly apologize for my outburst,” he said.

The two men reached across the table and shook hands.

John G. McDaid, an Island Park resident, called flooding threats a deeply personal issue and cited evacuation routes, seawalls and protection of low-lying roads among concerns that should be addressed.

RICHARD W. DIONNE, JR.

Another question that immediately perked up the audience concerned Michael DiPaola’s property along East Main Road, sometimes referred to as the “spite lot,” where signs containing profanity and broken toilet seats have generated complaints.

The submitted question called the property a “public safety issue” and asked whether anything could be done about the signs.

Gleason said he disliked the display but framed the matter as one of constitutional rights. “I don’t agree with how this gentleman uses it,” he said, but added, “It’s your freedom of speech.”

Fiorillo was far more pointed, calling DiPaola “a despicable person” and the display “garbage and filth” that children see on their way to school. He said he would explore any legal avenue available to address it while recognizing the town should avoid unnecessary litigation.

Roberts said he disliked the display but questioned whether it deserved extensive attention from town government. It could even offer parents an opportunity to teach children about free speech and disagreements, he said.

Katzman put it succinctly. “The way to fight disgusting speech is with more speech,” he said. “I don’t like the filth, but I like my First Amendment rights better.”

Party labels divide field

Candidates also split sharply over the November ballot question that would remove party affiliations from future municipal ballots.

Conley Wake Zani spoke against nonpartisan elections, saying it takes valuable information away from voters in the ballot box.

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Hamilton strongly supports the change, arguing party labels make more sense in state and federal politics than in municipal government. “We shouldn’t be looking at being Democrats and Republicans,” he said. Council members, he said, should instead focus on “the best interest of all the citizens of this town.”

Gleason also supports the proposal, saying voters can research candidates themselves.

Zani opposed it, saying party affiliation gives voters relevant information about candidates’ “priorities and values.”

Fiorillo agreed. “In college, I liked cheat sheets,” he joked, saying a party endorsement gives voters at least some indication of where a candidate stands.

McDaid called party affiliation “a piece of data that voters have had and that we would be taking away.”

Katzman rejected the term “nonpartisan elections” altogether.

“It is not nonpartisan elections. It is hidden-party elections,” he said. “I am running for a Democrat and I want everyone to know it.”

Payero, chairman of the Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee, also opposed the change and argued that such a proposal should come through the charter review process.

Charter, disc golf debated

Candidates found somewhat more agreement when asked about a recent council proposal to have two council members participate in the process of interviewing candidates for department-head positions.

Roberts, Katzman and McDaid said the charter clearly assigns management responsibilities to the town administrator.

David P. Fiorillo (center) chats with Alexander Lewis Roberts as David Gleason looks out to the audience before the start of the forum.

RICHARD W. DIONNE, JR.

“The charter should be looked at as something to follow, not to find loopholes in,” Katzman said.

Payero put the distinction this way: “The council governs; the town administrator manages.”

Gleason said the controversy had been “blown out of proportion,” but agreed the administrator has hiring and firing authority and presents a nominee to the council for approval.

Another question focused on the council’s controversial reconsideration of a proposed disc golf course at Glen Park, and whether revisiting decided issues undermines public confidence in the body.

Reise and Gleason defended the council’s decision to revisit the matter after hearing from additional residents. Both said they support disc golf but believe Glen Park was the wrong location.

Zani saw the repeated reconsideration of council decisions differently, saying it appeared to be driven at times by “earning political points.”

Hamilton said revisiting subjects can be OK, “but revisiting subjects when we have information that is corrupted is wrong. And a lot of the information that came forward on the second review for disc golf was information that was corrupted.” The course, he said, “wasn’t going to destroy the charm of the land” as some residents around the park had argued.

Roberts said repeated votes can undermine an efficient and predictable government. In the disc golf case, he said, the council should have allowed the proposed one-year trial to proceed before evaluating the results.

Fiorillo, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee which had vetted and recommended the plan, strongly defended the work that went into the proposal, saying the committee spent more than six months developing it. “In that situation, it was a bunch of malarkey,” he said of some of the opposition presented to the council.

Taxes, open space and flooding

There was broader agreement that Portsmouth needs to address affordability, although candidates differed on how.

Katzman said tax-relief options should be studied early in the next council term. McDaid said officials should examine fees as well as taxes, pointing specifically to the town’s trash fee, which he said disproportionately affects residents with lower incomes.

David G. Reise defended the town council’s decision to revisit the disc golf plan after hearing from additional residents. He said he supported disc golf, but that Glen Park was the wrong location.

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Payero said officials are examining ways to incorporate some costs into the tax base, while Reise said Portsmouth should look for additional revenue from town-owned properties and examine what services nonresident property owners actually use.

On preserving open space, candidates repeatedly emphasized balance.

Katzman noted that Portsmouth has grown dramatically since his childhood and said open space is essential to the town’s character, but warned that removing too much buildable land could worsen housing costs.

Zani, a former vice president of the Aquidneck Land Trust, said she had read the organization’s 2017 study projecting significant losses of open space by 2050. “It’s very scary,” she said, stressing the importance of the comprehensive plan and professional town staff.

Candidates also discussed flooding threats in Island Park and Common Fence Point.

McDaid, an Island Park resident, called it a deeply personal issue and cited evacuation routes, seawalls and protection of low-lying roads among concerns that should be addressed.

Zani, who has been involved in Common Fence Point leadership, similarly emphasized evacuation routes and neighborhood preparedness.

Hamilton said Portsmouth cannot tackle such infrastructure needs alone and must work with state and federal partners for funding.

Different visions for council

The divisions evident throughout the night carried into closing statements.

Katzman, who left the council in 2024 after his wife was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, said he is ready to return and argued Portsmouth needs a government prepared for challenges that cannot always be anticipated.

“You don’t face a crisis with the government you wish you had,” he said. “You face a crisis with the government you have in office.”

Zani said Portsmouth needs a more collaborative council, while Fiorillo said he wants to restore “some stability” to town government.

Reise, seeking another term, drew a laugh with his own explanation for wanting to continue serving. “I can’t say I do it for the money,” he said, “but I’d like to do it again.”

Hamilton, running for his 10th term, offered a principle he said guides him: “We can disagree, but we shouldn’t be disagreeable.”