From left: Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp and City Council President John Ward participated in a pre-taped debate hosted by WPRI-TV 12 on Friday. (James Bartone/WPRI-TV)
The widest divide between the two candidates vying for the Woonsocket mayoral seat centers on their relationship to former Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.
Indeed, Baldelli-Hunt, who abruptly resigned 11 months ago amid a land deal scandal, dominated a Friday debate between Mayor Christopher Beauchamp and City Council President John Ward, who are both running in the nonpartisan city mayoral race. The pre-taped debate was hosted by WPRI-TV 12 and moderated by Target 12 Chief Investigative Reporter Tim White and 12 News Politics Editor Ted Nesi.
Beauchamp, the former city council president, was appointed mayor after Baldelli-Hunt stepped down last November. At the time Baldelli-Hunt resigned, Beauchamp offered high praise for the longtime city leader, despite a string of questionable decisions during her time in office. Most notably, Baldelli-Hunt bought vacant land from her former boss, spending a portion of the city’s federal pandemic aid without council permission, and without the required real estate assessment, first reported by WPRI and later detailed in an investigation by the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office.
The federal investigation, made public via an August report, did not result in charges against Baldelli-Hunt or others involved. The city council referred the findings to state and local law enforcement, while reversing the deal to buy the land.
Beauchamp on Friday sought to distance himself from his predecessor, maintaining that despite a three-decade relationship, Baldelli-Hunt has no influence over or involvement in his campaign.
“To be honest, we haven’t even talked in four months,” Beauchamp said.
Ward, who ascended to town council president after Beauchamp became mayor last year, isn’t convinced. Even if Beauchamp isn’t in direct communication with Baldelli-Hunt, Ward sees the mayor’s actions — keeping on city employees caught up in the land deal controversy, for example — as proof that Beauchamp is still tied to the old administration.
“All the accolades he alludes to have an underpinning that comes out of what I consider that corrupt process related to the land deal,” Ward said of his opponent. “That, to me, is carrying on the legacy of Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.”
Ward was the top vote-getter in the Sept. 10, nonpartisan primary, capturing nearly 55% of the vote in the three-way race. Beauchamp received nearly 40%, while a third candidate, Keith Harrison, drew support from 6% of voters, failing to advance to the general election.
Apart from views of the former city leader, the two, lifelong city residents agreed more often than not. Both linked the city’s rising population of unhoused residents to recent spikes in overdose rates, suggesting the need for more intervention from law enforcement.
Beauchamp referenced a June U.S. Supreme Court decision authorizing cities to arrest and fine people sleeping outside, and remove them from public spaces.
“I have compassion and I have empathy but I will not be taken advantage of,” Beauchamp said. “I want to make sure we’re helping people that live or have connections to the city as opposed to 20, 30, 40 people that are coming in from outside the city.”
Ward called for more focus on where addicts are getting their drugs, calling for a greater focus on “the streets,” to complement existing addiction and first responder programs.
Between higher rates of addiction, pension and school construction debt, and the stain left by Baldelli-Hunt, Woonsocket has an image problem, both candidates acknowledged.
But that doesn’t mean the city can’t turn it around. Candidates called for a range of solutions including increasing funding for local schools, paying off debt on school construction and pension and redevelopment projects to stimulate the downtown and provide more housing across income levels.
Both candidates backed the city ballot question calling for four-year mayoral terms with a two-term limit, and expressed interest in returning some of the seven council seats to represent dedicated geographic areas, rather than the existing model where all seven members serve “at large.”
The race is nonpartisan, but party politics made a guest appearance when candidates were asked who they would vote for in the presidential election. Beauchamp answered “Kamala Harris” with no hesitation, while Ward said he had not made up his mind.
“I am uncomfortable with the candidates offered to us at this point,” he said.
The debate premieres at 6:30 p.m. Friday on Fox Providence, re-airing at 5:30 a.m. Sunday on WPRI and 10 a.m. on Fox Providence. The debate is also available online.
The general election is Nov. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 16.
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