In an effort to provide public information to Fitchburg voters, I invested some of my precious time listening over and over again to jot down excerpts of 5-minute speeches delivered by candidates for the primary election. People with cable TV have probably seen a few of them but I thought I would post their excerpts here. Some of their notable messages though may not be included due to “fast reading of their speeches”. But I still hope this collection of excerpts will be helpful in some sort of way.
Candidates for Mayor
Ron Dionne: You may have noticed that I haven’t opened a campaign headquarters or I have signs downtown and I’m sure you’re asking why. The answer is simple. I don’t have personal funds to do so and I vowed as in the past that I would not accept any financial support from anyone or business. I will accept any in-kind contributions if they’re offered. I have made it my policy in life to always live within my means and will bring that way of doing business to city hall. We all must remember that with only $95M budget, one must be very cautious on spending. My priority begins with getting our financial house in order, tight control on spending, stabilizing property tax and bringing city services to the level that we all agree have been lacking. Our city needs a strong leader without political ties. I ask for your support and faith to do what is needed to make our city a place we all can say we are proud to live.
Ted DeSalvatore: Our Finance team is often ignored. I promise to listen, follow and will test their advice but never refuse its guidance without just thought. It will take a swift turn of the helm’s wheel if we are to avoid disaster. Trust me when I say this is not a job for status-quo, the indecisive, or the faint of heart… I have worked hard to bring attention to one of the largest and out-of-control neighborhoods here in Fitchburg. This initiative needs to be finished and replicated throughout the city. By electing me, you will see the project completed and methods learned applied everywhere. It is the only way to end the exodus of hard work in families. I, Ted DeSalvatore, promise to be tougher on crimes, tougher on slumlords, and tougher on corruption than anyone has ever done before.
Tom Donnelly: My commitment to you and the city didn’t start a few months or a few years ago. I have taken an active role in community affairs for over 35 years… As Mayor, I will utilize all available resources to implement a comprehensive plan which includes neighborhood policing with an emphasis on prevention as well as arresting conviction… As Mayor, I will conduct regular meetings with you to hear your concerns and work with you to find solutions to your neighborhood issues… When elected Mayor, I will create a municipal finance advisory board… I will also create a capital projects committee to establish long-range maintenance plan for city buildings and infrastructures… I am not running for mayor because I need a job. I’m running for mayor so that we can move Fitchburg forward.
Lisa Wong: I’m running because I love the city, believe in the city and I want to be a part of its future. Fitchburg deserves new leadership who is going to put the best interest in the city first. Fitchburg deserves an experienced manager who you can trust with your hard-earned tax million dollars and invest those dollars in quality schools and quality services. Fitchburg deserves somebody with a vision who can get things done and bring in outside resources. We have waited too long for action. Many of the problems in the city stems from basic economic. We do not have enough money. We need somebody who knows about finances, who knows how to run organizations effectively and efficiently, and in the long run who can bring growth and new jobs to the city… At the Redevelopment Authority, I have demonstrated a strong track record of not only fiscal responsibility but growth… I want to do the same thing with the city, to continue to grow our net assets so we can invest the money back in our schools, our streets and public safety.
Candidates for School Committee (2-year seat)
Yvette Cooks: In all honesty, I do not have all the answers. I know that I cannot single-handedly produce more money our need to solve …shortage of teachers, maintenance issues… individualized attention … concerns of the bullying issue. As your elected official, I will try to bring up and discuss issues such as: development of long-term plan for Fitchburg Public School system, development of comprehensive… for the MCAS, engage in more conversations with our State Senators and State Representatives…
Jim Reynolds (incumbent): The primary reason why I’m asking for your vote is for the children. The School Committee itself is the only board that is elected to look after the children. There isn’t anybody else whose job that is. So with that responsibility, I take this role very seriously. Over the past several months I’ve been on the School Committee and it was certainly a learning experience of trying to get my feet on the ground but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of understanding what’s going on… Good money buys a good education… The more money we get for our children, the better educational opportunity we can give them. If that’s true, then we really need to go watch that money.
Peter Stephens: My reason for running for School Committee is that I want the children of Fitchburg to get the best possible education that can be given with Fitchburg’s limited tax dollars which makes it very difficult decisions on where we spend the money but our children needs to be our number one priority. This present School Committee needs to find the money to keep our Music and Art programs in particular in the Middle Schools… Technology needs major upgrades… Kindegarten transition needs to be completed… I have a Masters degree in Education Administration of Budget and Finance. I have worked with high budgets.
Candidates for Ward 4 Councilor
Kenneth Biagoni: I feel we need some changes in Fitchburg. After canvassing in the streets, getting signatures to be put on the ballot, most of the concerns of the residents were the conditions of the streets, the safety of the streets, the cleanliness of the streets, the neighborhoods and what’s being done… and the financial condition of the city that we’re in… We’re spending a lot more money on old buildings. We should be looking into replacing them with newer ones. We should be looking into bringing back the dispatchers to get more police back out in the streets, to get more firefighters back out in the streets, to get more teachers.
Steve Seney: Those without vision are just people in charge, not leaders. I will be your leader. I believe that my commitment and business experience will help me serve those of you in Ward 4… As your Councilor, I will stay committed to the essential needs of the Ward. This will include streets and sidewalk maintenance, a commitment to our school system, public safety and the elimination of unwanted bad element in much of our Ward.
Kevin Starr: As your Ward 4 Councilor, I understand what my obligations to you should be: listen to the residents, address individual concerns and be an aggressive advocate for the Ward. I promise to respond quickly to any calls of concerns from the people of Ward 4… Accountability and communication help build a better city. My wife and I have chosen to make Fitchburg our home. We bought our house here; plan to raise and educate our daughter here. I’d like to see other young families like ours consider doing the same thing. I’d like to see my daughter have as much joy in growing up in Fitchburg than I did; and I would like that for everybody else’s family as well. I love this city; I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I feel that I’m the right person at the right time to represent the people of Ward 4.
I personally do not like posting a long entry simply because I don’t like to read long blog entries myself; but this information is just too important not to post. I offer my sincere apologies ahead of time to all the candidates for the non-inclusion of some parts and I strongly recommend that voters watch their speeches in entirety at FATV.