Live Blog from the Attleboro Mayoral Debate

8:17 p.m.: Four parts to the debate. Open with 5 opening statements determined with toss of a coin. Ronald Churchill wins the toss and asks to speak second.

Audience asked to fill out index cards with questions for candidates. Candidates will have one minute to answer with rebuttals.

Third part questions asked by each candidate to their opponent. Then final closing statements between Kevin Dumas and Churchill.

Dumas: Opening statement. Good evening and welcome. Thank you to the organizers and those at home. I've been born and raised here in Attleboro. Attended Attleboro High School. Graduated from St. Michaels. Worked in the private sector at State Street Bank. To make a difference every candidate must be prepared. Mayor must prepare three separate budgets. Mayor must serve as chief procurement officer. I said two weeks ago that our city is fiscally solvent.

We have to have a sound financial base. Out of 351 municipalities not all can say that but we are a shining star. Proud of Briggs Corner Station. I never closed the fire station. Proud of the fact we have more than $2 million in rainy day fund. I'm proud we pay with cash whenever we can. Since I took office in 2004 we are $22 million less in debt. We've been able to hold rubbish fee for four years in a row and water rates three years in a row.

8:23 p.m.: Dumas thanks his staff and said position for mayor deserves the most qualified candidate. Asks for continued support on Nov. 8.

8:24: Churchill Opening Statement: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'm a lifelong resident of the city of Attleboro. Wife natalie and four kids. Been at fire department for 43 years. I am the oldest candidate here tonight. I've been an alter boy, a boys scout, a police man, a soldier, a semi-pro football player, volunteer at the Attleboro High School. Been in the city for 67 years. Enjoy a lot of things about the City. When I came home from overseas realized how important family was and city was.

8:26: Thanks veterans. Without veterans the liberty we have with voting and debating. The mayor was my boss for 7.5 years. We didn't have many arguments. I don't think I would have won many of those anyway. We are ranked 272 that is the bottom 20 percent. To rush inot patching up the school is foolish. My idea is we need to have a study and look at what we should do for the high school. I think one thing we need to decide to do. Asked what are your priorities for the city. Budget. Never seen a mayor yet who didnt think public safety was important or else they would not be elected.

What's going on in the city reflects not just on people running the city but its citizens. When we give our speech and go through rhetoric. It's easy to speak, but it's hard to do. I've lost, I've won. I've succeed, I've failed. I think I'm tough enough, smart enough to do this job. Thank you.

Question for candidates from audience: Vision for Attleboro for the next 10 years?

Churchill: I think everyone is dedicated. My vision is we need to decide what we are going to do about schools, downtown, ARA. The city of Attleboro like many cities and towns are in trouble. My vision is the same vision I had for my family. I want what's best for the children. I can't do it alone. I need others to help me and guide me through that.

Dumas: As noted on my website I think it's important to have a vision. You have to have sound fiscal stability. Four fundamental values, public safety, education and quality of life. That's how we are getting ranked as best places to live and best places to raise children. If we follow those tools the city of Attleboro 10 years from now will be even better than it is now.

Question for Dumas/Churchill: What will you do to support the greening the City? Answer from Dumas: We are looking at forming a committee to help form things to be a more green society.

Churchill: We've lost a lot of green space. For those of you who have been around a while will realize a lot of green space has disappeared. We are in trouble.

Question for Churchill: Asked about the Industrial Business Park. Answer: The city is in debt with the park. Would I sell the park to get out debt. I think that is a consideration. When this was planned before Dumas was Mayor. I'd sell the park if the neighborhood wasn't compromised.

Dumas: That is what we are trying to do is to sell the park whether parcel by parcel or in its entirety.

8:37 p.m.:

Question for Dumas: Should officer of clerk, treasuer and collector be elected why or not. Dumas Answer: Certainly as we continue to grow the responsibliels put on tho. Me as Kevin Dumas it would be wise to go through and have those positions be appointed positions to be sure most qualified persons.

Churchill: Danger of having them being appointed is danger of a dictatorship. Most people are very qualified. I would say they should be elected. We should trust people in the city. It's almost like a dictatorship.

Question for Churchill: Plans for a quick repair of Olive Street Bridge? Chuchill: Got any tips Mayor? Churchill they built a bridge in 18 months. I'd become a pain in the ass to the governor and say hey we need to address this bridge. Get off your butt and help Attleboro.

Dumas: Unfortunately it's not the City of Attleboro doing the work. Commonwealth and Mass Highway Dept. With Superintendent Clover and Ron Dubuc will help to get it done on time and open for all of you.

Question for Mayor: Who sits at the table of board of directors of your life?

Dumas: The glasses have to come off for that one. My parents, I'm lucky enough to still have them. My partner John. I'm lucky to have him for stability and comfort in my life. I have terrific friends in my life, Joe Solis. They guide me. They challenge me all the time.

Churchill: Alright princess stand up! She is the guide of our board of directors and firm believer of God, duty and honor and I thank her for it.

Question from Churchill to Dumas: Plan to move DPW garage and why?

Dumas Answer: Over to the right hand side of sewer plan, land city already owns. We both own those properties. We looked at all other options. Team working with governor's office and state officials to move the yard to that location.

Churchill: Concerns is we are going to lose space for our sludge. We are taking ability to store more sludge and will cost to tow it away. I realize everything has its drawbacks. Armory and waste management is something we should look at. We should look at cost initially and down the road.

Dumas question to Churchill: Mr. churhill Mass School Board Authority's decision that the school does not qualify for a new high school. Have you cont

Churchill: No, I have not checked. The school is old and the school needs to be repaired. Our school system is not on the list. I'd become an advocate to get back on the list. If we spend $20 or $30 million to patch the school...we need to have a better plan.

Dumas: Even though we talked about this in the paper and even though the fact I want  an new school. We had to submit statement of interest to do HVAC systems and windows in the high school. MSBA wasnt like years ago when you get your name on a list. They came down and said this school is structually sound. 

Churchill question to Dumas: In 2003 City of Attleboro city received a letter for Dept of Environmental Management that phospate rate would need to be meet rate of discharge into Ten Mile River. What's your plan to do that and cost.

Dumas: When I first started off in 2004 ...I called DEP to the table and asked what level of dicharge for nitrogen and phosperous. Now, I'm going through and take $639,000 in cash to do nitrogen upgrade which is fantastic while we continue to work with EPA. This is a global issue and all communities are talking with one another.

Churchill: It's going to be a big, big bill.

Dumas question to Churchill: When I took office city had only approsimatley $200,000 and now we have over $2 million. How will you fill this fund?

Churchill: I would with the enterprise fund. There are things I just wouldn't know until I sit in that seat. We were ranked 272 in the state. Having money in rainy day fund is important.

Dumas: The city's free cash is not from water/sewer rate users. We use free cash as inserts to put in stabilization fund. My goal is 5 to 10 percent. We've started on that journey and will continue to do that.

Churchill to Dumas: In 1984 the state established an assessment bureau and assess your financial needs, debt is, what you're making not making. Many cities and towns have used free advice. Why hasn't city of Attleboro?

Dumas: Dept. of revenue expects from cities and towns. We do a mid-year review every six months. If they are not satisfied they will not approve our tax rate. Also going forth and working with Director Nunes at the Dept. of Revenue to go through consistently to be sure we are doing the right things.

Churchill: I said was established in 1984 and it didn't end there. It's something that is legitimate, it's free. Something the city of Attleboro needs to look into. We need to know where we are going.

8:57 p.m.

Dumas to Churchill: I renew my pledge not to close Briggs. Would mayor Churchill make those recommendations that chief Churchill did.

Churchill: There were 3 more paramedics then there are now. It was not the Mayor's idea or the mayor before him idea. If I am the mayor I won't close it. But I wasn't the mayor and I had to add pressure to keep it open.

Dumas: It's not just about pressure it's about saving lives.