Council, House Candidates to Debate

Candidates for East Providence City Council and House Districts 63 and 65 will square off tonight, Oct. 24, at Newman Congregational Church in Rumford.

The “Candidates’ Night” is sponsored by the East Providence Coalition. It runs from 7 to 9 pm.

“We’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” said Ken Schneider, co-president of the Rumford-based non-profit organization best known for its efforts to protect the local environment from pollution.

All of the City Council candidates have been invited, Schneider said. As of Tuesday morning, here is the field:

Both Ward 1 candidates, James Briden and Edward Lynch, will debate.

Helder Cunha in Ward 2 will attend but his opponent, incumbent Mayor Bruce Rogers, will not be there, Schneider said.

Candace Seel in Ward 3 will attend, but her opponent, incumbent councilor Thomas Rose, will not attend, he said.

The Ward 4 seat only has one candidate, School Committee member Chrissy Rossi, running unopposed.

Both candidates for the City Council at-large seat, Steven Santos and Tracy Ann Capobianco, will attend, Schneider said.

Here is the field for the General Assembly seats:

Both of the candidates for District 63, Democrat Katherine Kazarian and Independent David Sullivan, will debate, Schneider said.

Both of the District 65 candidates, Democrat Gregg Amore and Joseph Botelho of the Moderate Party, are scheduled to attend, said Schneider

The debate will be similar to a League of Women Voters’ debate. Audience members will pose questions on index cards. A moderator will ask the questions.

Candidates will have the same amount of time to answer and respond, though, said Schneider, unlike the League debates. And there is one big difference, he said.

“Each candidate can ask the opposing candidate one question,” Schneider said.

The debates will occur upstairs in the main sanctuary of the church. A large turnout is anticipated, he said.