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Woonsocket 2011 Voters Guide

Everything you need to get out and vote today including who's running, a sample ballot and where to vote.

 

Polling places open at 7 a.m. today and voters across Woonsocket will have the opportunity to choose a new school committee and city council, as well as vote on several charter amendments, including one that would change municipal elections to even-numbered years.

Voters will select up to five of the 10 candidates for school committee, and up to seven out of 14 city council hopefuls for two year terms, and will have the chance to approve or reject four referendum questions that would amend Woonsocket's Home Rule Charter. 

All 16 of the city's polling places will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. If you're unsure where to vote, use the Voter Information Center on Secretary of State Ralph Mollis's website to determine your polling location. 

Woonsocket City Council Candidates

Christopher A. Beauchamp
Albert G. Brien
Stella G. Brien
James C. Cournoyer
Marc A. Dubois
Daniel M. Gendron
Roger G. Jalette, Sr.
Philip E. Labrecque
Kathryn LeBlanc
Steven Lima
Garrett S. Mancieri
Roland M. Michaud
Robert R. Moreau
John F. Ward

Woonsocket School Committee Candidates

John V. Donlon, Jr.
Anthony J. Gabriele
Jeffrey A. Hardy
George E. King
Anita Ann McGuire-Forcier
Eleanor M. Nadeau
Vimala Phongsavanh
Allen R. Rivers
Christopher M. Roberts
Thomas W. Wrona

Amendments to the Home Rule Charter

Question 1: Bonds/Notes (Ordinance 11-0-54, Chapter 7633 of the City Council)

"Shall the City of Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter VII, Article 8, Section 1, be amended to increase the term for bonds and/or long term notes to thirty (30) years?"

Question 2: Purchasing (Ordinance 11-0-55, Chapter 7634 of the City Council)

"Shall the City of Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter VIII, Section 4, be amended to increase the limit of purchases allowed without competitive bidding from two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars to five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars?"(Ordinance 11-0-56, Chapter 7635 of the City Council)

Question 3: Elections (Ordinance 11-0-56, Chapter 7635 of the City Council)

"Shall the City of Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter XVIII, Section 2, be amended to set the election of the mayor, city council members, and school committee members on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years, with the following transition periods: the mayor, city council members, and school committee members elected in the 2013 election shall serve a term in office until 2016?"

Question 4: Appointments to Boards, Committees or Commissions: (Ordinance 11-0-57, Chapter 7636 of the City Council)

"Shall the City of Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter XVII, Article 1, be amended to add a section requiring that appointees to boards, committees or commissions be residents of Woonsocket, excepting those appointments requiring specialized educational, professional or technical skills?"

Polling Places:

* Crepeau Court, 100 Front St.

* John F. Kennedy Manor, 547 Clinton St.

* Park View, 218 Pond St.

* St. Stanislaus Parish Hall, 188 Harris Ave.

* Fairmount Heights, 525 Second Ave.

* No. 2 Fire Station, 5 Cumberland Hill Road

* Sacred Heart Parish Center (entrance on 3rd Avenue), 415 Olo St.

* No. 1 Fire Station, 169 Providence St.

* Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (school hall), 1371 Park Ave.

* Bernon Heights Elementary School, 657 Logee St.

* St. Agatha's Church (basement hall), 34 Fairfield Ave.

* Woonsocket Senior High School, 777 Cass Ave.

* Chief Gerald P. Landry (No. 4) Fire Station, 806 Mendon Road

* Leo A. Savoie School (cafeteria), 990 Mendon Road

* Morin Heights Hall, 66 Morin Heights Blvd.

* Governor Pothier School, 420 Robinson St.

Woonsocket Patch will post results from the municipal election Tuesday evening as soon as they become available. Photos of most candidates can be found above.

Related Topics: Woonsocket Municipal Elections and elections 2011
Will you get out and vote today? Tell us in the comments.

Yvette M Ayotte

5:49 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

You've sure made it easy for everyone so now there's no excuse. Please get out there and vote, there are lots of good people to chose from.

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Eastie

6:35 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Question 3, vote yes to get on even year voting w/ the state, we are one of only four communities who do not do this. Save the money being spent today.

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lorrie scullin

7:15 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Vote yes and show our Mayor that we are not as stupid as he thinks we are (I am highly insulted -- "we will get confused????") I think they don't want everything on the same year so that more people will go out to vote and throw out the "dead wood."

And Sandy, thank you for putting this on-line -- copied and giving one to my mom and the other my husband and I will be reviewing before we get to the polls.

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STEVE2

8:01 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Its seems to me that there's already a lot of "dead wood" at the state house and in congress and they are all elected on the even years so i dont think that is going to change anything. I dont think its so bad to have everyone be able to focus on our local elections without all the craziness and bombarding with ads for national and state elections. I already voted, and voted NO to question number 3.

Chris12

7:25 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Question 3 VOTE NO - Much more attention is spent on local candidates when the election is about Woonsocket and is held on the off year. If our election year is changed to the even year our local candidates will be on the ballot with state and Presidential candidates.
Right now about one third of Woonsocket voters get out to vote. If the election year is changed there will be too much on the ballot for people to read. They could suffer from exhaustion and faint while standing at the voting booths.
Change the primary rules in the Charter not the election year.

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lorrie scullin

8:12 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

We need more of the electorate to get out to vote -- even years would bring out more of the electorate instead of only the minimum that we have. Not only that, it will save the city money (maybe so that we could have our street lights on again)!!! This administration looks for ways to save money but one of the most fundimental ways of saving it, he wants no part of it!!!!!

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TaxpayerToo

8:23 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Vote NO on 1. We'll be paying on bonds for the rest of our lives. Live within your means.
Vote NO on 2. The council already approves too much without competitive bidding.
Vote NO on 3. Look at today's ballot. Want it longer?
Vote NO on 4. There are plenty of qualified people right here in Woon. who already know the issues of the city. Don't want out of town people making decissions for us.

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lorrie scullin

12:24 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Why not...it is our right to vote on what we have to shell out money for....other towns have to go to their town halls and approve budgets, so why not have what we need on a ballot.

Carol Wilson-Allen

9:17 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sandy, thanks so much for simplifying things. Its easy to look at this information and be prepared as we go out to the voting polls. Praying that the people in the city get out and vote. It is so very important and your vote will make a difference!!! Its time for change...go VOTE!

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Ray

12:19 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

"BREAKING NEWS" Roland Michaud has just voted for the first time in 11 years in Woonsocket.

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iPatch

1:08 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

He doesn't even live in the city. How was he allowed to vote?

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Erin B.

2:01 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

He lists his residence as being in Woonsocket. He is running for City Council after all.

Meesh

2:32 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Please remember that you can write in a vote for Mayor.

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