Politics & Government

Murray Offers Small Business Experience, Tourism Vision as Council Hopeful

Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series of articles/videos in Woonsocket Patch's coverage of the Sept. 24 Candidates Night at Chan's, beginning with City Council Challengers.

Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket native recently returned to Woonsocket, aims to apply her small business experience to the City Council and work to turn the municipality into a "destination City" for tourism.

Murray grew up in Woonsocket, graduating from WHS in 1992. "Like many other people my age I moved away in my early 20s to seek opportunities elsewhere and earn my degree but unlike my counterparts, I chose to move back to my hometown a couple of years ago," Murray said. She owns The Opulent Squid jewelry store at the Le Moulin mall, 68 S. Main St. "I am now a self employed small business owner here in the city and it was important to me to open my business here in my hometown," Murray said. She is also a member of the Arts Guild of Woonsocket. 

Woonsocket Patch has also asked a series of questions of all the City Council candidates. Here are Murray's answers:

1) Assuming the Budget Commission is around for the duration, how would you work with the panel?  It is grossly unfortunate that the state imposed Budget Commission has the ability to overrule our city's own elected council. When these types of institutions are put into place the residents of the city lose the ability to have their voices heard through their elected officials. As a city councilwoman I would have the opportunity to speak out against the commission if I felt they were not making decisions in the best interest of the residents of Woonsocket. 

2) The Budget Commission is governed by state law. How can you as a  City Councilor affect or change that law? The city council itself does not have the ability to override state law. What we can do (and what the current council attempted to do back in April of this year) is to make a plea to our state legislators to push for legislation that would disband the commission. In this economic climate we all need to make concessions. However, the current administration certainly could have pushed harder to negotiate concessions and collective bargaining agreements to avert our current situation. 

3) The Budget Commission still needs to raise $1 million for its 5-year plan, and that's proposed to come from trash fees. Do you support this, or, if not, do you have an alternative? I am absolutely opposed to increasing trash fees on taxpayers that are already being nickel and dimed to the point of wanting to move out of our city. We must work collectively at the municipal and the state level to get the city the financial support it so desperately needs and deserves and as a city councilwoman I intend to do just that.

4) Please list a reason you didn't mention at Candidates Night for voters to choose you over the other candidates. I have lived in cities all over the country. I have worked for small business and large corporations and I have held management positions in both and it is this wealth of experiences that I bring to the table. At the same time I understand the needs of Woonsocket residents because I grew up here. I bring a fresh perspective from someone who is not a career politician, someone that is not just a resident of Woonsocket but a small business owner in the city as well. I am invested in Woonsocket and as a city councilwoman I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned and will watch how every dollar is spent. I will be an advocate for the people of Woonsocket and I will work towards a brighter future for us all. 

5) What can Councilors do to improve the City's economy? We must do everything we can to make Woonsocket more attractive to businesses and fill up empty storefronts in the city. I will reiterate that I am a huge supporter of our budding arts community and promoting Woonsocket as a destination city. There is tremendous potential to increase our city's revenue through tourism. But we must do this in tandem with improving our appearance and our self esteem because they go hand in hand.  

6) What would your alternative to the Budget Commission have been? I do think the situation could have been avoided if the administration had made a more concerted effort to negotiate.

For more information on Murray's candidacy, visit her facebook page.


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