Woonsocket 2011 Voters Guide

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

Roger G. Jalette, Sr.


Steven Lima

Roland M. Michaud

John F. Ward

Woonsocket School Committee Candidates

John V. Donlon, Jr.
Anthony J. Gabriele

George E. King
Anita Ann McGuire-Forcier
Eleanor M. Nadeau



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.