City Councilman Roger Jalette, a longtime Woonsocket resident, has served for three stretches on the Council, seeking to add three years on to his latest run.
Jalette, the owner and manager of Roger's Flower Shop for 29 years, has been a fervent champion of the City's financially struggling residents, often urging the Budget Commission to keep citizens' ability to pay in mind in their decisions.
Jallette is a member of the Cercle Laurier Club, a Past member of the Woonsocket Elk's Club, founding president of the Landlord & Property Owners of Woonsocket (LAPOW), founder of the Autumnfest Co-Ed Softball Tournament, originator of the Stadium Theater/Milk Fund Rubber Ducky Race, Milk Fund Chairman in 2008, and a past member of the Woonsocket Independent Men's Softball League (18 years).
Jalette was first elected to the City Council in 1995 and served until 2001. He returned to the Council in 2007 and again for his most recent stint, lasting from 2009 to the present. He made an unsuccessful bid for State Senate in 2010.
Woonsocket Patch asked each Council candidate a series of questions about their approach to the city's challenges. Here are Jalette's answers:
1) Assuming the Budget Commission is around for the duration, how would you work with the panel? I would continue to offer suggestions and opinions and hope that, unlike the past, the Budget Commission will want to work with the City Council.
2) The Budget Commission's governed by state law. How can you as a City Councilor affect or change that law? By asking our state delegation to introduce legislation that would more specifically cater to the needs of Woonsocket.
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 do not support increasing trash fees. They can take $1 million from their supposed surplus or make other cuts to raise the money.
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5) What would your alternative to the Budget Commission have been? For the state to give the same powers that the Budget Commission has to the elected City Council.
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