Ward 6 Holds Candidates Forum
by Bill Dusty
Springfield City Council Ward 6 candidates Amaad Rivera and Keith Wright squared off at a candidates forum hosted by the Ward 6 Democratic Committee on Wednesday night at the Forest Park Middle School. About 80 people showed up for the debate between the two candidates, which was moderated by Channel 22′s Sy Becker.
Left to Right: Keith Wright, moderator Sy Becker, Ammad Rivera.
Becker first introduced the candidates to the audience, which appeared to be evenly split between supporters of both Rivera and Wright, and then went on to give each candidate the opportunity to answer questions from a prepared list. Afterward, questions were taken from the audience.
Questions included topics ranging from economic development to blighted neighborhoods and crime. The only significant sparring between the two candidates came when Rivera suggested that a conflict of interest would arise should Wright win the council seat, with him being a teacher in the Springfield public school system and also having a vote on the city’s budget – including school funding – as a councilor. Wright responded by saying that he had consulted with the State Ethics Commission and had received a verbal assurance that there would be no conflict. Wright said that if elected to the City Council, he would forgo the council salary.
In making their closing statements, Rivera vowed to fight for the interests of the entire ward. “We will be making history,” said Rivera. “It is by no accident that a virtual unknown came in first place in the preliminary,” he said, referring to last month’s preliminary election that brought the city council candidates down to two candidates per ward. If elected, said Rivera, “You will be engaged… and you will be respected.”
In his own closing statement, Wright said his campaign has been a journey that first began with him concentrating on budgetary and zoning issues, but that eventually brought him to better understand the many other issues that face the city. Many of those issues are “very complex problems,” said Wright, “and I don’t feel comfortable offering quick-fix solutions.”
One noticeable person absent from the forum was community-supported write-in candidate Thomas Walsh, currently the Communications Director for the Mayor’s Office and sought by many in Ward 6 to be their representative on the City Council. Walsh himself is not campaigning for the Ward 6 seat, but his backers were on hand at the forum to pass out literature and instructions on how to vote-in their candidate. (Those wishing to write-in Walsh can add his name below the other Ward 6 candidates listed, and include his resident address, 112 Forest Park Avenue, Spfld, MA 01108.)
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Advisory 05-03: Elected Officials Voting on Budgets and Signing Payroll Warrants that Include Salaries for Family Members
The conflict of interest law is intended to ensure that public employees act in the best interests of the citizens they represent, and do not pursue their own self-interests or other private interests. The law prohibits a public employee from participating, by voting, discussing, delegating or otherwise acting, in any matter that affects:
his or her own financial interests or those of a business partner;
the financial interests of his or her immediate family members (i.e., the employee’s spouse; and the parents, siblings and children of either the employee or the employee’s spouse);
the financial interests of a private or “after-hours” employer, or anyone with whom the employee is negotiating or has an arrangement for prospective employment; or
any organization, either charitable or for-profit, in which the employee is serving as an officer, director, partner or trustee.
The term “public employee” includes both elected and appointed state, county and municipal employees, whether paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time. An unpaid volunteer board member as well as, in some instances, a consultant who is a contractor are considered public employees for purposes of the conflict of interest law.
Note to Informed: The Springfield City Council does not vote on the school budget.
Note to Sheila: The city council actually approves the final school budget. Please learn about your government, it will help you become more informed seeing as you have so many opinions about it.
Informed, please cite the passage from the city charter which supports your view on passage of the school budget.
Informed, you are correct that the city council, in approving the overall city budget, approves a total dollar amount for the school department. However, it is the school committee which decides how to allocate these funds within the school department. A teacher on the city council may vote on the city budget as part of his/her duties even though the city budget contains an allocation for the school department.
For further clarification, call the state ethics commission (1-888-485-4766) and ask for the attorney of the day.
Sheila, please read the actual law..its is not just about the school budget, but about ANY decision that affects a city employee’s direct occupation, department or that of a family member.. if you READ the law you will see several examples.
As a side note, I did call, for some reason it seems that Wright campaign somehow is always confused even when presented with overwhelming evidence. After calling,again, I was told that a teacher would have to refrain from certain fiscal or budgetary decision that would have to do with a school budget or school related function .So that you know Sheila the actual direct number is (617) 371-9500.
It seems like doing one’s homework is neither the forte of you or the person you support for City Council.
Have a great Day!
Sheila, please read the actual law..its is not just about the school budget, but about ANY decision that affects a city employee’s direct occupation, department or that of a family member.. if you READ the law you will see several examples.
As a side note, I did call, for some reason it seems that Wright campaign somehow is always confused even when presented with overwhelming evidence. After calling,again, I was told that a teacher would have to refrain from certain fiscal or budgetary decision that would have to do with a school budget or school related function .So that you know Sheila the actual direct number is (617) 371-9500.
It seems like doing one’s homework is neither the forte of you or the person you support for City Council.
Have a great Day!
When voting on the entire city budget, the council does approve the school budget. However, specific allocations within the school budget are made by the school committee.
The long and the short of it is that a teacher elected to city council may vote on any item that does not DIRECTLY and SPECIFICALLY benefit him/her. A vote such as the one I just described is not such a vote.
Keith Wright makes alot of mistakes or bends the truth. He was seen holding a sign for himself when school was in session…….He tells his students to tell their parents to support their teachers????????? Plus Puerto Ricans do not have the largest HIV problems.It was Latinos………….This is offensive.
I’m not prejudice in any way but I find having a socialist like amaad rivera as a city councilor far more offensive (and dangerous) than a simple mistake of wording.