Though Seth Yurdin, Democratic candidate for the Ward 1 City Council seat, won every precinct in the September primary, the race is not over yet. Yurdin faces challenges from Republican Mark Teoli and Independent Pasquale Petrunt in the November general election.
Yurdin and Teoli spoke to local voters during an event hosted by the Fox Point Neighborhood Association at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School on Oct. 26.
Both candidates addressed hot-button topics in Providence politics, including economic development, high taxes and the shortcomings of Providence public schools.
"The main thing is to hold down taxes, the second is to make sure they get a good education over here," Teoli said. He also said if elected he would address other issues of local importance, including graffiti and drugs.
"We have a big drug issue (in Fox Point) and people are scared to walk the streets," Teoli said, adding, "it affects the kids ... it's affecting everybody."
"The streets have become less safe because of all this drug activity," he said, adding that it leads to other unwholesome activities, including prostitution. "Brown tells their freshmen when they come in, they tell them not to move over here," he said.
Teoli said that "no one's talking about it" because they have been threatened and fear repercussions, but he said he would target the problem if elected. "I speak out - I'm not scared of nobody," he said.
He added that the best solution would be to open a police substation on Ives Street by the Boys and Girls Club.
Another issue of concern to Teoli is keeping the Fox Point branch of the Providence Public Library open. He said finding funds to keep the library open is important because it is a significant resource for the community and keeps kids out of trouble.
Yurdin has also been active in efforts to save the Fox Point library. He stresses the importance of development that will benefit Providence as a whole as well as the district's residents.
Regarding his Republican and Independent challengers, Yurdin said, "I think that it's a strong, strong Democratic area that we live in so that's a good place to be, but (I have been) working on talking to people and getting the word out."
Yurdin said he has continued campaigning since he captured the primary by doing "pretty much the same thing - talking to voters about the things that are important to them." He has also been continuing his efforts to register new voters in the neighborhood.
If elected, Yurdin said he would actively represent the interests of the neighborhood in plans for Providence's future development, including the relocation of Interstate 195 and continuing efforts to increase the tax base.
"I'm running for the council seat in part because I don't want to see uncontrolled growth," Yurdin said. He cited affordable housing as another concern in the face of development.
Yurdin sees decreasing the number of children living in poverty as critical. Four out of five children in Providence are living at the poverty level, Yurdin said.
He also supports to creating strong after-school programs and involving parents in their children's education. Creating jobs and educating parents will improve these children's performance in school, Yurdin said.
About half of Brown's campus, including student mailing addresses at 75 Waterman St., is part of Ward 1, and one of the most recent election issues pertains directly to the University. "One thing that I have been involved with on campus is supporting the (Brown Dining Services) workers on campus in their negotiations with the University," Yurdin said. He participated in a Labor Day march that included Brown students and Dining Services workers.
Pasquale Petrunt could not be reached for comment.
