Baldelli-Hunt Will Seek Another Woonsocket Mayoral Term

WOONSOCKET, RI—Woonsocket has a long way to go, but it has made strides in recent years after coming out of receivership.

Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt said she is taking some credit for the city's slow-but-steady turnaround since her election in 2013 to a three-year term. In the recently-passed budget, Woonsocket taxpayers will actually see a tax decrease, both for residential and commercial property owners. Roads are getting fixed. Areas of urban rot are getting attention. There have been more and more ribbon cuttings, she said.

"From day one, it has been my goal to spur economic development in our community,” Baldelli-Hunt said in an announcement on Wednesday announcing her intention to see reelection. “We started by taking the city out of the dark and turned our streetlights back on. Since then we have been paving roads, improving quality of life for residents, and removing blight from neighborhoods. We are enabling Woonsocket to become competitive so we can attract business investment.”

Baldelli-Hunt, who came to the mayorship after serving seven years in the Rhode Island House of Representatives representing District 49, said she has focused on an aggressive road resurfacing campaign in her first term. She's also worked on improving the quality of life for young people and everyday citizens in an effort to build civic pride and mutual investment in the community.

The mayor's full campaign announcement is below:

Mayor Lisa-Baldelli-Hunt announced that she would seek re-election as Mayor of the City of Woonsocket. Mayor Baldelli-Hunt was first elected Mayor in November of 2013 to a three year term. Prior to becoming Chief Executive of the sixth largest City in Rhode Island, she served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for seven years, representing District 49 from 2006 to 2013.

“I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the office of Mayor of Woonsocket for a second term,” said Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. “Over the last three years, my administration has led a resurgence of our community by fixing inherited problems from our past and investing in the future of our City. As a candidate for Mayor of this great City I will continue to work hard on behalf of everyone in our community."

In her first term, Mayor Baldelli-Hunt set out to invest in the City’s infrastructure by implementing an aggressive road resurfacing and rebuilding program. In order to increase opportunities for city youth and improve quality of life for all, she prioritized the revitalization of public parks and recreational facilities at sites like World War II Memorial Park. She has also led the charge to eradicate urban blight and decay by demolishing unsafe properties that stand as nuisances in neighborhoods.

“From day one, it has been my goal to spur economic development in our community,” said Mayor Baldelli-Hunt. “We started by taking the city out of the dark and turned our streetlights back on. Since then we have been paving roads, improving quality of life for residents, and removing blight from neighborhoods. We are enabling Woonsocket to become competitive so we can attract business investment.”

“By introducing fiscally responsible budgets, we kept government spending in check, while investing in the future of the City,” added Mayor Baldelli-Hunt. “In our City’s latest budget, we recognized that taxpayers have shouldered a significant burden since the City fell under the control of the State Budget Commission in 2012. I am pleased that for FY2017, we were able to implement the first significant tax reduction that the City has experienced in recent memory. In addition to lowering the commercial and residential tax rates and providing a tax break for motor vehicle owners, this budget represents a sound and affordable spending plan for hardworking families in Woonsocket.”

“Additionally, my administration has worked closely with our educational leaders in the community to build a strong and stable public school system, which began with the implementation of full-day kindergarten and continued by supporting school choice for our families,” said Mayor Baldelli-Hunt. “Establishing a strong education system in Woonsocket is critical to attracting more families looking to establish roots in our City.”

“During my career in public service, I have demonstrated my commitment and determination to deliver for the people of Woonsocket,” stated Mayor Baldelli-Hunt. “Whether it is improving the quality of life for our residents or bringing fiscal stability through economic development efforts, I pledge to build upon the progress that we have achieved so far.”

Mayor Baldelli-Hunt is a lifelong resident of Woonsocket where she resides with her husband Edward and their three sons, Gary, Victor, and Sam. Additionally, Mayor Baldelli-Hunt serves on the Board of Directors for RISE Prep Mayoral Academy, a public elementary charter school in Woonsocket, and on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, a statewide coalition and research center for Rhode Island’s municipalities.