Democratic Candidates for Mayor Meet in Debate

Democratic Candidates for Mayor Meet in Debate

Four Democratic candidates for Providence mayor debated how best to reform a vastly underfunded pension system, close an estimated $50 million deficit in the city budget, and deal with police Chief Dean Esserman in a debate hosted last night by the Fraternal Order of Police in Providence and moderated by 630 WPRO talk show host Dan Yorke.

Two of the candidates – John Lombardi and Chris Young – said they would fire Esserman if elected mayor. The other two – Steven Costantino and Angel Taveras – said they would first review his performance before making a decision about his future with the city. Costantino and Taveras agreed that the police chief should not have a contract with the city but instead should serve at the pleasure of the mayor.

The candidates were also pressed by Yorke on what they would do about a $50 million deficit in the city budget, which outgoing Mayor David Cicilline has covered through a loan. Lombardi and Young said they would support a 5 percent across-the-board cut in department budgets. But Taveras said a blanket 5 percent cut was not realistic. 

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The candidates were also asked how they would address the city pension system which has an $800 million unfunded liability. Lombardi said he would appoint a blue-chip commission of experts, a city administrator, and a union rep to study the issue. He said the city should consider raising the retirement age and the minimum number of years an employee has to work before they can enter the pension system.

Taveras said he did not support the compound cost of living adjustments, or COLAs that many city retirees are currently receiving. He also warned that there would be no easy answer to the problem.

Costantino touted his record on pensions as the chairman of the House Finance Committee, saying he had reduced the COLAs for state employees and capped the amount of income that could be increased by the COLAs.