Revved up, Mayor counters Petri claims

Posted 8/19/14

It’s rare, but Mayor Scott Avedisian took off the gloves last Wednesday night.

And that’s what his friends and supporters wanted to see and hear, ever since Stacia Petri launched her campaign …

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Revved up, Mayor counters Petri claims

Posted

It’s rare, but Mayor Scott Avedisian took off the gloves last Wednesday night.

And that’s what his friends and supporters wanted to see and hear, ever since Stacia Petri launched her campaign for the Republican nomination for mayor. For the first time in a long string of elections, Avedisian faces a viable challenge from a member of his own party.

At a $10-a-ticket meet and greet at the Islander Restaurant, Avedisian countered attacks Petri has made on his administration and, at his own admission of appearing to go negative, hit Petri for expounding on the importance of small business and then using out-of-state companies to make “robo calls” to registered Republicans and went out of state to buy campaign signs. And, citing a meet and greet of her own announcing her candidacy at the Islander, Avedisian said there was a “fight” over how many attended and the amount of the bill.

“Our money is where our mouth is,” he said. “We pay bills, just like the city pays bills.”

Petri’s meet and greet was also a subject with David Picozzi, acting director of Public Works who introduced the mayor. While the Beacon reported about 60 attended the Petri event, Picozzi said he had a head count of 39. Nonetheless, he said, it had him wondering, “If the mayor still has it.” Then, pausing to look around the crowded room – the door count stopped at 248 – Picozzi declared, “Obviously, he still has it.”

Many in the room were city workers, and the mayor’s defense of their performance played well. He started with Donna McDonald, director of elections, who Petri mentioned on her Facebook page. Avedisian said McDonald and her staff are not only good people, but having representation from both political parties “is the best way for fair elections.”

In her posting, Petri said her campaign manager had gone to the board of canvassers where he was told the only list of absentee ballot voters was from two years ago. However, after learning from a voter that wasn’t the case, she and the campaign manager visited the office “and poof!!! the list all of a sudden appears with phone numbers.” She questioned what would have happened had the absentee voter hadn’t contacted her, adding, “It’s quite the time for this regime to go.”

McDonald said she was blocked from responding on Petri’s Facebook page. She said Roy Dempsey, Petri’s campaign manager, requested a list of Republicans who voted by mail ballot in the last election, which he received.

“I realize you are running for the first time,” McDonald responded in a posting, “and completely naïve when it comes to campaigning (among other things) but attacking the integrity of an office and/or individual is not tolerated in this regime. Poof!”

Wednesday’s event wasn’t intended to be a fundraiser. In fact, Mark Russell, who has worked on almost all of Avedisian’s campaigns, and made a pitch to vote on primary day following Avedisian’s remarks, said the evening would cost more than it brought in.

But the mayor’s campaign fundraising efforts aren’t lagging either. A recent event at the Ironworks Tavern attended by 176 brought in $22,000, campaign treasurer Edward Tavares reported.

Russell warned that, “No one takes anything for granted … we’re going to treat this like the only election in a lifetime … You have to vote on Sept. 9 and take three people with you.”

The dynamics of this primary make it unpredictable. There’s more at play than a face-off between two candidates. Comparatively, the pool of Republican voters is small – 6,676 – so reaching them by mail, phone, in person or through social media is easier and less costly than in a general election. On the other side, there is a vast reservoir of unaffiliated voters – 34,974 – who can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary on Sept. 9.

The unknown is how unaffiliated voters will vote.

Getting them to vote in the Republican primary, when the three leading Democratic candidates for governor are spending millions on a highly visible campaign, is problematic. In addition, the Democrats have primary races across the board, meaning they could be drawing voters that would have otherwise supported Avedisian.

Comments

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  • Reality

    I always knew Scottie could be petty but even for him this is over the top. Scottie discusses nothing and yet calls it a victory. Why doesn't Scottie tell us why he has increased taxes for 14 yrs in a row.

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    So now the public finally knows the relationship between Scotty and Picozzi. It is clear by the piece that Scotty uses Picozzi as his operative to spy on his political opponents. What is a shame is that Picozzi is playing 007 for Scotty when he should be policing his department for the theft, waste, and abuse of the taxpayers dollars that has been so noted by all of the major news outlets in the state. Maybe that's why we can finally understand why Scotty has not dished out any disciplinary measures to Picozzi's boys that have been caught red handed stealing from the taxpayer. As support for the allegations we can review the following examples of theft that has been allowed by Scotty and Picozzi:

    For example

    Time card buddy punching theft uncovered - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpI3nPd1fUM

    Theft --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXLrIhEfOk

    More theft -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XfYjZT0bVE

    Cover up -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-30kXr4Yxo

    Waste and abuse --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMSZZLQ4-3w

    More waste and abuse ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jCZGqhQUH8

    Theft of materials -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2b2e4tSHdY

    Police cover up -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT2Sj0FmIB0

    Police cover up cont. --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNp5qdJPcZE

    Another police cover up --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1EdmXCI_jY

    Police cover up DUI of Warwick cop --- http://wpri.com/2014/03/31/officer-admits-texting-and-drinking-before-crash/

    Fabrication of police citations -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ELU9qFV4I

    Fire dept. abuse -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daJQFiH6_9I

    Avedisian RIPTA theft -- http://wpro-am.fimc.net/Article.asp?id=2519686

    Coward Avedsian asked to resign -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP2O0uVyP8M

    RIPTA theft on Avedisian watch --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVDJcb1rl5g

    RI Land fill loss of 75mil under Avedisian --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ba-q68g8CA

    Just a few of the examples, not to mention the organized theft of materials from the compost station that continues to happen every day. The organized wood theft operation at the DPW that has cost $28,000 in repairs to loaders, not to mention $10K loss in revenue from wood chips. The abuse of the school dept. maintenance people, the daily card game that takes place in the parks maintenance building at city park, the hide out locations of the DPW, eg. Cozzi Grill, Aldrich Manison , Jefferson Blvd, Goddard Park.

    Soon we can talk about

    :

    electrical work performed at certain DPW workers homes by other DPW workers while on the clock,

    installation of sewer connections without permits

    organized theft of tires

    use of city charge cards for personal items

    The list goes on and on, so just re-elect Scotty and bend over while he and Picozzi and the rest of the crew laugh at the uniformed voter.

    Why not make it 15 years in a row of increased taxes?

    While you think about casting your vote, think of this:

    All departments over budget

    $780 million in pension debt

    14 paid holidays for all departments

    sick pay buy back bonuses

    $1000 bonuses

    best health care plan

    inflated man power

    decaying roads

    unsolved murders

    one cover up after the next

    Where does it end? Where will we be with 2 more years of Scotty and Davey??

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    So now the public finally knows the relationship between Scotty and Picozzi. It is clear by the piece that Scotty uses Picozzi as his operative to spy on his political opponents. What is a shame is that Picozzi is playing 007 for Scotty when he should be policing his department for the theft, waste, and abuse of the taxpayers dollars that has been so noted by all of the major news outlets in the state. Maybe that's why we can finally understand why Scotty has not dished out any disciplinary measures to Picozzi's boys that have been caught red handed stealing from the taxpayer. As support for the allegations we can review the following examples of theft that has been allowed by Scotty and Picozzi:

    For example

    Time card buddy punching theft uncovered - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpI3nPd1fUM

    Theft --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXLrIhEfOk

    More theft -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XfYjZT0bVE

    Cover up -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-30kXr4Yxo

    Waste and abuse --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMSZZLQ4-3w

    More waste and abuse ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jCZGqhQUH8

    Theft of materials -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2b2e4tSHdY

    Police cover up -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT2Sj0FmIB0

    Police cover up cont. --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNp5qdJPcZE

    Another police cover up --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1EdmXCI_jY

    Police cover up DUI of Warwick cop --- http://wpri.com/2014/03/31/officer-admits-texting-and-drinking-before-crash/

    Fabrication of police citations -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ELU9qFV4I

    Fire dept. abuse -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daJQFiH6_9I

    Avedisian RIPTA theft -- http://wpro-am.fimc.net/Article.asp?id=2519686

    Coward Avedsian asked to resign -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP2O0uVyP8M

    RIPTA theft on Avedisian watch --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVDJcb1rl5g

    RI Land fill loss of 75mil under Avedisian --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ba-q68g8CA

    Just a few of the examples, not to mention the organized theft of materials from the compost station that continues to happen every day. The organized wood theft operation at the DPW that has cost $28,000 in repairs to loaders, not to mention $10K loss in revenue from wood chips. The abuse of the school dept. maintenance people, the daily card game that takes place in the parks maintenance building at city park, the hide out locations of the DPW, eg. Cozzi Grill, Aldrich Manison , Jefferson Blvd, Goddard Park.

    Soon we can talk about

    :

    electrical work performed at certain DPW workers homes by other DPW workers while on the clock,

    installation of sewer connections without permits

    organized theft of tires

    use of city charge cards for personal items

    The list goes on and on, so just re-elect Scotty and bend over while he and Picozzi and the rest of the crew laugh at the uniformed voter.

    Why not make it 15 years in a row of increased taxes?

    While you think about casting your vote, think of this:

    All departments over budget

    $780 million in pension debt

    14 paid holidays for all departments

    sick pay buy back bonuses

    $1000 bonuses

    best health care plan

    inflated man power

    decaying roads

    unsolved murders

    one cover up after the next

    Where does it end? Where will we be with 2 more years of Scotty and Davey??

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Report this

  • Iamanindependent

    Fenceman - you immediately discredit yourself and reveal your IQ when you post "Scotty" regardless of the officeholder, respect the office. Typical brainless, uneducated ignoramus..

    Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Report this

  • Sickofit

    Listen to Fenceman, distract from the issues that Freeman listed. Typical Rhode Islander, Hey Fenceman, Guess what. Respect is earned not just given to any office holder. One fact remains that you just don't get. Wait until the day comes when your children look you in the eye and say sorry dad,I'm leaving Rhode Island the way that thousands of our young are leaving everyday.

    When did political office at any level become a career? Don't you see what has happened all through out history when a politician stays in office for years on end.

    Take a look at this Mayors donors. Unions and contractors who get roll over contract no bid jobs special provisions in road construction projects that no other city allows.

    If you want to talk about respect Fenceman, then you better start respecting your country by getting involved in the process.

    When was the last time you ever attended a city council meeting? Probably never, Isn't that your obligation to do so as an Amercian citizen?

    Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Sickofit,

    I am at almost every council meeting. Where you there last Wed. when it was discovered that Travis and Wilkinson illegally hired a friend as the new city auditor? Probably not. My previous post clearly shows that at least one resident is paying attention.

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • slowontheuptake

    As a late [foreign] national leader once said back in 80s :

    “I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.' They're casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It's our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.”

    Same leader also said:

    “Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.”

    Perhaps we now have enough history under our belt that that ideal is also past its sell by date.

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • Sickofit

    I want to make a correction, of a post that I made last night. I mistakenly addressed my post to Fenceman, who I agree with 100 percent, when It should have been addressed to "I am independent" This post is to correct my comments, and are directed to iamindependent

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • InTheW

    This article gives away Picozzi's secret of how not to be held accountable for anything in your dept. You just need to be the mayors henchman/lackey and you have free reign.

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    InThe W, You are a very astute individual and you could not have made your point any more clear or accurate. Thank you for your observations.

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    looks like the crew is talking. if its so bad y don,t they move. Or run for office right captain I,m still waiting for your 6 people to take out some elect office holders in this city. you said on the radio. what a mess

    Friday, August 22, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    “We pay bills, just like the city pays bills.” I wonder how they paid for the Islander without raising taxes or robbing the general fund. Piccozi really embarrassed himself here. "He's still got it" What a fraud! Perhaps he should spend more time worrying about his own crew, and less time sucking up to the mayor. What I love about this election cycle in Warwick is that city employees have to decide....do I protect myself by voting for Pell or Tavares in the Democratic Primary in order to defeat Gina Raimondo (who is the enemy of the public sector) or do they vote for Scott Avedesian (great friend of the public sector) in the Republican Primary for mayor in order to defeat Stacia Petri. No pressure city employees....it's only the biggest political decision you will ever make in your life.

    Friday, August 22, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Scall024 Great observation and right on the money.

    Saturday, August 23, 2014 Report this

  • imallrightjack

    Now that Mr. Kirby does not have a primary to worry about himself, and knowing that he could never defeat the true "Democratic" incumbent Mayor, he might believe his best shot at the seat would be against Stacia, and therefore he might try and persuade his unaffilliated and Democratic friends to pull for her in the other primary.

    Sunday, August 24, 2014 Report this

  • warwickfan

    I think it is great that the Mayor spoke up against Stacia. She is not qualified to be mayor! She does not have any understanding of how the City is run. If she wanted to run for office, perhaps she could have started on the School Committee or the Council to get her feet wet. I cannot believe how poorly she did in the debate as well as with Dan Yorke this week. She does not have any clue about the Mayor's role in the School Dept. or about the pensions. I predict that Mayor Avedisian will win by a wide margin. I also don't believe that Jack Kirby has any coat tails with Democrats in Warwick, so I would not expect much from him even if (God forbid) Stacia wins.

    Thursday, August 28, 2014 Report this