Mayoral Debate: Galvin Touts Record While Pedrini Urges Change

WOBURN, MA — Mayoral candidates Scott Galvin and Liz Pedrini faced off in a short and to-the-point debate at Woburn Memorial High School Wednesday night. Galvin touted the record of his 10 years as mayor, particularly the city's AAA bond rating, up two notches. Pedrini painted herself as the "change candidate" who would break with the city establishment.

The debate was sponsored by the Daily Times Chronicle and moderated by Jim Major, who randomly assigned the two candidates questions supplied by the newspaper.

Pedrini gave the first opening statement, setting her positioning as the change candidate from the beginning.

"We're a community of hard-working families who deserve decision to be 100% transparent and based on what is best for us as a whole, and not on connections, first names, or personal gain," said Pedrini. "I look forward to making Woburn a better home for all."

Galvin countered with his record, laying out his legal background, his 16 years on city council, and the results of his 10 years as mayor.

"We were recently awarded a AAA rating from Standard and Poors, the highest bond rating a city can get," Galvin said. "When you have a good bond rating, you're going to borrow at lower rates and save money for the taxpayers."

On question after question, Galvin and Pedrini returned to the same points. Asked about what he'd like to see from the school committee, Galvin talked about what they've done already, like building new schools and expanding music and art education in elementary school.

Pedrini countered, "School committee members have said publicly at meetings that they cannot run the schools on the budgets they are given. They've been given 3.5 percent increases year after year even though they've asked for more."

Galvin later disputed the 3.5 percent number: the budget increased by 5.5 percent for the 2020 fiscal year. The previous two years it increased by around 3.5, after larger increases in the previous five years.

The two had similar disputes over public safety and park spending — Pedrini said the fire department doesn't have enough trucks, while Galvin said they are getting a new engine every two years. Pedrini expanded a question about the lack of wheelchair-accessible playground equipment to criticize park upkeep on the whole.

"I will clean up our parks, I'll fix our parks, and part of doing that I'll make them accessible for all our kids," she said.

Galvin disputed the premise, saying the new park "is handycap accessible," and argued, "we've invested quite a lot in our parks."

Regarding the senior center, Galvin said, "The senior center has never been more vibrant. I'm not sure we need a new senior center. Certainly we can do some upgrades."

"I was taken aback by the condition of it," countered Pedrini. "We need to invest in our seniors the way we do in our youths."

Asked what can be done to improve the downtown, Pedrini called for a "downtown beautification committee, which would get local businesses involved in taking pride in our downtown."

"There's a lot of things that can be done," Galvin said, "but one of the things I'm most proud of is that we've added over 160 parking spots."

Beyond disagreements about how much investment is needed, the clearest difference came on development and traffic. On the Shannon Farm area and the Woburn Mall, Pedrini worried about development causing traffic and putting a strain on the schools.

"I don't know if enough [planning] went into it," the challenger said.

Galvin praised the mall development, which he was careful to credit the city council, the planning board, and the developer for.

"It should be one of those places where people live, and work, and play," the incumbent said. He also touted the increased tax revenue expected from the development.

Neither candidate candidate presented solutions on a question about what's being done for the city's homeless.

"Are there any things being done currently for our homeless population? Not that I'm aware of," said Pedrini, before raising opioid addiction as another problem.

Galving jumped onto the opioid issue in his response, pointing to the Mayor's Coalition Against Substance Abuse, but on homelessness, said, "Honestly we don't have the resources to take care of it in the city."

In closing statements, the two returned again to their themes. As an example of investment, Galvin pointed to the library.

"The library sat fallow for 40 years. No mayor would touch it. I worked collaboratively," he said. "Now what you see is a beautiful library."

Pedrini quoted Galvin's words from the 2009 mayoral debate back at him. "A lot of things he's been taken credit for, he's had nothing to do with."

After the debate, both candidates argued it reinforced their cases to the voters.

"With this job, you need to be qualified," said Galvin. "My experience has really proven what we can do."

"I'll be the first to admit I don't have any political experience. I don't think it's a bad thing," said Pedrini. "This city is currently run on fear and favors."

The debate was streamed live and can be watched on Youtube, courtesy of Woburn Public Media Center.

The election is November 5. Voters will also select five school committee members, from a pool of seven candidates. Three wards have contested alderman races.

Previously on Patch: School Committee Candidate Forum: Contenders Tout Resumes

Woburn Preliminary Election: Galvin, Pedrini Advance

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.