Primary Results Eliminate Moniz, Show Incumbent Ward at the Top

The results of Woonsocket's municipal primary elections are in and although some of the standings were widely expected by those familiar with city politics, the numbers contained several surprises for the 14 remaining candidates.

Michael Moniz was eliminated from the race for City Council, receiving 239 votes, while incumbent Council President John Ward led the pack with 1,074. The election was required to narrow the field of candidates for the seven member board down from 15 to 14, or twice the number of available seats, as required by the Woonsocket City Code.  

The run-off election is estimated to have cost Woonsocket $25,000, a figure which caused many to question the logic of holding a city-wide vote for elimination of a single candidate. The loss was Moniz's seventh failed attempt at a bid for local government, with five past runs for a council spot. The Valley Breeze reported that one employee from the Board of Canvassers, Henri Cyr, even suggested to Moniz that he drop out to save the city money, a request for which Cyr later apologized. 

The results did serve to give the 14 remaining council hopefuls a gauge of their standing with voters.

"I don't think anyone's surprised at who didn't make it," said Council incumbent Daniel Gendron, who received 1,041 votes, placing third in the preliminary race. "I give Bob Moreau credit, he worked hard and did well."

Moreau, a former detective lieutenant for the Woonsocket Police Department who currently serves as Director of Security for the Woonsocket Housing Authority, made a solid showing with 1,066 reported votes, nearly edging out Ward. In fact, early results from the city's 16 precincts showed the newcomer who also serves as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Review, in first place. 

"All of the results are very interesting," said Mayor Leo Fontaine, who will go unchallenged in November's General Election. "I wouldn't say anything was really surprising to me."

Fontaine's team of supporters, which includes Ward and Gendron, as well as City Council candidate Roland Michaud (who placed eigth in the race,) and School Committee candidates Chris Roberts and Anita McGuire-Forcier, gathered at Tuesday night to hear the results. Pollsters reporting to the group showed Moreau on top, but a phone call to Estelle Corriveau, head of the Board of Canvassers, told a different story. 

"I was all depressed for no reason," Ward joked upon hearing the news that he showed in first place by just eight votes. "Bob Moreau's standing is a testament to the power of hard work and a message."

"You're seeing with the numbers for Beauchamp, Gendron and even incumbent Roger Jalette that the voters see what we're doing and they're fundamentally satisfied," Ward added. "I don't think people are happy with the economic state of the city, but they do understand the work we're doing."

Incumbent Christopher Beauchamp, who had 978 reported votes by the end of Tuesday evening, the fourth highest of the 15 candidates, stopped in to the restaurant to congratulate his fellow council members.  

"I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm encouraged by where I'm at," said Beauchamp of the results. 

Michaud showed eighth with 649 votes, a spot which would have equated to a close loss if Tuesday's results were the product of the general election. His reaction may have offered the first glimpse of the type of heated political debate voters will hear more of in what is shaping up to be a tight race.

"I fail to see how getting two retired policemen who are recipients of an overly generous pension system will be able to do anything to get the city back in line," Michaud said. "How does the average person in Woonsocket equate right now to a person who can make $1,000 a week in lifetime medical?" 

One of the more interesting aspects of the election results involved the standings of two family members who are both running for council seats. If the primary results are any indication, incumbent Stella Brien could get edged out in a general election while her father-in-law, former state representative Albert Brien, secures a seat. The younger Brien, who came in 9th, was the only incumbent running that did not place in the top seven.

Current School Committee Chairman Marc Dubois also showed promising results with 758 votes, a showing which amounted to sixth place. 

The remaining 14 candidates will move forward to Woonsocket's general elections to be held on Nov. 8.