Woonsocket Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt Announces Run For Mayor

Rep. Lisa Baldelli Hunt (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket) announced today she's running for mayor of Woonsocket.

In a release distributed to media this afternoon, Baldelli-Hunt pledged to be "...a leader who listens to the community and who makes decisions with one goal in mind—moving Woonsocket forward."

Baldelli-Hunt said people are fearful for Woonsocket’s future and unsettled by the city’s financial struggles and what they mean for their households. She said the next Mayor of Woonsocket will need to restore stability in the city and bring people together to make the changes needed to put Woonsocket back on a strong economic footing.

 “Woonsocket needs effective leadership and a Mayor who will have strong working relationships in the State House, the business community and our neighboring cities and towns to help us navigate our way out of this financial crisis,” said Baldelli Hunt. “As a State Representative for the last six and a half years, I have built those relationships and am ready to put all of my skills and experience to work."

The life-long Woonsocket resident bested Democratic Primary challengers Mike Morin and Stuart Gitlow in September and went on to defeat Independent candidate Michael E. Moniz in the Novemeber election. She's represented the city as the Dist. 49 Rep since 2006, the year she bought a strip mall on Social Street and learned David E. Laroche, the state rep. at the time, wasn't running for re-election.

Baldelli-Hunt worked as a Post Office clerk from 1984 until 2005, when she left to begin managing real estate investments full time, providing more flexibility while she raised her three children. She eventually moved on to commercial real estate in 2006.  

 Baldelli-Hunt pledged to be actively involved in promoting the city and creating a strong business climate to promote local job growth. She said she will be focused on listening to the concerns of her neighbors and forging a new spirit of community involvement. She said getting Woonsocket back on track will require creative approaches and a willingness to listen to a range of different ideas and opinions.

“I will be a Mayor who invites people of good faith to come together and help set a solid course for Woonsocket’s future,” said Baldelli Hunt. “The keys to setting that course are improving the quality of our schools and creating an environment where businesses feel they can succeed and grow.” 

Baldelli-Hunt will vy for the Mayor's office with Dave Fisher, former campaign manager for Congressional candidate Abel Collins, reporter for for EcoRI.org and occasional blogger for Woonsocket Patch, who announced his own campaign in Februrary.