By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — With the primary election just a little more than a month away, both candidates for mayor have announced that they will hold the following upcoming fundraisers. 

Incumbent Mayor Daniel J. McKee and former Mayor David S. Iwuc will both face off as candidates for the town’s top spot during the primary election to be held on Sept. 9.
The deadline for town residents to register to vote in the primary election is this Saturday, Aug. 9. Town Hall, located at 45 Broad St., will remain open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate last minute voter registration.
McKee, of 12 Hillside Road, is currently seeking his fourth term in office. He served from 2001 to 2005 and was elected again in 2006. In 2004, Iwuc won the mayorship after defeating McKee in the Democratic primary and then staving off a write-in challenge from McKee in the general election.
A fundraiser for Iwuc’s campaign is planned for Monday, Aug. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Serra Da Estrela restaurant, 168 Broad St. The suggested donation is $75 per person or $100 per couple.
For more information or tickets, call Iwuc at (401) 333-5514. Tickets will also be available at the door.
A fundraiser for McKee will be held the following week on Monday, Aug. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cumberland House of Pizza, 2360 Mendon Road.
The suggested donation is $25 for bronze sponsorship; $50, silver; or $100 for gold sponsorship.
For more information or tickets, residents are welcome to call the McKee headquarters at (401) 633-4107. Tickets for this fundraiser will also be available at the door.
Iwuc, who recently referred to the mayoral race as a “blood sport,” said that he decided to run for mayor in order to see projects from his administration continue.
“During my administration, we had many projects and programs,” he said. “There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. I want to continue that progress and those results.”
Iwuc, of 179 Little Pond County Road, is a Marine veteran, a former state representative and a former member of the Cumberland Police Department.He retired from the police department as a sergeant after 22 years in 2003. From 1997 to 2002, he was the representative of House District 68, but lost a re-election bid in the Democratic primary when districts were consolidated.
The accomplishments during his administration as mayor, according to Iwuc, included helping the town purchase open space, holding the line on taxes and working on projects to improve issues of drainage in the town.
“I’ve since been walking door to door, getting a feel of the people, the issues that are a concern to them,” Iwuc said. “There are quite a few issues. People have mentioned the school system. They are upset with the taxes and evaluation that just took place. They are looking at the lack of response from Town Hall in regards to issues that impact their area.”
His opponent and current mayor, McKee, has recently called for a series of debates to be held between the two mayoral contenders. Iwuc said recently that he is currently working on a response to that request.McKee has made several headlines these past months with his advocacy for an end to the state’s moratorium on charter schools, the push to create the Mayoral Academy and the announcement of a CVS expansion at Highland Corporate Park.
“I look forward to this campaign,” McKee said in a previous press release. “The campaign will be a time to remind voters of the success that my administration has demonstrated in economic development, senior program expansion and innovative education initiatives.”McKee, a former member of the Town Council, is the co-owner of the Woonsocket Health and Racquetball Club on Social Street in Woonsocket.
He is an active member of the Coalition of Communities Improving Rhode Island, a group of mayors and administrators from several Rhode Island communities. During this past term, he created the town’s Office of Children, Youth and Learning, an education initiative. 
McKee received a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He was recently appointed to serve on the House Pension Review Commission.