PAWTUCKET – The Times is proud to partner with the Pawtucket Alliance for Downtown Success (PADS), in cooperation with Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts (RI4arts), to host a Conversation with the Mayoral Candidates of Pawtucket on Tuesday, October 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the intimate setting of the Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange Street.  The event, sponsored by The Times, is free and open to the public. 

The evening will bring incumbent candidate, Mayor James Doyle (D), and his challenger, Councilor Don Grebien (I), together in an open conversation moderated by Richard Kazarian, Jr., a local arts/antiques dealer and historian, Chair of Pawtucket’s Riverfront Commission and named Pawtucket’s Citizen of the Year in 2005 by The Pawtucket Foundation.  Various topics will be explored including Economic Development, Arts and Revitalization and Civic Improvement.  The conversation is geared towards gaining a broad understanding of the candidates feelings about the city and its future.    

“Providing access to information about our city has been a priority of PADS since we established the organization in 2004,” said PADS co-founder and Steering Committee member Linda Dewing. “We strongly believe that creating an opportunity to hear directly from the mayoral candidates is the best way for our members to make an educated decision about the upcoming local election.  The intimacy of the Gamm and format of a conversation helps members get a real sense of the candidate.” 

“Pawtucket has openly sought to attract artists in the last decade, and through these efforts, a vibrant arts and cultural community is burgeoning.  As with any effort of this kind, integrating into the traditions of the city and its’ policies is particularly important,” stated Lisa Carnevale, Director of RI4arts.  “As the statewide arts advocacy organization working at the municipal and state levels to educate our elected officials on the arts, we are happy to be supporting an effort of communication between our arts constituents in Pawtucket and the candidates hoping to be their city leader.”

PADS is a nonpartisan community group and downtown neighborhood association committed to providing access to information about Pawtucket to its membership. 

As an independent nonprofit organization, Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts serves as the voice for the diverse arts community and working to raise awareness and support for the arts in the public and private sector, for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders.  RI4arts hosted the Providence Mayoral Forum with then Democratic Primary Candidates in 2002.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and seating is limited. First come, first served.  For more information please see www.pads02860.org, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 401-751-4074.

Although questions will not be allowed from the public at the event, The Times will consider issue-oriented questions that are submitted in advance from readers for possible inclusion in the conversation. Such questions will be vetted for fairness and relevance by forum organizers. Questions may be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject "mayoral forum."