By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Two City Council incumbents are facing challenges from opponents in their district seats in the upcoming Nov. 4 election.

In District 5, longtime incumbent City Councilor Mary E. Bray, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Jean Philippe Barros, a Democrat who is running as an independent candidate.
Barros, 44, who lives at 146 Lafayette St., was born in Senegal and has resided in Pawtucket for 29 years. He has been involved in local politics and ran unsuccessfully four years ago for state Representative in District 59, losing out to J. Patrick O’Neill in a bid to oust veteran legislator John Harwood.
Barros said there needs to be a shake-up in local government, saying it is “almost like a monarchy.” He points to Bray’s 16-year hold on District 5, and questions whether she has a true understanding of the people and issues of the neighborhood, particularly Woodlawn. “In these changing times, we live in a more diverse community, and we need diversity on our City Council as well,” he stated.
Barros cites the current economic climate that is making it difficult for many Pawtucket residents to pay their utility bills and other expenses. He
maintains that Bray, in her professional capacity with the Public Utilities Commission, should do more to fight the utility rate increases as well as to lower property taxes.
Barros said that Woodlawn is one of the poorest sections of the city, and that Bray has “lost touch” both with what her mission is on the PUC as well as with the citizens of the community.
Barros also said he believes that Woodlawn, with an already high crime rate, is being further hurt by the addition of a transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated men that is going into a former funeral parlor near Payne Park. “I don’t think that was a wise decision to put that there,” he stated. He said he didn’t think needs of the neighborhood were well represented in this and other decisions affecting the residents.
Barros, who is the father of two sons, ages 23 and 15, currently works as director of contract services for New England Tractor Trailer Training Schools of Massachusetts. He is also a member of the city’s Juvenile Hearing Board and the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.
The 56-year-old Bray, a city councilor since 1992 who also serves as council president, lives at 7 Cooper St. She has represented District 5, which encompasses the Woodlawn and Oak Hill neighborhoods, for over 16 years.
A former church administrator with a background in accounting and finance, Bray is currently employed by the Public Utilities Commission. She bristles at criticism from Barros and others that she isn’t looking out for the utility rate-payers of Pawtucket. “I fight every day at the PUC for all rate payers. That’s my job...to be cognizant of all rate payers. I don’t do anything on the PUC for political gain,” Bray stated.
Bray said that she and her husband, Edward, continue to live in the city in which they were raised and have stayed involved in local issues and in their church. “The city is very important to me. There are challenging times ahead of us as a city and I would like to be a part of that,” she stated.
Bray maintains that since taking office in 1992, her district, and particularly Woodlawn, has undergone improvements, such as having fewer abandoned houses, and said it is now a cleaner and safer place to live. She said she has worked closely with the Pawtucket Police Department, particularly Chief George L. Kelley II and Commander Arthur Martins, to address community crime issues.
Bray also takes issue with Barros’ criticisms that the neighborhood has been negatively impacted by some of the social service initiatives that have taken place. She said she thinks the Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation’s involvement in the former funeral home has improved the property and said the organization has shown a sensitivity to the neighbors. She added that several neighborhood meetings were held prior to the start of the project, and said, “I don’t think I ever saw my opponent there.”
Bray said that ever since taking office, she has taken the position that if residents are opposed to something in their neighborhood, she will “fight one-hundred and ten percent” for them. “They have to be a part of it. It’s their neighborhood,” she stated. She also said that, going forward, her goal is to be able to ensure that city residents “get the services they need to live in a safe and good community while at the same time trying to keep the tax rate as low as possible.”

In the City Council race for District 6, incumbent first-term City Councilor James Chadwick is facing a spirited challenge from local attorney George Patrick Hovarth.
Hovarth, 46, of 74 Varnum Ave. in the city’s Fairlawn section, is a longtime Democrat who is running as an independent. He and his wife, Margaret-Mary (Belliveau) Hovarth, also an attorney, are partners in the Law Offices of Hovarth & Hovarth in downtown Pawtucket.
A political newcomer, Hovarth said he decided to take on Chadwick because he had heard complaints that the councilor had not been responsive to many of his constituents, and he thinks he can do a better job in representing the 6th ward. He said he is also concerned about the direction that the city is headed in as a whole, and particularly the potential for a $5 million deficit even after the most recent property tax increase.
“I will work to revitalize downtown and our neighborhoods, supporting imaginative planning and creative efforts to bring jobs and economic development back to Pawtucket and to ease the tax burden on homeowners,” Hovarth stated.
Hovarth said that, as a councilor, he would work to grow the city’s tax base by encouraging the best uses for deteriorating, vacant, and under-used buildings. He also said he would strive to reduce the proportion of property that is owned by the city or city-related entities as well as by tax-exempt entities.
Hovarth also said he supports an increased police presence and would encourage community involvement to address traffic and safety concerns. He also pledged to assist local educators to strengthen school programs, forge partnerships with employers and seek greater involvement from parents who have children in the school system.
Chadwick, 54, of 51 Lucas St., Pawtucket, said he has enjoyed his first term on the City Council and looks forward to continuing to serve the residents of the 6th district as well as the rest of the city.
A Pawtucket native, Chadwick is a graduate of Pawtucket High School West (now Shea) and Johnson & Wales University, where he obtained a degree in business management. He currently works for National Grid.
Chadwick has four children and two grandchildren, and said it is mostly because of his children--and his desire for them to have a good city to grow up in like the Pawtucket he experienced--that was his inspiration for becoming involved in local politics. “Pawtucket has been good to me and I would like to se that it is good to them and the rest of our citizens,” stated Chadwick. “They all deserve to have a solid community to bring their children up in.”
Citing the city’s current budget woes, Chadwick added, “It is a tough time, but we have good people and we can continue to move this proud city forward,” he stated. “I look forward to continue serving the people in the 6th district, as well as the rest of the city, in their quest to have the best city that they possible can and that we, as councilors, can help provide.”
On Tuesday, Hovarth sent a press release criticizing Chadwick for his failure to appear at a scheduled debate on Oct. 7 on the Glen Medeiros Show cable TV show.  He said that Chadwick had responded that he is proud of his record and has nothing to hide, and cited the fact that the council meetings are open and televised.
Hovarth stated that he “regrets that the voters of the 6th District will not have the opportunity to hear their sitting councilor defend that record. Voters are tired of politics as usual and are demanding accountability from their elected representatives.”
Chadwick told The Times that he had originally planned on taking part in the debate, but had a conflict with his job. He said he has recently started a new job with National Grid and is still undergoing training. “I was pleased to be there, but my work was not,” he explained. He added that he had sent a letter to host Glen Medeiros prior to the show, explaining the situation.
Earlier in the campaign season, Hovarth had filed a police complaint over the loss of dozens of campaign signs. He estimated his supporters have had approximately 50-60 signs disappear from yards, and also said he has been the target of what he described as “harassment,” allegedly by members of Chadwick’s camp.
Chadwick denied any involvement in either of the complaints. “I’m above that stuff. I’ve had signs missing myself and I haven’t filed any police reports over it.” He added, “I have not harassed anybody. I have not bothered anybody.” He added that, “As a lawyer, my opponent should be careful of what he’s accusing people of.”
In addition to the two district City Council races, there is a four-way race for three open seats on the Council-At-Large. Joel Tirrell, the lone Republican candidate, will be facing off against three Democratic candidates: Thomas E. Hodge, Albert J. Vitali Jr., and Lorenzo C. “Larry” Tetreault.