This article originally appeared in The Times on Oct. 8: 

PAWTUCKET -- Maybe it wasn’t quite drama, but there was plenty of passion expressed for the city and the role of mayor in Tuesday night’s candidates’ forum at the Gamm Theatre.

Incumbent Mayor James E. Doyle and his challenger, City Councilor-At-Large Donald Grebien took part in a moderated discussion called “A Conversation with the Mayoral Candidates.” The event was organized by the Pawtucket Alliance for Downtown Success and the Pawtucket Citizens for the Arts, with support from the Pawtucket Times and the Gamm Theatre.

Moderated by local historian and antiques dealer Richard Kazarian, the forum drew a standing-room-only crowd, as Doyle, seeking his sixth term as mayor and Grebien, an 11-year councilor trying to unseat him, 

fielded questions on a series of topics ranging from downtown revitalization and economic development plans to mistakes that were made and what kind of legacy they would each like to leave.

In what was the second match-up between the two candidates, Doyle sought to once again portray himself as the proven and experienced leader, trying to steer the city through the current economic turbulence, while Grebien sounded on the themes of stagnation, stalled projects, and a need to cut costs, while urging voters to consider a change at the top.

Kazarian invited both men to speak on two long-delayed projects that have brought criticism and questions from city residents: the development of the Pawtucket/Central Falls train depot property and the planned hotel on Division Street.

Doyle defended the efforts of those who fought for the preservation of the old train depot, saying that the building’s historical significance could mean key federal dollars for the city in the future development of a commuter rail facility. As to the hotel, Doyle held out that he had wanted a different developer other than Carpianato Properties, which had been the choice of the City Council (which included Grebien) at the time.

Grebien faulted Doyle’s administration for its handling of the train depot project, saying that the city of Central Falls has a new CVS pharmacy on the site while Pawtucket “has nothing to show for it.” He defended the City Council’s choice of Carpianato to build the hotel, and, using a golf analogy, said the project had been “teed up” for the Doyle administration.

Doyle pointed to several extensions that were granted to the developer on the hotel project, and countered that if the hotel had been “teed up," as Grebien suggested, “it was teed up with a bowling ball.”

On the topic of downtown revitalization, Doyle said the emphasis should be on luring small businesses back to Main Street and the surrounding area. He pointed to the development of several mills into residential living spaces, and said the influx of new city dwellers will naturally spur a need for restaurants, shops and other amenities. “Small business and the arts is our future,” said Doyle.

Grebien conceded that while the arts are important, he said the artists and business owners currently occupying the downtown have expressed the need for better support groups. To that end, he said he would institute a “cultural plan.” He also said he would like to see Pawtucket, through the state legislature, create a Municipal Economic Development (MED) Zone to attract new businesses. Within this zone, half of the state’s 7 percent sales tax, or 3.5 percent, would stay in the city for reinvestment while consumers would get a 3.5 percent break on sales tax.

Doyle later faulted Grebien for his MED Zone plan, saying that it would only result in “big box” development, not small businesses. He also said that, given the current state economy, it was highly unlikely that the General Assembly would give any such tax breaks.

Grebien maintained that the MED Zone plan would work if it was tailored to fit the city. He portrayed his idea as being an example of how energized leadership and aggressive marketing will move the city forward.

Kazarian noted the importance of improving public education, and asked each candidate how they would address what he termed this “considerable challenge.”  Grebien noted the city’s diversity and said that perhaps an effort should be made to attract teachers from less traditional or more diverse cultural backgrounds. He also spoke to the importance of Pawtucket getting a more fair funding formula from the state.

Doyle also sounded the need for a change in the education funding formula, and said this was an area that he and the other members of the League of Cities and Towns over which he presides, have been heavily involved with at the State House. He also called for a total revamping of the educational system in the state, including a reduction in the number of individual school districts, and more efforts made at joint purchasing.

During the questioning, Doyle and Grebien sparred over some of the same topics that they pointedly addressed in the last debate. Grebien insisted that a 10 percent reduction of the city’s tax levy, which would amount to around $8 million, is achievable through spending curtailments and increased health insurance co-pays for non-union department heads. Doyle called Grebien’s idea a “folly” that would force a reduction of some essential city services such as fire and rescue, trash pick-up and senior citizens programs.

When Kazarian, a Pawtucket native himself, asked the two candidates what they would do to sustain a sense of pride in the city, Grebien responded that he would work to improve education, encourage economic development through the MED Zones, and better promote existing assets such as the Pawtucket Red Sox, Winter Wonderland, the Pawtucket Arts Festival, and other established venues and events.

Doyle said that since taking over as mayor 11 years ago, the city is more financially solvent, has less boarded-up houses, has more jobs and residents through mill redevelopment, and is a cleaner and more attractive place to live. Noting that the Providence Phoenix newspaper had dubbed the city “The Bucket” a few decades ago, Doyle stated, “They don’t call it ‘The Bucket’ anymore.”