New Bedford Ward council candidates state their platforms

NEW BEDFORD — There are numerous New Bedford residents throwing their hats into the upcoming 2023 municipal election. The preliminary election will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, with the top two mayoral and Ward 5 finishers, along with the top 10 at-large council candidates moving on to the municipal election on Nov. 7.

As part of the Standard-Times' coverage of the election, we reached out to the candidates for the upcoming preliminary election for candidate-submitted platforms.

Here, in their words, are the ward City Council candidates' statements about why they should be elected.

Candidates for Ward 5 City Council:

Zach Boyer

My name is Zach Boyer and I’m once again running to be your next Ward 5 City Councilor. Since my last campaign in 2021, I have deepened my commitment to our city and broadened my work with a wide variety of community organizations that focus on the needs of the most vulnerable within our community. I also became a proud father, donated bone marrow and helped to sign up dozens of people to the donor registry.

I currently serve as the Planning Director at Coastline Elderly Services, where I write, review and administer federal, local and state grants for a variety of community programs and services.

As your Ward 5 City Councilor, my priorities will include pedestrian safety around Buttonwood Park by ensuring our infrastructure is properly engineered for crosswalk visibility and expanding the reach and accessibility of senior services with my experience serving on the Council on Aging and Age Friendly New Bedford. I will continue to be passionate about Affordable Housing and Inclusionary Zoning, homelessness and substance abuse, the elderly and disabled, children and family services.

I am proudly endorsed by Paul Heroux, whose campaign I knocked on hundreds of doors for, along with the Coalition for Social Justice Action Fund and the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools. I am passionately dedicated to our city, its diversity, and its capacity for growth. When elected, I promise to listen to and represent all residents of Ward 5, with reliable and timely constituent services.

Joseph P. Lopes

I am a lifelong resident of New Bedford and a proud graduate of the New Bedford Public School System.

My previous experiences serving on the City Council provided me with the knowledge of how the city’s infrastructure works, and the skills required to work with my fellow elected officials at all levels of government. I will focus on constituent services, public safety, and taxes.

I would once again work with the New Bedford School Department and the members of the New Bedford School Committee to provide each New Bedford student with the quality education that each student deserves. I know that if we are going to continue to move New Bedford forward; we need to invest in our future, and our kids are our future.

I am confident that my previous record of service as a member of the City Council has demonstrated that I will represent you, the residents of Ward 5, with an experienced leader who will successfully face the challenges of our city’s future, and I humbly ask for your support on election day, as I would like to use my experience and knowledge serving on the Council to represent you the residents of Ward 5.

I respectfully ask for your support and your vote on Tuesday, Oct. 3 and on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Please cast your vote for me, Joseph P. Lopes, Councilor of Ward 5, and allow me the honor and privilege to serve you as your Ward Five City Councilor. Together, we can continue to move New Bedford forward.

Carlos Maiato

My name is Carlos Maiato and I am a candidate for the open Ward 5 City Council seat. I love New Bedford, which is why I entered this race. We have a beautiful city but it has its issues. I know.

As an independent voice on the council, I will work cohesively with my council colleagues and the mayor and the administration for the betterment and the quality of life of the residents of Ward 5 and the whole of New Bedford.

We need new, fresh, honest perspectives, voices, and motivations on the council. We don't have that now. The time has come to change how this council operates and does business. The residents of Ward 5 deserve this. A city councilor is an advocate for their constituents.

Ian Saunders

My fellow Bay Staters, the train from Boston is almost here. If all goes as planned our city should be filled with tourists and pose an enormous increase to the economy of New Bedford.

Such a quaint New England city with such character really makes it feel like more of a town. We are a highly marketable community that has such potential yet we have forgotten a huge piece to the puzzle. When I joined the fish lumper's union I signed a contract that I would perform my job in the name of God for my family, my community and my country and somehow I feel let down.

The schools in my community are broken beyond repair. I'm not sure if a single clock in Hathaway School even works, today I was called about a heat alert in the classrooms (yet administration has air conditioning), the lunch room is so inadequate the children eat meals in class and the straw that did it for me was when my child told me his friends on crutches needed help from him to get up and down the steps to class because there is no elevator in the school. I thought all I had to do was fork fish and someone else would take care of the community.

I ask the voters of our neighborhood if they will accept my unwavering convictions that the west end of New Bedford is the greatest place in the world to live and vote to save our elementary schools.

Candidates for Ward 1 City Council:

Leo Choquette

I am running a second time for Ward 1 City Councilor. Last election I came up short by just 44 votes against the same incumbent. I am a lawyer and wealth manager with Osaic in Braintree.

I have lived in New Bedford for over 20 years, and I will bring about profound changes in Constituent Service. I will open the only Constituent Services office in the City and will meet with Ward 1 residents without appointment 3x weekly. I will reinstall the neighborhood meetings for both the Sassaquin area and the lower Ward at Pulaski and Normandin schools on a monthly basis. We will have accessibility and accountability.

I have experience in City government through my roles as a Board of Director at PACE, and also on the New Bedford Zoning Board of Appeals. Mayor Jon Mitchell appointed me in 2020, and I have served as Clerk of the Board since 2022.

William "Brad" Markey, incumbent

It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Ward 1 for the past six years doing the work of this great city. During this time, I have built relationships with the various city departments as well as my colleagues on the council. These relationships are important to advance projects and help with residents’ issues. As Chairman of the Finance Committee working with my colleagues to make sure the City has the assets needed to run efficiently in a fiscally responsible manner.

A crucial component of being a councilor is collaborating with residents on key issues. We are currently working together to stop processing municipal waste in the Industrial Park. We are also working on lessening the congestion on Braley Road in front of Pulaski School by developing Pulaski Park which will include a second entrance off of Acushnet Avenue, the planning process has already begun. Also, sidewalks are currently being installed where there weren’t any on Braley Road which will make for a safer walk for students and parents.

Another project that I have been involved in as Chairman of the Airport Committee is the new Airport terminal, state funding has been secured so the design work can be started. The Airport is an essential part of our City.

I believe that the city is on a very positive note, I feel now more than ever that this city is destined to achieve its optimal success. With that, I ask for your vote on Election Day.

Uncontested candidate for Ward 2 City Council:

Maria Eugenia Giesta, incumbent

It’s been my honor to represent the residents of Ward 2 and I welcome the opportunity to continue the representation.

I was born in Sao Miguel, Azores to my wonderful parents, Valentina and Jose F. Giesta. Like many residents of Ward 2, my family immigrated to the United States to escape a brutal Dictatorship.

I attended New Bedford schools and went to college at SMU (UMASS-Dartmouth), and upon graduation, I moved to Washington DC to begin work for Senator John Kerry and Congressman Barney Frank. It was always my intention to return to New Bedford to serve the community I love and be with my family.

The most important job I have as a Ward Councilor is constituent service. I receive phone calls, emails, and texts from residents asking for help regarding garbage pickup, littering, public safety, affordable housing, taxes, fiscal responsibility, etc. I do my best to respond quickly and efficiently because my constituents deserve it.

I support the New Bedford Police Department; the New Bedford Fire Department, EMS, Teachers, Paraprofessionals and all City Employees who work very hard for the residents of Ward 2. I firmly believe that we must work together to bring businesses to our city, and to make sure our waterfront is protected for our fishing fleet because they are the backbone of our city.

I am proud to serve as the Chair of both the Committee on City Property and the Fisheries Committee.

Thank you for your support, and please remember to vote for me on Nov 7.

Uncontested candidate for Ward 3 City Council:

Shawn Oliver, incumbent

Serving the community I love and call home is one of my life’s highlights. Determined for a better New Bedford, I proudly announce I’m seeking re-election as Ward 3 Councilor.

I’m committed to serving all residents, fully funding our Police, Fire, and EMS. Ensuring they have what’s necessary to keep our neighborhoods safe while being mindful of wasteful spending. I’m optimistic New Bedford is ready to write its next chapter with the near completion of the SouthCoast Rail, developing the Advanced Manufacturing Campus, the emerging marine science and technology industry, and our leading offshore wind efforts while maintaining balance within our fishing industry.

However, to truly be ready our children and educators need the tools necessary for success in the classroom, getting our youth educated and trained for these future jobs. This is crucial as many leave our city after graduation and never return. Investing in our youth sets the tone that New Bedford is the place to come back to, set down their own roots and further grow our community.

Guided by my motto “Your Problems are my Problems” and with 24/7, 365 constituent services being my cornerstone I’ll be our voice to navigate through the bureaucracy. Just because City Hall may be Monday-Friday, 9-5 doesn’t mean your Councilor should be.

I’m committed to New Bedford because I’m New Bedford, it’s in my blood.

So I ask for your vote, Tuesday, Nov. 7 so I can return to City Hall ensuring Ward 3 has a responsive and active Councilor.

The following candidates are also running uncontested but did not submit a statement for the preliminary race: Ward 4, Derek Baptiste and Ward 6, Ryan Joseph Pereira.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: New Bedford Ward council candidates state their platforms