Live at the Mayor’s Youth Council for the City Council- At -Large candidates’ forum at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Harbor View Gallery.

The Mayor’s Youth Council invites New Bedford voters, to attend a candidates’ forum on Tuesday, October 12th from 5:00PM to 9:00 PM in the New Bedford Whaling Museum Harbor View Gallery. The forum will include 3 events for candidates running for city wide offices. The forum for City Council- At -Large Candidates will be 5:00 to 6:30 PM, the School Committee forum will follow from 6:45 to 7:45 PM and the Mayoral forum from 7:50 -8:45PM.

The format for the forum will include a series of questions presented by the Youth Council involving current issues related to New Bedford and the public schools. If time allows, there will also be an audience Question and Answer period for the candidates. Each participant will have the opportunity to share with voters who they are, why they are running for office, and what they hope to accomplish.

This forum will be conducted by members of the Mayor’s Youth Council. The Mayor’s Youth Council began hosting candidates’ forums in 2007 and this is the seventh forum hosted by the Mayor’s Youth Council as an opportunity for youth to participate and share their voice in the election process.

Chris Resendes live with the New Bedford Elections Office head Manuel DeBrito and New Bedford School Committee Member Josh Amaral.

The Chris Resendes Show live with city councilor Brian Gomes.

New Bedford City Councilor Ian Abreu’s motion to have the Health Department consider requiring New Bedford food establishments with less than 25 patrons to have CPR training passed a unanimous voice vote during the New Bedford City Council meeting on 28 September, 2017.

The motion reads as follows:

WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Abreu, requesting, that the City Council engage in dialogue with our Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services about implementing mandatory CPR and Heimlich training and certifications for all New Bedford restaurants, bars, food-related cafes and establishments which seat less than 25 patrons, currently, Massachusetts General Law (105:CMR – Mass Dept. of Health 590.003(A)(2) Mgmt. and Personnel) has only established a mandatory statewide law for all restaurants which seat 25 or more patrons that they must have on its premises while food is being served a person trained and certified in CPR; and further, a collaborative approach on the local level on this issue could help potentially save lives. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances, the Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services.)

“A constituent and personal friend of mine had recently choked at a local restaurant here in our city, and unfortunately for her, the restaurant staff was not prepared to assist her in her time of desperate need,” said Councilor Abreu. “Luckily, 911 was called and her life was saved. What happened to my friend inspired me to delve into our local policies and procedures centered around CPR and Heimlich certifications/trainings at our local food-related establishments.”

Councilor Abreu continued, Upon further investigation, what I had found was that, according to Mass General Law (105:CMR – Mass Dept. of Health 590.003(A)(2) Mgmt and Personnel), all food-related establishments which seat 25 or more patrons must at all times have someone on the floor who is CPR-certified. However, if a food-related establishment seats less than 25 patrons, they do not need to have someone on the floor who is CPR-certified. This, to me, is troubling, because someone can have a heart attack or choke on a piece of food just as easily at a small café as they can at a large restaurant.”

The passing by a voice vote means the motion is sent to the Committee on Ordinances, the Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services to have a draft ordinance crafted. Once complete, the City Council will vote on the final ordinance at a future date.

Incumbent New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and New Bedford police officer Charlie Perry move on to the November 7th final municipal election. In yesterday’s election, Jon Mitchell received 2,707 votes to Charlie Perry’s 2,376, giving the incumbent mayor a 13.9% lead over Charlie Perry. Mitchell Garner finished third with 209 votes and is the odd man out in November. Voter turnout was 9.4% – 5,384 of the 57,187 registered voters participated.

As of 4 Oct, 2017, incumbent New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell had a balance of $203,552.94 in his campaign war chest, raising $28,395.80 alone in the first two weeks of August. As of Oct 2, 2017, Charlie Perry had an ending balance of $2,828.29, spending just over $5,000 since August. Mitchell Garner raised $85 and spent $74.95.

Full election results to include City Council races can be found here.

Want to discuss all things New Bedford politics? Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/newbedfordpolitics/

Here are the results of the New Bedford preliminary election held on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. The top two candidates move on to the final election on November 7th, 2017. Voter turnout was 9.4% – 5,384 of the 57,187 registered voters participated.

Mayor
Jon Mitchell – 2,707
Charlie Perry – 2,376

ELIMINATED:
Mitchell Garner – 209

Ward 1 City Council
Melissa Costa – 240
William Markey – 218

ELIMINATED:
Daniel Costa – 210
Christopher Amaral – 190
Steven Caton – 145
Randy Santos – 74
Mark Ventura – 58

Ward 2 City Council
Maria Giesta – 340
Edwin Cartagena – 111

ELIMINATED:
Carlos Pimentel Felix – 74

Ward 4 City Council
Dana Rebeiro – 409
Joseph Jo-Jo Fortes – 406

ELIMINATED:
Kenneth Gilbert – 203

Ward 5 City Council
Scott Lima – 462
Paul Chasse – 337

ELIMINATED:
Kate Towers – 311
Nelson Macedo – 295
David Sullivan – 66

Want to discuss all things New Bedford politics? Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/newbedfordpolitics/

We asked the New Bedford Ward 2 City Council candidates Maria Giesta, Carlos Pimentel Felix and Edwin Cartagena about the parks in Ward 2.

During the New Bedford Ward 2 City Council debate, we asked candidates Maria Giesta, Carlos Pimentel Felix and Edwin Cartagena to say something good about their opponents.

During the debate, I asked the Ward 2 candidates Maria Giesta, Carlos Pimentel Felix and Edwin Cartagena about the problem and absentee landlords in Ward 2.