The candidates fielded questions and offered their viewpoints on a wide range of issues Tuesday night. - Photo by Matthew Roy

By Ard Ardalan

Candidates competing for seats on the board of Aldermen held a formal panel discussion on Tuesday evening to address questions from local residents. The event, which took place at the First Church of Somerville on College Avenue, was attended by members of the local community eager to ask questions and air grievances to prospective Aldermen.

Though all candidates registered to be on the ballot on November 15 were invited to participate in the panel, only eight, both challengers and incumbents, were present. Among them, only Bob Trane and Christine Barber, of Wards 7 and 4 respectively, were running for Ward Alderman seats.

Candidates for Alderman At Large present at the discussion were incumbents Dennis Sullivan, Bruce Desmond, Bill White and challengers Todd Easton and Mike Nionakis.

Candidates were asked to answer questions ranging from the inclusionary housing ordinance and the increases in poverty levels, to illegal immigration and eviction of problematic low-income tenants in East Somerville.

In a controversial measure, the board of aldermen recently requested that the Somerville Housing Authority explore means of evicting section 8 tenants that are deemed to be problematic. Incumbent Aldermen were compelled to defend their positions on the matter. Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane justified the measure citing poor quality of life and danger to the public as reasons for evicting the low-income residents.

Candidate for Alderman At Large Todd Easton argued that the board’s response to the problem of low-income housing, specifically in Ward 1, was inadequate. Easton stated that several residents in Ward 1 felt as though their city representatives were not responding to their immediate requests. Incumbents present at the panel stood by their decisions, dismissing any controversy as miscommunication.

Several candidates attributed problems such as illegal apartments and high cost of living to the presence of Tufts University students in West Somerville. Alderman Trane noted an instance where he personally reported an apartment of six students on Chetwynd road to the police department for violation of the laws on maximum occupancy.

Overall, all candidates praised the diversity and multi-cultural environment of the city. Alderman Sullivan cited a need to further integrate marginalized immigrants regardless of legal status. Most candidates agreed on issues of immigration policy.

Alderman At Large Bill White took time from the panel discussion to read a recent resolution calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution regarding campaign finance contributions. Citing the recent decision by the Supreme Court to overturn campaign finance regulations, the board voted to pass the resolution calling for concrete steps to protect the democratic process from corporate interests at the national level.