Dear friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens of Woonsocket,
We come from different political parties and serve at different levels of local and state government. We bring different perspectives, backgrounds, and areas of expertise. We do not agree on every issue, nor should we. But there is one matter on which we stand united:
Lisa Baldelli-Hunt should not return to elected office.
Many of us served alongside Lisa Baldelli-Hunt and had a firsthand view of her conduct. She has demonstrated a troubling lack of integrity, honesty, and accountability, and an unwillingness to work constructively, collaboratively, and transparently with fellow elected officials. She also made decisions that, in our view, placed her personal interests ahead of the interests of Woonsocket and its residents. We believe her tenure caused lasting damage to our city and undermined the public trust that elected officials are entrusted to uphold.
These concerns are not based solely on our personal experiences or personal opinions.
The findings from an independent investigation conducted by former U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman on behalf of the City concerning the land deal involving her close friends speak for themselves, and we believe they represent only part of the broader concerns surrounding her time in office.
The consequences of Lisa Baldelli-Hunt’s actions have extended beyond public confidence and the City’s reputation.
Woonsocket has also faced significant financial consequences, including multimillion-dollar, taxpayer-funded settlements and payouts associated with lawsuits stemming from controversies during her tenure. Woonsocket deserves leaders who will restore accountability, rebuild public confidence, protect taxpayer resources, and put the interests of our community first. In our shared view, Lisa Baldelli-Hunt has failed to meet that standard.
This is an extraordinary step for us to take, but we do so because we believe the future of our city is too important to remain silent.
Signed,
Senator Melissa Murray
Senator Brian Thompson
Representative Jon Brien
Representative Stephen Casey
Representative Bob Phillips
City Council Vice President Denise Sierra
Councilman James Cournoyer
Councilman Michael Dubois
Councilwoman Kristina Contreras Fox
Councilwoman Sharon Harmon
School Committee Chair Paul Bourget
School Committee Vice Chair Donald Burke
Committeewoman Amie Costa
Committeewoman Lynn Kapiskas
Committeeman Alan Leclaire
Note: Everyone was asked about being part of this letter, according to the writers, and these are the ones who signed onto it. Baldelli-Hunt is the former mayor and current candidate for City Council.
