The Elmwood Neighborhood Association hosted a Providence City Council Ward 9 Candidate Forum at Club Juan Pablo Duarte on Thursday featuring the three candidates for seat on the ballot this November.

Diego Arene-Morley is a high school teacher and social worker running as an independent.

Jose Perez Corporan is a local businessman running as an independent. He answered all questions in Spanish and was provided a translator for English speakers. Unfortunately Perez Corporan spoke over his translator, making it difficult for non-Spanish speakers to understand him.

Juan Pichardo is the endorsed Democrat in the race. Pichardo is a former State Senator representing District 2 (Providence) from 2003 to 2017.

Complete forum video followed by direct links to each question and answer asked at the forum:

Question 1. Why do you want to represent Ward 9 on the Council? What are the key issues you want to address and what skills and abilities would you bring to the role as City Councilor?

Juan Pichardo
Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley

Question 2. A March 17th City presentation called “Community Conversation about the Future of Broad Street” included income statistics for our area which states that 34% of the community lives in poverty, compared to 14% in metro Providence and 16% nationwide. The median household income was 50% less that the Providence average. What steps can be taken to improve resident’s access to good paying employment opportunities to bring them out of poverty?

Diego Arene-Morley
Jose Perez Corporan
Juan Pichardo

Question 3. What is your plan for doing outreach with the residents of Ward 9 if you are elected to be our city councilor? What is your communication style? What kind of communication tools will you use? What do you think is a good example of effective communication?

Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley
Juan Pichardo

Question 4. What specific plan do you have to reduce the negative environmental impact of the industries along Allens Avenue on Elmwood residents? For example, what steps do you think can be taken to reduce air, noise, and toxic waste pollution that affects our health?

Juan Pichardo
Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley

Question 5. Our neighborhood has experienced a string of violent incidents at nightclubs that are frightening to residents. Nightclub residents show no interest in addressing resident’s concerns. What would you do to make sure the Board of Licenses does not ignore the City’s ordinances, such as the noise ordinance, and is more responsive to the will of residents?

Diego Arene-Morley
Jose Perez Corporan
Juan Pichardo

Community Questions:

Question 6. Why are the schools in Providence in such bad shape and what is the solution?

Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley
Juan Pichardo

Question 7. What are there no free adult classes to learn Spanish in Providence?

Juan Pichardo
Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley

Question 8. How will you get money for your ideas and programs?

Jose Perez Corporan
Diego Arene-Morley
Juan Pichardo

Closing Statements:

Diego Arene-Morley
Jose Perez Corporan
Juan Pichardo

Candidate yard signs: