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Linda Balzotti announces her
intention to
run for Mayor of Brockton
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BROCKTON - Councilor-at-Large Linda Balzotti has announced her
candidacy for the Mayor of Brockton.
The six-term City Councilor cites a desire to lead, offering a fresh
approach and an aggressive plan to move Brockton forward in a
difficult economy.
“Right now, Brockton is lacking confidence. While the economy
may be waning, there is no reason to believe that we can’t make this
city better,” Balzotti said. “Brockton has faced tough times
before, and we’ve gotten through those times by rolling up our
sleeves and working together, by pitching in as neighbors,
residents, city workers and government leaders who all have a stake
in keeping Brockton a good place to live, work and raise a family.”
Balzotti has been considering a run for the city’s highest office
for some time.
“The financial crisis this country now faces is evident here in
Brockton: we are facing stark cuts in state aid that will result in
layoffs and direct cuts to city services; from Campello to Montello,
we’re seeing scores of vacant homes lost to the foreclosure crisis;
the economic downturn has cost innumerable citizens their jobs, and
public confidence is at an all-time low. What we need now is a
new direction, new ideas and a commitment that we will all work
together to do what is best for the entire city,” Balzotti said.
“It’s going to take determination and tenacity, but if we pull
together as we have in the past, we can weather this storm and come
out of it a stronger and tighter community.”
Balzotti has outlined five areas of concern that she will tackle
upon taking office as mayor: reinvigorating community spirit by
engaging the citizenry, strengthening economic development,
stabilizing neighborhoods impacted by foreclosures and public safety
issues, ensuring that children thrive by supporting education and
addressing the city’s growing gang problem, and improving fiscal
solvency by holding the line on spending.
“I take pride in my reputation as a fiscal watchdog affectionately
referred to as a ‘slasher.’ As a city, the current economic times
will force us to avoid duplication, consolidate resources and
implement creative ways to provide services if we are going to
continue to provide residents with core services,” she said.
As mayor, Balzotti will build upon the city’s success in creating
the Grove Street brightfield, one of the largest solar field arrays
in the nation, to promote the growth of green technologies and
industries in the city. She will work with the Patrick
administration to provide incentives for environmentally-friendly
businesses to locate in the city. Balzotti will direct her
attention to oversight of the 21st Century Corporation,
focusing on strengthening the city’s economic base by attracting
clean, safe businesses to Brockton.
“The taxpayers of Brockton have a vested interest in the economic
development of the city. I will work to identify and attract
responsible businesses to the city to strengthen our tax base and
create jobs, Balzotti said. “I will work tirelessly to ensure that
under my administration, economic development efforts in Brockton
will be in the best interests of the residents. Let’s work to make
the ‘Shoe City’ the ‘Green City,’ as well.”
As mayor, Balzotti will actively seek new members of city boards and
commissions and solicit residents’ input on city programs and
initiatives. She will introduce summer concerts for families
and maintain direct communication with residents through regular
news updates and utilization of the city’s website as a
clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities. She will also work
closely with the Police and School Departments to identify grant
opportunities to address gang issues and provide more opportunities
for underserved youth.
The Mayor’s Office will work aggressively with the banks to address
the foreclosure problem and will introduce ordinance changes to
ensure that bank-owned properties are maintained. Brockton has
received funding as part of a pilot program to focus on permanent
housing to reduce homelessness, and Balzotti will work to
rehabilitate housing while helping residents to work towards
self–sufficiency.
First elected as Ward 4 Councilor in 1998, Balzotti worked with her
colleagues on the City Council to ensure a much-needed,
multi-million dollar restoration to Brockton’s Wastewater Treatment
Plant; built a coalition of Ward 4 and East Bridgewater residents in
defeating the proposed reopening of the BFI Landfill; and fought for
the construction of the solar field on a brownfield site on Grove
Street, turning an eyesore into a neighborhood asset that is a
nationally-recognized, environmentally-friendly energy source.
A Brockton native who attended city schools, Balzotti owns a
condominium on Felton Street.
Balzotti is a 1979 graduate of Brockton High School and holds a
bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. The daughter of a
World War II veteran and a retired New England Telephone Company
operator, she has served as a ward councilor, councilor-at-large,
and in 2001, was elected Council President by her peers.
She has chaired the powerful Ordinance, Real Estate and Public
Safety Committees of the Brockton City Council and also has
experience as a former legislative aide to Representative Christine Canavan,
D-Brockton, at the Massachusetts State House. She is employed
as the Public Information Officer at Bridgewater State College.
“Brockton is still a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Crime is prevalent in some neighborhoods, and we must continue to
work to defeat it. We need to remember that this is a
still city where neighbors help one another; where our kids get a
great education with opportunities to shine in academics, athletics
and the arts; and where good businesses like to set down roots and
set examples for the world,” Balzotti said. “These next
few years are going to be difficult, and we’re going to have to make
hard choices. I believe in Brockton. I know that
with the right combination of community participation, government
leadership and grit, we can make this a truly Champion City.”
Linda will hold an official Campaign Kick-Off on Sunday, March 1,
2009 at The Brockton V.F.W. from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
All are welcome.
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