NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The following mayoral debate between incumbent Richard Alcombright and challenger Ronald Boucher, council president, was filmed at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center by Northern Berkshire Community Television.
It was hosted by the North Adams Transcript and moderated by Transcript Editor Michael Foster and Senior Reporter Jennifer Huberdeau.
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
Same result as before. Ron wins big on the issues. Spoke to a local debate coach who confirmed this. He said he showed clips to his students who also agreed. Dick came off as a fast talking politician who will saying anything. Students said you could tell Ron meant what he said. Posted at 7:51am
Editor: You obviously don't know what you're talking about. I Agree (8) - I Disagree (1)
@ On the Fence
You comment is just plain wrong. You either don't understand that YouTube plucks a random frame from every video to be the still-shot and goes to the beginning of the recording only **after** you hit play, or you are delusional.
If you actually **watch** the clips, you will see that they alternate perfectly between candidates.
Study after study has shown that people see what they want to see. It seems that Ron's loudest supporters cannot believe what everybody else sees, so they have to make up their own reality to justify why the town is not 100% behind Ron.
Your debate coach must be deaf and blind. This was by far the worst I've seen someone do at a debate. Alcombright knew the answers. Boucher had to scramble to find what Barrett wanted him to say. Count how many times he contradicts his own statements.
Editor, take a look at the page (scroll up). How many pics of dick are there? How many of Ron.
and totally disagree with the latest debate comment......it is clear the many many dick supporters are heading towards ron. Be over confident....wonderful!
I have to say that Mayor Alcombright won this debate HANDS DOWN. Mr. Boucher stumbled, was uninformed, did not look like a leader in any way. I attended the Mayor's first public meeting at Drury concerning the serious fiscal straits the city was in at the start of his term. He has done a good job and should continue to look for any fat in budgets, especially schools. Keep working to bring business to NA Mr. Mayor.
Conway, do you mean the Scare Tactics Tour.....god this guy does a great job making people think they need to raise taxes or the borders will close.
Just an fyi...the average man on street I run into thinks the debate was a draw..and that ron won on issues...hate to tell you.
Scare Tacics - you mean Mr. Boucher's numerous references to "paid volunteers" refering to fire fighters. Just what are paid volunteers? You are either a volunteer or you are paid. There are votes to raise taxes via Prop. 2 1/2 and we have a right to vote it down as was done this year. Not having a sewer tax was dumb when you have to run a wastewater treatment plant. Property taxes are now realistic compared to other cities.
Gotach! You sir are a TAX HIKER. No wonder you like the mayor so much. Nice of you to think I dont pay enough.
Let me ask you, after the over ride failed did you pony up the extra money and send right to city hall? I doubt it.
The above is one reason people are leaving Alcombright in droves....the tax increases and the scare tactics. Be surprised how many people I talk to that voted for him last time, that are now either not voting or voting for Ron.
I will vote for Ron becuase I want to be a paid volunteer. Under Dick I volunteer but don't get paid. I also like Ron's idea of having footprints go from Mass Moca to downtown. It doesn't matter that they are already there and he didn't notice. His next suggestion should be putting benches downtown. Brilliant! Finally if he's elected mayor I expect to see Ron cleaning windows. He blamed Dick for dirty windows in the downtown. I never knew the mayor was responsible for wondows on Main St. Now I know.
Know what I'm glad about? I'm glad that Ron's Cheering Section (which consists of one person with a gazillion identities) doesn't live near me.
When Alcombright wins the mayoral election, the cranial explosion emanating from Ron's Cheering Section will create a seismic shock that'll rock the Richter Scale. It's gonna be messy.
RealWayne. I'll give you John. It's not hard to win a demotion. Bob will be near the bottom of the voter list. You snuggle with him at council meetings but I have yet to see his huge support group. Remember if John wins, he only has Marie to pull strings. He lost power over the other city councilors years ago. The only juice John has left is prune.
I'm replying to you on this old thread, because I sense your loneliness.... but you, and your iterations, are hopefully sensing (nad realizing) that the greatest expression of arrogance is ...
Ignorance.
Say what you will, online or in person, but wishes don't translate to horsepower.
The cities of Pittsfield and North Adams will hold municipal elections for mayor, city council and school committee in 2015
You may vote absentee: if you will be absent from your town or city on election day, have a physical disability that prevents you from voting at the polls or cannot vote at the polls because to religious beliefs.