SALEM — Residents packed the Sophia Gordon Center at Salem State University on Monday (to 75 percent capacity) as incumbent Mayor Kimberley Driscoll and Ward 7 Councilor Steve Dibble squared off in the first mayoral debate of the campaign cycle.
A panel of Salem State students questioned the candidates on various issues currently facing the Witch City. Dibble took the microphone first as he called out the current mayor for her need for control and power.
“I feel she’s lost her way,” said Dibble. “She doesn’t listen to Salem residents any longer. She listens to big money from Boston.”
Driscoll opened the debate by talking about how she cares about the city and believes in Salem. She also received the first question, which was about one of the biggest issues facing the city at the moment: Housing.
The current mayor said that she wants Salem to be livable, while Dibble mentioned the rise of luxury apartments and stated that Salem needed what he referred to as truly affordable housing.
The next question involved inclusiveness in the city; Dibble said that Salem needs to do much better in this area.
“To put up walls, to alienate the Hispanic crowd in Salem, to not allow the Muslim population a seat at the table on the Race Equity Task Force… It’s unacceptable what’s going on,” the councilor said. “We could do much better.”
Driscoll responded by talking about the city scoring a 100 on a Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality index as well as putting together the Race Equity Task Force in response to the protests around the murder of George Floyd.
Both candidates also addressed how climate change will affect the city. Dibble said that Salem needs to stop burning fossil fuels and “go electric.”
“Salem is so far behind,” he said. “If we were to build offshore wind turbines here with a good leader, we’d bring cheaper electricity to Salem and the North Shore.”
Driscoll mentioned investing in green spaces as well as converting city stop lights to LEDs as well as devising alternative modes of transportation.
The next question was asked by student panelist Sam Lim. They asked the candidates about supporting the transgender community and Dibble mentioned that the focus was being put on the wrong issues.
“What we’re doing right now is just wrong,” he said. “We’re focusing on a lot of issues in the city, and they’re important issues, but they aren’t really the issues people want to hear about.”
Dibble received heckles from the crowd that continued throughout the night; he addressed the hecklers on multiple occasions.
Driscoll noted the recognition of “they/them” pronouns throughout city ordinances, and gender-neutral bathrooms throughout schools in the city.
“We need to continually be reminding each other of the importance of respecting the values of other people in our community,” she said.
The candidates also received a question about the homeless population and Dibble once again said that the city isn’t doing enough, referencing the growth of the homeless population as evidence.
Candidates were also asked about a possible vaccine mandate for Salem schools and Dibble was opposed to the idea, saying that it should be a parent’s decision whether or not they wished to vaccinate their children. Driscoll said she is open to the idea of a mandate as well as extending the mandate to city government. The mayor also added that there are other vaccination requirements, as well as other health care requirements, to attend public school.
One idea that Dibble isn’t opposed to is Salem having an official cryptocurrency called WitchCoin. He mentioned that cities such as Miami and London have done this and have been able to raise money for local government initiatives as well as improving and funding schools.
The final question regarded term limits, with Dibble saying that he supported an eight-year term limit, or two mayoral terms. Also, Dibble mentioned making the mayoral term two years instead of four. Driscoll responded that term limits already exist in the form of the election process.
The big day is nearing for both candidates with Election Day coming up on Nov. 2.
