NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The future of the elementary schools was the main topic of Wednesday morning's debate between the three candidates for mayor on WNAW 1230-AM radio.

Incumbent Richard Alcombright and challengers Ronald Boucher and Robert Martelle agreed that jobs, growth and taxes were the major issues facing the city but the schools — and the failed Proposition 2 1/2 override — dominated the hourlong conversation.

While the tone and remarks remained cordial both on and off the air, the mayor and the City Council president strongly disagreed on the school project — and Boucher's stand on it.

Alcombright, who as mayor also is chairman of the School Committee, reiterated his support for a two-school option that would see a new Greylock School built and Conte Middle School renovated into K-8 to replace Sullivan School.

Boucher, who attended the last School Building Committee, said he'd rather see repairs to Sullivan and Greylock to get them through the next 10 years until the economy improved.

"I truly believe in my heart, we couldn't get a $1.2 million override passed for a budget, I can't think we're going to get a $6-$8 million override passed for a school," said Boucher.

Alcombright, however, said Boucher "was more than adamant of your support of a two-school solution at that time," including saying he'd work within the community to help a debt exclusion pass.

But Boucher said it wasn't the case. While he agreed the committee should "go with the gusto" and submit a two-school project to the state, he didn't think the Massachusetts School Building Authority would approve it anyway.

"I didn't feel a debt exclusion override would pass," he said. "And I would not go out and market people to vote for a debt exclusion when I was not in favor of having a 2 1/2 override."

(This reporter who attended that meeting does not recall Boucher's stance being particularly "adamant" in either direction.)

Martelle stuck to his mantra of low taxes through most of the hour. "I would like a new school, but if we can't afford a new school we can't afford it," he said.

Boucher also took issue with an email sent from the mayor's office to the SBA claiming "solid unity behind this proposed direction" that included a majority of councilors because the council had not voted. Alcombright said he had sent the letter as head of the School Building Committee based on a unanimous School Committee vote and councilors who were at the building committee's vote. A resolution is expected to go before the council this month.

Alcombright said despite the Proposition 2 1/2 defeat, he felt the city would support the school project.

"We were trying to do what was in the best interest of the city ... my heart tells me that this city would rally around a debt exclusion override for the schools, for the kids," he said.

"I don't who you're talking to mayor, but the people I talk to are totally against the debt exclusion override," responded Boucher. "I'm not opposed to a new school as long as we can build it within our existing budget without going out to debt exclusion."

He suggested the schools weren't overcrowded and the city could wait until the debt from the renovations at Brayton and Drury fell off the books in a few years. Alcombright countered that there are two fourth-grade classes now at Brayton with 27 pupils each; half are on individual education plans. The problem isn't classrooms but space for programs and special education, he said.

Alcombright also said it would be several years anyway before the school project debt was incurred.

"My thought is strike while the iron is hot," he said. "As soon as you start to patch these buildings up you trigger all kinds of ADA requirements, which would trigger accessibility issues ... so what you think may be a couple hundred thousand dollars for a boiler or $400,000 for windows could turn into millions in renovations."

Both schools predate the Americans with Disabilities Act,  but could be forced to come into compliance the federal law depending on the scope of any repairs or renovations.

The mayor also defended his presentations on the failed Prop 2 1/2 that painted a devastating picture of what could happen to the schools saying "these are very scary times."

"I think we made a great compromise," he said in making further cuts and dipping into the city's depleted reserves, which he hadn't wanted to do. He added that his administration had winnowed a $3.2 million structural deficit down to $420,000 over the past year.

"I've kind of dismayed at the idea that people think because I didn't make the cuts we talked about, it's almost like I'm a failure for trying to be successful," said Alcombright. "We made cuts that had to happen but were as mild as can be."

Boucher said more cuts should have been made before the voters. "Duty and the job of government is to make the cuts and after you've done the best job possible of cuts, then go to the public and say we've done our job, we need your help."

Martelle said, "Mayor Barrett left Mr. Alcombright a big hole, he's got to try to dig out of, but like I said, raising taxes just makes the hole bigger."

Property taxes were major concern of those signing his nomination papers, he said. "I have to work a month and a half right now to pay my property taxes."

Voters will decide on Tuesday, Sept. 27, which two candidates will move to the general election in November.

The forum was sponsored by the Berkshire News Network (WNAW & WUPE radio) and iBerkshires.com. The moderator was Larry Kratka, WUPE news director; questions were asked by Kratka, iBerkshires Editor Tammy Daniels and North Adams Transcript Senior Reporter Jennifer Huberdeau.

Edited with clarification, added material at 10:19 a.m.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The so-far low key campaign of mayoral challenger Ronald Boucher shifted into high gear on Wednesday night as he came out swinging against the incumbent.

Boucher, a six-term councilor, described North Adams as headed in the wrong direction and floundering because of Mayor Richard Alcombright's lack of leadership and careless handling of finances.

"As mayor I will bring transparency and responsibility to city government and the taxpayers will know the true financial condition of this city," said Boucher to an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 at the American Legion for his campaign kickoff. "Mayor Alcombright has not been transparent and has done everything possible to hide the true financial condition of this city."

The council president took particular aim at the failed $1.2 million Proposition 2 1/2 override and the mayor's contention at a series of public meetings that it would have dire consequences on the city's schools and services. 

"He predicted devastation would happen to the school system and the city if the override should fail," said Boucher, adding "schoolchildren were encourage to stand on the street" holding signs in support. "The devastation the mayor said would happen did not happen ... and we wonder why people do not trust their elected officials."

A number of his statements garnered applause; a few of his supporters were decked in bright red T-shirts with his campaign slogan "Back to Basics."

He claimed the current administration had sought an override to cover $700,000 in union raises and that the school system had been sitting on $1.1 million in available funds. A sewer fee that was supposed to go into an enterprise fund was also being used for pay raises, he said.

The 54-year-old Boucher continued on the attack, saying Alcombright had promised jobs but produced none, watched businesses leave and the hospital fall into bankruptcy, and failed to cultivate the Beacon Hill contacts that would have garnered the city some of the economic development money targeted last month to Adams and Pittsfield.

Boucher said "benches, pocketparks and painted crosswalks" don't add up to economic growth and took Alcombright to task for describing the city's financial condition as "just a little below horrible" in a recent story in The Boston Globe.

"The job of a mayor is to sell and promote the city in a way that will bring people here and not keep them away ... why would anybody consider coming to North Adams after reading the mayor's comments?" he asked. "A true leader should challenge negative portrayals of their city."

Boucher said he would move to establish a for-profit foundation to leverage $2 million in tax credits "awarded the prior administration" to create a Monument Square Business Center that would include the vacant churches and Conte Middle School. Boucher, who had appeared to support a two-school project last month, said decisively on Wednesday that Conte should not be renovated for use as a school because it would limit the area's potential.

He did not offer a position on the school project, which currently is to renovate Conte and construct a new Greylock School.

He also pledged to forge contacts in Boston and aggressively pursue businesses and move forward with the Mohawk Theater project. He envisioned a "resurgent downtown" that could include a longtime favorite of the Barrett administration - a boutique hotel on Eagle Street.

"I will not be passing out pay raises while cutting programs nor will I raise taxes to fund contracts," he vowed. "As your mayor, I will surround myself with the best and brightest people ... I will not tolerate any appareance of conflicts of interest in my administration; transparency will not be just talked about, it will be practiced."

Boucher's challenge is already late in the campaign season; a preliminary between he, fellow challenger Robert Martelle and Alcombright is in two weeks.

While most challengers start early (Alcombright kicked off his campaign against John Barrett III in April 2009), Boucher said he's not worried, nor was he disappointed at the turnout.

"We started our work way before tonight. We've been at it for about two months almost," he said. "We've been making lots of phone calls, we've been identifying the vote, we've been having a lot of meetings ...

"We're ready to roll."

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Local attorney Jennifer M. Breen Kirsch has announced her candidacy for a seat on the North Adams City Council.

"Both sides of my family, the Breens and the Zoitos, settled in North Adams in the 1860s, and I have chosen to come home after practicing law in Cambridge as a Middlesex County assistant district attorney, where I worked during the tenure of then District Attorney Martha Coakley, another North Adams native."

Breen Kirsch's grandparents and great-grandparents are the former owners of Breen Flowers and Gifts. Her parents, MaryEllen and Peter Breen, are local schoolteachers.

"I hold my parents' careers as teachers in the highest regard, and have the utmost respect for the profession. Listening to constituents in the Sullivan School neighborhood recently, I believe that my interest in education will be integral in resolving the school building issue. Many residents have expressed their concerns to me, and I intend on bringing their concerns to the forefront."

Breen Kirsch recently opened a law practice at Mass MoCA, where she runs a general practice, with a strong focus on the representation of children in the foster care system.

"I handle care and protection cases, primarily, because of my concern for children in the foster-care system, and have stayed in this focus, even while I have moved on to probate matters, and criminal defense. Children are the primary focus of my practice, and always will be."

In addition to her law practice, Breen Kirsch has served as chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority.

"I enjoyed my time as the chairman of the Housing Authority, but deemed it appropriate to step down to run for public office. While I know that serving on both is not statutorily prohibited, I believe it is a conflict of interest, and for ethical reasons, believe I should choose one focus. Running for City Council is my focus, and is the natural offshoot of the 'mini-city' over at NAHA, that I helped run this past year. I strongly support good, public housing in our city, but it is time to expand my breadth of civic duty."

Breen Kirsch graduated from Union College and Northeastern University School of Law. She has been practicing law for seven years, this November, two of those years having been served as a Middlesex prosecutor. During law school, Breen Kirsch interned in the U.S. attorney's office, the attorney general's office, the Suffolk County district attorney's office, and as an intern for the honorable Stephen Lymon of the Suffolk County Juvenile Court.

Breen Kirsch has also served on the Neighborhood Crime Watch, recently begun in North Adams.

"I appreciate the opportunity given to me by Mayor Alcombright to volunteer for this group. However, I think from the experience I have had in criminal justice and criminal law, that I could impact the city in this regard from the public safety subcommittee, on the city council, especially given the transition that the city is going through with the structure of the NAPD."

Upon her return to North Adams, Breen Kirsch became involved in local political campaigns.

"However, I am my own person. Whoever wins the mayor's race, I will work with him or — against him. Whatever is best for my constituents, whatever my constituents want. I am looking for your vote on Nov. 8."

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Robert Martelle got angry over some of things said at the recent Proposition 2 1/2 information meetings about raising property taxes. Instead of just stewing over it, he decided to run for mayor.

"I'm doing this to stir things up," said the 54-year-old homeowner on Monday. "People can't take it. They can't take the taxes."

That's what he heard when he stood outside Big Y getting signatures on his nomination papers, voter after voter telling him that taxes are too high. He got 75 names in an hour and a half.

Martelle, who has worked at Berkshire Anodizing and its predecessor, Modern Aluminum Anodizing, for 20 years, said the city needs someone who'll look for more revenue and bring in better jobs.

"We need jobs here, well-paying jobs," said the Clarksburg native. "You've got to have 21st century jobs."

He suggested recruiting complementary manufacturing, such as a solar panel producer who could use aluminum from his own place of business.

Martelle also suggested more regionalized purchasing cooperatives to bring down costs of such materials as fuel, salt and asphalt. He'd also like to see more exploration of alternative energy options.

"The landfill is full of methane gas that should be looked at," he said. "It's just sitting there."

He doesn't think voters will pass a Prop 2 1/2 debt exclusion for two new schools but had no answer at the moment for what the school system could do and is still researching the subject.

He has little use for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, which he says has siphoned stores away from Main Street rather than sparking new businesses. He'd also like to see ways to get revenue out of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, such as charging a street use fee.

Despite running for mayor, Martelle thinks it might be good to get rid of the position and move to a town manager system because of the drop in population. "We're not a city anymore," he said.

Martelle is married and has lived in North Adams for more than 30 years. He attended Drury High and McCann Technical schools but graduated from "the school of hard knocks and the college of common sense."

He will face off against incumbent Richard Alcombright and challenger Ronald A. Boucher in a preliminary election on Sept. 27. The two highest vote-getters will move to the general election in November.

Nancy Bullett of Maple Street, North Adams, is a candidate for North Adams City Council.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — At the outset of my campaign for City Council, I would like to share a few thoughts. I am a fourth-generation North Adams resident, so while I am a first-time political candidate I am not a rookie when it comes to community activities and concerns.

I have experienced the ups and downs of our city. I am a product of our school system and have a great love for the incredible beauty and natural resources that surround us. I am also very aware of the many problems we face living in a community with many poor people living in it.

I am a physical therapist and a small-business owner. I have worked with many of our residents over the years and have listened carefully to people discussing their many concerns abut the community. Given the work I do, I have learned much about how our health system works, or should I say doesn't work, and I believe I have something to offer the city in this area.

I have also been impressed with the generosity and teamwork that I see in our community. As a former member of the Parks and Recreation Commission for five years, and current member of the Windsor Lake Commission, I understand the important role athletics and recreation play in our community. I have combined my passion for sports and community involvement by helping to organize an annual golf tournament for Drury High School alumni to raise money for the school.

I believe I bring a positive energy and the ability to work with others to go about the business of promoting economic development to provide jobs for our people. As a child of the Greylock section of our city, I understand how important it is to work with neighborhoods to keep us safe and promote neighborhood and community pride.

This year, I have decided to try to become a part of the team to keep North Adams moving forward and that's why I'm announcing my candidacy for the North Adams City Council.