Quincy mayoral debate becomes slugfest: Phelan, Koch use forum to lambaste each other’s record

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - Mayor William Phelan linked his challenger, Tom Koch, to problems in the administration of former Mayor James Sheets while Koch charged Phelan with mismanaging the Quincy High School construction project.

Those were two of the issues on which the two candidates for mayor sparred during their first debate Tuesday night, trading criticism to applause from an audience made up almost entirely of each campaign’s supporters.

Phelan and Koch responded to questions on drug abuse and crime, school crowding, increasing taxes and other topics during the hour-long debate in St. Thomas Aquinas parish hall in Houghs Neck.

In answering - questions were written by residents and read by a moderator, - both candidates carefully wove in criticism of each other.

Koch, for example, said Phelan’s ‘‘failed management’’ of the high school construction project has left taxpayers facing a $54 million expense instead of the initial $8 million in 2003 - a project he termed ‘‘Quincy’s Big Dig.’’ He also blamed the third-term mayor for over-development in the city, too much traffic and taking on an irresponsible amount of debt to pay for big-ticket projects.

But the sharpest criticism came from Phelan, who made repeated references to problems that plagued former Mayor James Sheets’ administration, in which Koch worked as a mayoral aide before being named director of parks and recreation. Phelan said people linked to a city hall break-in, the destruction of city documents and those involved in illegal paving contracts are among Koch’s supporters.

Phelan declined after the debate to name those people or elaborate on how they allegedly support Koch’s election campaign.

‘‘I think that’s specific enough,’’ Phelan said in a telephone interview. ‘‘It’s happening; that’s what’s important.’’

Drawing another link to the Sheets administration, Phelan said Koch supported building a new high school on top of a ‘‘toxic waste dump,’’ a plan Phelan opposed heavily in his first mayoral campaign against Sheets in 2001.

Koch, however, said Phelan was attacking his ‘‘personal integrity’’ and trying to frame this year’s campaign on bygone issues.

‘‘You won that election in 2001,’’ Koch said. ‘‘You now have to stand on your record.’’

That record, Koch said, includes Phelan botching an application in 2003 for state reimbursement to rebuild Central Middle School, which he said set the project back years.

Koch said drug abuse and related crime have spiraled out of control in the city.

‘‘We need a call to arms,’’ Koch said. ‘‘Let’s make it more difficult for dealers to operate in the city.’’

Koch pledged to double the number of drug detectives and said last night more beat cops are needed. A panel consisting of representatives of social service agencies, treatment centers, law enforcement and school officials would be formed under a Koch administration to tackle the city’s drug problem, he said.

Both candidates said they supported building a four-lane concourse through Quincy Center, a long-talked-about project that has begun to move forward under Phelan’s administration.

But Koch said he would alter the road’s path to cut through a vacant lot on Hancock Street instead of the neighboring mall. The change would save the city the costly acquisition of Quincy Fair Mall and the displacement of several tenants, he said. Phelan has said such a modification would make the road’s curvature unsafe.

About 200 people attended the debate. Many arrived early and lined Sea Street for two blocks, holding campaign signs for their respective candidates.

Phelan characterized his time in office as a major turnaround for the city financially. He said marked improvements to the city’s bond rating and excess tax levy capacity indicated fiscal stability.

Regarding crime, he said Quincy was the second safest city in the state, next to Newton.

Koch said his 20 years of public service in the city have prepared him to take a ‘‘fresh look’’ at city government and address the concerns being raised by residents as he campaigns.

John P. Kelly may be reached at jkelly@ledger.com .

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Wednesday, August 22, 2007