Mayoral hopefuls face off Tuesday

Mayor John F. Moak and his challenger, James A. Stiles, are voicing differences on education, the central waterfront, and other issues as Newburyport's race for mayor moves into the home stretch.

Moak, who first won his seat in a six-way race in 2005, and Stiles, a first-time candidate, are competing in the city election Tuesday after surviving a five-way preliminary election on Sept. 18.

A key topic is how to shore up the school system, which has been buffeted by cuts the last few years. A $1.58 million Proposition 2 1/2 override for the schools was voted down last May.

In an interview, Stiles took aim at Moak, saying, "John has tried his best and he has not shown much success in stemming the damage to the local school system. The question is, is he going to do better or can I do better?"

On his campaign website, Stiles offers a six-point plan for funding the schools that includes putting a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion - a short-term tax hike to repay borrowing - before voters, and seeking a change in the state's school funding formula.

Moak agreed the schools have sustained damage because of the city's overall financial situation.

But the mayor, who chairs the School Committee, said the district's adoption this spring of a restructuring plan, which included a school closing, will put it in a better position going forward.

"We've been able to make some changes that allow us to continue with a good school system," he said.

Moak dismissed Stiles's six-point plan, asserting, "It doesn't really say anything. There's not really a plan there. It's just a list of things that could be done."

Another issue is the future of the central waterfront. Both favor converting the area, which now consists of two dirt parking lots, into a park. Stiles calls for 150 to 175 permanent parking spaces, while Moak favors 250 to 275 spaces.

Stiles said surveys have shown the public favors 150 to 175 spaces but "John doesn't agree. He just keeps focusing on, 'We have to have at least 250 spaces on the waterfront.' "

Moak said he favors "an expanded park with adequate parking to serve those people that want to use the park and those people who need to use the downtown," which would require 250 to 275 spaces.

He said what was most important is that the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority is "working on this in the way they should be in trying to develop a concept that will work," including hiring professionals and conducting an open process.

Moak appears the favorite based on the preliminary, in which he outpaced Stiles, the second-place finisher, 1,355 to 659 votes.

But Councilor at Large Barry Connell said he believes this year's race has tightened since the preliminary, in part because "Jim Stiles has been running a more effective campaign than most people expected," given his status as a novice candidate.

"I know he's working hard. I see him knocking on doors when I'm out knocking on doors," said Connell, who is seeking reelection. "He has a lot of lawn signs out."

Connell still gives Moak the edge, noting that the mayor "has a good organization. He has a record to run on. He's an honest, straight-forward guy, and I think people generally give him credit for doing his best."

Before becoming mayor, Moak, 59, was city clerk for 11 years, head librarian at the Newburyport Public Library, director of the public library in Danvers, and a business owner.

Campaigning door-to-door, at coffees, and a fund-raising dinner last Saturday, Moak is touting his record, particularly in strengthening the city's financial management.

"We are in a part of our history where municipal government is suffering in regard to revenue," he said.

"My main reason for running for mayor was to bring in better business and government practices to the city. I feel confident I've done that.

"Now it's time to build off that foundation to bring projects and programs to fruition."

In a second term, he hopes to restore and enhance the curriculum of the schools, determine a location for a senior center, work with the Redevelopment Authority to ensure a design is established for the central waterfront, and work with the developer of "Waterside West" to move the proposed waterfront project to the permitting stage.

A fire sprinkler designer and project manager for a Peabody firm, Stiles, 53, spent 22 years in the high-technology industry, primarily in management and information technology.

An active community volunteer, he served as the city's representative to the regional environmental coalition, Eight Towns and the Bay, and has organized the city's annual Earth Day cleanup event the past two years.

Stiles said he offers "strong technical and scientific skills in a wide variety of disciplines," combined with "my management experience and participation in civic issues."

Stiles is reaching out to voters through coffees, door-knocking, regular sign stand-outs, and a website.

His biggest concern about Moak, he said, is "the ability to handle the wide range of issues that you have to address simultaneously. John likes to take things one at a time, slowly and deliberatively. That doesn't seem to have worked well the last two years."

Moak responded: "I've had 29 years of government management experience. I've had eight years of owning my own business. This job takes every bit of that knowledge and energy to keep it going. . . . And multitasking is all I've ever done."

He said on a daily basis as mayor, he has had to juggle a variety of matters, from budget constraints to the Plum Island water and sewer project, and environmental issues at a private landfill. He questioned whether Stiles had the "government experience, the management experience" to take on those and other issues.

"I have very broad and wide experience in management," Stiles said. "That's a strength for me."