We in Attleboro's Ward 1 are lucky because we have a choice as to who will be our next city councilor. My opponent is a charming, highly motivated, enthusiastic 18-year-old who claims that he will be "fighting for Ward 1" to get our fair share of Chapter 90 funds and "constantly fighting" for Ward 1. He also claims that he will "fight" to restore the South Attleboro rescue station to full time status and is ready to "fight" for the issues that Ward 1 cares about. These are laudable aims indeed.

The sad reality is that unless an economic miracle happens in the next few months, the state will again cut local aid, lessening the need to fight over anything, as there will be little to fight for in the way of funding for Ward 1 or 2 or any other ward in Attleboro.

I believe what we need to do is recognize that the next few years will be difficult indeed and we must all roll up our sleeves and ask not what we can take but what we can give.

The city has been operating under a hiring freeze for more than a year. The fire department has openings within its ranks that have not been backfilled. Until economic conditions improve, regardless of what anyone wants, this is the reality that we as a city must deal with. There is little choice involved.

I would like to see our city become more flexible in "resource sharing" as a way to control costs. The school department and the city have long operated as if they live on two separate islands. In a climate such as this we must try to think out of the box and be willing to try new things. No one wants to cut jobs, services, or raise taxes. I have had experience in teaching mediation to undergraduate students that can help bring parties to the table that we need to cooperate with as a city council to move us through our current fiscal difficulty. We can do it if we are willing to work together as a "team" instead of "opposing teams."

There are issues and concerns unique to Ward 1, such as traffic. For example, bridge improvements such as the Lower County Street Bridge and the Newport Avenue Bridge (Route 1A) should have been managed in a way that minimized the impact on surrounding business and residents. These two projects have been worked on in such a way that by the time all is said and done the area residents and businesses will have been negatively impacted for five to six years. This could have been avoided by a simpler intersection configuration on Route 1A, Collins Street, and the Bristol Plaza Entrance/Exit using temporary traffic lights.

Also, we need to examine the need to resume police details at the exit from Washington Square Plaza to Highland Avenue. Residents take their lives in their hands driving up Highland Avenue from the lights on Route 1 when shoppers are turning left exiting the Plaza. I have personally had close calls there. These details were agreed to be paid for by the business owners and property developers.

I would like to see Ward 1 make the best use of its commercially zoned land along Routes 1 and 1A.

However, in any commercial improvements we need to carefully consider the flow of traffic on our residents. If we are thoughtful and careful in our planning we can have our businesses and avoid the traffic nightmares that we deal with currently.

I believe that with my life experience and education as a homeowner and mother of five children with a law degree, I am the best candidate to represent Ward 1 in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

CHERI FELOS is running against Joe Lazzerini for election as Ward 1 city councilor in the Nov. 3 elections.