Brockton mayoral race heats up as Derenoncourt slams Rodrigues over not attending debate

BROCKTON — Did a finalist to be Brockton’s next mayor duck a debate? It depends on who you ask.

City Councilor Moises Rodrigues didn’t attend an Oct. 21 mayoral debate with fellow City Councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt. Greater Brockton Young Professionals, a networking group, sponsored the one-on-one debate and its president says Rodrigues confirmed he’d come. Rodrigues says he never confirmed the Oct. 21 date. Instead, the top vote-getter in September’s preliminary election said he honored a previous commitment to speak to seniors living in Brockton Housing Authority towers.

“I chose the seniors over debating an empty suit,” said Rodrigues. In a social media post following the event, the longtime at-large city councilor said he stayed away in protest of Derenoncourt’s allegedly threatening a Brockton Police officer and Rodrigues supporter.

Derenoncourt, who placed second in September’s vote, had a different explanation. “Our opponent refused to show up to tonight’s debate after not getting the questions in advance,” Derenoncourt said on his campaign Facebook page.

Brockton votes in less than two weeks. Let’s walk through the claims and counterclaims of both sides.

Rodrigues calls out alleged ‘campaign of intimidation’

Rodrigues said “I strongly condemn the latest verbal and recorded attacks directed at my supporters, but especially directed at a Brockton Police Officer, by my opponent in this race for mayor.” Rodrigues, the head of the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, said he would not debate Derenoncourt “until he tones down his rhetoric and campaign of intimidation.”

Derenoncourt said a Brockton Police officer in the pay of Rodrigues was in uniform at the Ward 6 polling stations at the Brookfield School on preliminary election day, Sept. 16, urging people not to vote for Derenoncourt. But Rodrigues said he has no paid campaign staff aside from a $200-a-month stipend for an administrative worker at his campaign headquarters. That person is not the Brockton cop in question.

Rodrigues said the bad blood sparked an application for a restraining order by the police officer on Derenoncourt. The Enterprise will publish more details regarding Derenoncourt’s allegations involving a police officer and the application for a restraining order once we confirm them.

What happened at their last debate? Would-be Brockton mayors debate water plant, pizza and basic facts: Key takeaways

Derenoncourt argues opponent received special treatment

The Derenoncourt camp maintains that in a three-way debate before the Sept. 16 preliminary vote, Rodrigues received questions beforehand. The Greater Brockton Young Professionals say that’s false. Jim Stapleton, a South Middle School teacher who helped organize the debates, said panelist Eliza Wilson made changes to a question about the Aquaria water plant on the spot that night.

The allegation played a role in negotiations about the format of the Oct. 21 debate. Derenoncourt demanded that Wilson, a Rodrigues supporter, not participate. Stapleton said Derenoncourt sought for organizers to hire a neutral outside moderator.

It’s common for campaigns to spar over rules and schedules. Rodrigues, according to two Greater Brockton Young Professionals organizers, had said “yes” to the Oct. 21 date. Rodrigues disputes that. In his telling, the Brockton Housing Authority forum date was set in September. “Moises is mischaracterizing,” said Greater Brockton Young Professionals President Isaiah Thelwell. “It seems to me Moises had confirmed, wanted to backtrack.” Stapleton said it’s possible that Rodrigues at first thought he could attend both as a double-header. Rodrigues said that’s not accurate, and that he never agreed to Oct. 21 because the BHA event was already scheduled.

Derenoncourt went to both events. He attended the Belair Tower portion of the Brockton Housing Authority event before leaving for the debate. Rodrigues stayed on to visit voters in the Sullivan and Manning towers.

Who is Derenoncourt? Brockton Mayoral candidate Jean Bradley Derenoncourt: His position on 3 key topics

Who is Rodrigues? Brockton Mayoral candidate Moises Rodrigues: His position on 3 key topics

Busted ‘Brock the Vote’ debate also at issue

Derenoncourt claims Oct. 21 marked the second time Rodrigues skipped a debate. The Facebook group “Brock the Vote” had planned an Oct. 15 city council and mayoral debate. Enterprise reporter Chris Helms was to moderate the forum, which aimed to set itself apart from other debates by taking questions only from residents. However, just hours before the forum, organizers rescheduled for Oct. 29 at West Middle School, citing a lack of questions from voters and Rodrigues’ choice not to participate.

“Word of mouth said he was coming,” said Nancy DeMacedo of the grassroots organization, “but he never confirmed he was coming.”

Rodrigues said you can’t just schedule a debate and hope someone shows up.

What happened at the Oct. 21 event?

In the end, the Greater Brockton Young Professionals Oct. 21 debate at Venue 727 featured Derenoncourt alone with an empty chair next to him. Derenoncourt made an opening statement but declined to go through with answering questions citing Rodrigues’ absence.

Stapleton, a decades-long observer of Brockton politics, said it was an embarrassing episode. “What a wasted opportunity,” he said. “Just an absolute travesty for the city.”

Will Rodrigues appear in any other debates?

Rodrigues, reached Oct. 22, said he plans to do a radio debate with Derenoncourt. The 95.9 FM WATD event will be broadcast live 7-8 p.m. on Oct. 28 and taped by Brockton Community Access.

Rodrigues said he does not plan to attend the rescheduled “Brock the Vote” forum or the Brockton Area NAACP’s Oct. 30 mayoral debate.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: In Brockton mayoral race Derenoncourt slams rodrigues over debate