WOONSOCKET — Fourteen candidates will jockey for seven positions on the City Council on Tuesday. All but one of the seven council members who currently sit on the board are running for reelection.

The following are the issues they see confronting the city.

Christopher A. Beauchamp, 48, a construction superintendent with Narragansett Improvement Co., of Providence, said he would use his background in construction to help oversee the middle schools construction project. He would like to serve as a liaison between the council and the School Committee. The construction of the middle schools will have a serious impact on the city, he said.

Stella G. Brien, 35, a lawyer and former state representative, said that the city’s decision to exclude 4-, 5- and 6-family homes from the city’s trash collection has affected many people in the city. Owners of those homes must arrange their own trash collection. A home owner who lives in one of those homes should be given some kind of a break, she said. Another issue is the cleanup of unsightly property.

Incumbent Council President Leo T. Fontaine, 38, said the city faces critical projects in the future, such as the upgrade of the water and sewage treatment plants and revaluation. Having been on the council through a number of revaluations, he said he will be able to assist the city in the process.

Daniel M. Gendron, 43, who has served four years on the Woonsocket Board of Review, says that the city faces two large construction projects, the $74-million middle schools project and the replacement of the water treatment plant which will need to be carried out on schedule and on budget. The city is still in litigation over a past school project that ran over budget. The city needs a good “watchdog” that will keep an eye on the projects.

Roger G. Jalette Sr., 64, a former city councilman, listed the construction of two middle schools and a new water treatment plant as his chief concerns. The water treatment plant is mandated by the federal government to be in compliance and he wants to be there to make sure taxpayers are not going to be overly burdened for what he expects to be over-expenditures.

Incumbent Normand J. Laliberte Jr., 55, said that dealing with the impact of an approaching full-scale property revaluation as the major challenge for the next City Council. He expects the city will see large increases in residential property values and lesser jumps in commercial values. The council and administration will have to work together to find ways to lessen the impact on residential property owners while not dumping too much of the load on businesses.

Incumbent J. Michel Martineau, 51, said the state is looking at a potential $200-million deficit and the city over the next years will have to be prepared to cut back on its spending. He said he would like to see the city continue to increase its recycling rate. It once languished at around 8 percent but over the past three months the city has been recycling 35 percent of its trash.

Robert D. Phillips, 51, who sits on the tax assessment board and Autumnfest Committee, said that the city has come alive with new industry and a condominium boom. Growth in the city population and businesses will mean the city will need a third rescue unit. The calls are constant and that a third unit is needed to pick up the slack. Another priority is making sure the two new middle schools come in on time and on budget.

Christopher M. Roberts, 25, said one of his priorities is continued economic development in the city. That means keeping pressure on the state to maintain the historic tax credit program, which provides tax credit for developers of historic properties. The program has been the driving force for converting all of the mills to residential condos, he said. He also wants to concentrate on stepping up enforcement of housing codes to make properties in the city are maintained.

Edward M. Roy Jr., 51, wants to open up city government, which he says has been too closed and secretive. He said some council members have been in City Hall too long and it’s time to make a change. He said he wants to monitor the construction of the two middle schools. Youth in the city are neglected and there is not much for them to do and he would like to work on that.

Incumbent William D. Schneck Jr., 51, wants to see the construction of the middle schools come to fruition. A key issue is economic development and the schools are one of the largest projects to come around. Another issue is deciding to build or refurbish the water treatment facility. It will be a challenge but he’s excited because it means growth in the city.

Incumbent Suzanne Jean Vadenais, 59, wants to see through initiatives like the middle schools project (she sits on the committee overseeing that construction project) and the planning of the new water treatment plant for the city, which would be scheduled for construction in 2011 and will cost the city at least $25 million.

Incumbent John F. Ward, 52, says the council faces many challenges including revaluation and the need for significant improvements to the water and sewage treatment plants. The projects will require input from the community as well as management and cost control oversight, he said.

Thomas W. Wrona, 57, said he would like to see more police officers in the neighborhoods enforcing city ordinances such as noise and neighborhood disputes. He would seek to amend the city’s voting laws to allow for the appointment of an alternate to the City Council and School Committee if a member cannot complete his or her term in office.

tpina@projo.com