On primary night in Cranston, voters whose focus is on local races will find a single contest on the ballot.

Four Democrats – City Council President John Lanni, Council Vice President Michael Farina, Ward 5 Councilman Richard Santamaria and Paul Griffin – are vying for three at-large council slots their party will have on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

Lanni and Farina, who already hold at-large seats, have received the backing of the Cranston Democratic City Committee, as has Santamaria. Griffin is making his bid without the party’s formal backing. Sarah Kales Lee, who currently holds the third at-large seat on the council, is not seeking a new term.

In discussing the race, the four hopefuls discussed their reasons for running, their hopes for the next term and the major issues facing the city – including the new automated trash and recycling pickup system and the situation surrounding the Cranston Police Department.

Griffin, a retired truck driver at John R. Hess Chemical and the recording secretary of Teamsters Local 251 Retirees, is seeking elected office for the third time. A Providence native who moved to Edgewood in 1977, he said the rationale for his candidacy is rooted in his desire to revitalize the community and “get our quality of life back.”

Griffin pointed to the physical condition of many city buildings, including the Briggs building and City Hall, and the state of the city’s roads and sidewalks. He also cited ongoing issues with rodents and abandoned or non-owner occupied homes.

“We’ve got to start doing something about this, because it’s decaying,” he said. “We’re losing our core values.”

A former football coach, Griffin said he believes he can successfully rally different groups and individuals together behind a shared cause.

“That’s what I want to do…bring them all together and work for the citizens,” he said. “People want a real voice.”

Griffin said he has a positive view of the new trash system and thinks it will improve over time. He did criticize Mayor Allan Fung in relation to the controversy that has surrounded the police department in recent months.

“[Fung is] a great guy, but he’s not a leader,” Griffin said. “He’s over his head here as mayor, and it shows.”

Santamaria works at the Rhode Island Family Court. If elected, he would serve his final consecutive term as allowed under current restrictions.

Santamaria said he initially debated whether or not to run again. When the at-large position became available, however, he decided to seek the citywide post.

“It’s been a good four terms. We’ve accomplished a lot,” he said. “I’ve watched out for the taxpayers…We have a city that works.”

Santamaria specifically pointed to the council’s successful employment of a grant writer, who helped secure a state Department of Environmental Management grant toward improved facilities at Cranston Stadium, and the lack of a tax increase in recent years.

Looking forward, Santamaria said he hopes to continue holding the line on fiscal issues while helping to foster further economic growth in the city.

“I agree with the mayor that we’ve got to become more business-friendly,” he said.

Regarding the trash program, Santamaria said he continues to see the dumping of bulky waste items in the community as residents seek to avoid new disposal fees. He said he plans to continue pushing for additional “amnesty days” and opportunities for residents to dispose of large items or extra trash at no cost, particularly during busy times of year.

“I do see if being a problem,” he said. “We need to work something out.”

In terms of the police situation, Santamaria said he hopes the issues of recent months can soon come to some conclusion.

“It’s time to put some closure on this,” he said.

Farina is in his first term on the council and was a top vote-getter in the 2012 election. He is employed as a business strategy and financial planning director in the retail sector and serves on the Board of Directors for CODAC Behavioral Healthcare.

Like Santamaria, Farina described Griffin as a friend. Were Griffin to win one of the three ballot spots, Farina said he would “welcome him with open arms.”

“We have four good, viable candidates,” he said.

Farina added, however, that he stands by Lanni and Santamaria.

“I think the citywide team will do very well,” he said. “Everything’s working well. We’re getting a lot of good stuff done, and people appreciate that.”

Farina specifically lauded Lanni, describing him as a mentor.

“Working behind John Lanni’s been great,” he said.

Fiscal issues are at the forefront of Farina’s candidacy. The city faces the prospect of declining state aid and other “challenges we have to face” in the years ahead, he said, and continuing a prudent approach will be vital.

“We need to keep electing fiscally responsible people who are interested in transparency,” he said.

Farina said taking a new look at how the city approaches road and sidewalk repair remains among his priorities. He wants the city to “try to do it a little more strategically,” particularly in terms of exploring the availability of grants and other funding sources.

Farina also pointed to efforts to obtain funding for the restoration of middle school music and sports programs.

“We’re trying to show that we can work with the school committee,” he said.

On the new automated trash and recycling pickup system, Farina said, “I think the program, 80 percent of the time, works. We need to address that 20 percent of the time that it doesn’t.”

In terms of the police situation, Farina said the council has relied for months on “rumors, conjecture, hearsay and what the administration has told us.”

He said he would like to see the results of the Rhode Island State Police overall assessment of the department and that his vote on the nomination of State Police Lt. Col. Michael Winquist for the position of Cranston chief will be contingent upon the council receiving a report to that effect.

“Until we see the results of the performance review, we can’t really ask the right questions” of Winquist, he said. “We need to know what those flaws [in the department] are, if they exist…I would like some closure.”

Lanni, who is retired, returned to the council in 2012 after departing two years earlier due to term limits and was immediately elected back to its presidency.

“I left the council as council president; I returned to the council as council president,” he said.

Lanni said his focus has been, and will remain, on “making sure the city’s affordable for everybody.” Having been an auditor for 35 years, he said his approach has centered on taking a “fine-tooth comb” approach to the budget process and working to hold the line on taxes.

“I look at the bottom line…Cranston’s not a cheap city to live in,” he said. “I really don’t want another tax increase.”

Lanni has been a vocal critic of the city’s new trash program, particularly the associated fees and the limits placed on residents. He said he would continue to push for additional “amnesty days” and opportunities for free trash disposal during the holidays and other busy times of year.

“The citizens of Cranston pay high taxes, and they expect good, quality trash pickup,” he said. “Overall, I’m not happy with that [program].”

Lanni was also critical of Fung and his administration with regard to the police situation.

“I think this whole thing could have been avoided,” he said. “I have to put that right at the feet of the administration.”

Lanni did add, though, that he has a “fairly good rapport with the mayor and the administration,” having previously served alongside Fung on the council. He specifically credited the mayor for his work to reach a pension reform agreement with the city’s police and fire retirees.

“I thought that was a big plus for him,” he said.

Lanni said in a new term he plans to continue fostering a collaborative, productive atmosphere on the council.

“I’ll be able to work with all the council members,” he said.

The primary election will be held Sept. 9.