Mayor Frank Picozzi was incredulous Monday, accusing Leah Hazelwood of going “negative” in her bid to become the next mayor of Warwick. Hazelwood, the Democratic-endorsed candidate, stood by what she posted on her Facebook page that morning, saying it is the truth.

In her Facebook post, Hazelwood said people working in City Hall told her that Picozzi refers to her as Dolly Parton; that people are fearful of openly supporting her because of possible retaliation; that the police and fire departments, who she has worked with, have been told to exclude her from photos and that there is a culture in City Hall to suppress her.

“I was going to bite my tongue, but this is not 1965, and I won’t turn away from this,” Hazelwood posted. “What you allow, you inherit.”

Picozzi dismissed the allegations.

He said he has never referred to Hazelwood as Dolly Parton and, in fact, is “an eminent fan of hers” as an intelligent businesswoman. Hazelwood says in her letter she was told Picozzi used the Parton name openly “and in a degrading way, complete with him puffing out his chest and hand gestures.”

Hazelwood also connected the allegations to the lawsuit filed against the Warwick Water Division in June alleging an “environment of sexism,” claiming that that was the culture throughout City Hall.

Hazelwood points out she has been involved in the community for more than a decade, citing her work with the Warwick Citizens Police Academy, the Warwick Police Explorer Board and the National Night Out Committee. She says she was told that the “corner office” forbids police and fire from including her in photos of boards and volunteering in community projects.

“I completely support our first responders, and when elected will support them, leaving behind a culture of fear, and moving forward in the direction of mutual respect,” she writes. Hazelwood did not provide names of individuals to verify her claims with the exception of what she called the “Santa Claus” incident referring to the Winter Fest in Apponaug last December.

In planning the event, the administration hoped to use the Crowne Plaza parking lot where people would board buses to Apponaug to view a parade, tour vendor booths, engage in family activities and presentations and get their pictures taken with Santa. When Picozzi learned Debbie Wood of We Be Jammin, who has worked with the city in staging vendor attended events, had booked a Christmas show at the Crowne for the same day, he asked if she could reschedule it.

Wood told the Beacon early this summer she had already made a deposit with the Crowne and vendors had booked the event. The parking was moved to Toll Gate High School and the Winter Fest exceeded expectations.

However, that wasn’t the end of the story.

Wood said she was banned from participating in city sponsored events even though as a result of those events she has donated $128,109 in equipment, including a Can-Am UTV costing $31,043, to Warwick Police.

Picozzi defended his action, pointing out that the taxpayers pick up the cost of police details and DPW overtime to run the events, which Wood charges vendors to attend. He knows of the contributions made to the Police Department and is grateful for them.

He said there’s no correlation between the decision to cease having We Be Jammin organize vendors at city events and what happened last year.

“It didn’t sit well with me that [vendors] were paying for her to make money,” he said. He said the city took over managing its events and that vendors are not being charged.

Hazelwood does not mention “the Santa Claus incident” in her letter, but she characterized the mayor’s reaction as symptomatic when he doesn’t get what he wants.

As for the campaign, Picozzi said, “I’m focusing on running a campaign. I don’t intimidate anyone.” He said he has 1,200 lawn signs and 125 large signs and he had to order more. “People are asking me to put up signs,” he said.

Hazelwood said she posted the letter because, “I love serving our community and care for the people of Warwick.”

Picozzi said he is running a positive campaign, “telling people why they should vote for me” rather than why they shouldn’t vote for someone else. He said looks forward to the Oct. 10 mayoral Warwick Beacon debate at the Warwick Public Library that will be live streamed. All three candidates in the race — Picozzi, Hazelwood and independent candidate Patrick Maloney — have agreed to the debate.

In other campaign news, Picozzi held a $50 a ticket fundraiser Monday evening at Chelo’s, which he estimated was attended by 300 to 350 people. Picozzi said it was the biggest fundraiser he’s held, yielding almost $26,000. He’s not planning another fundraiser before the November election. Noting that he runs low-budget campaigns with signs being one of his greatest costs, he said “I think I have enough money.”

Hazelwood has a fundraiser planned for Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. at Lemongrass.

Picozzi reported he has the endorsement of Warwick Firefighters, IAFF Local 2748.