Norwich — Two veteran city political leaders, who offer contrasting ideas on some issues but similar positions on others, are facing each other in the mayor’s race as they had once before.

Incumbent Republican Mayor Peter Nystrom, running for his third term in office, faces Democratic Council President Pro Tempore Mark Bettencourt for the four-year mayor’s seat. Norwich has somewhat of a weak mayor position, with a $45,000 salary, a vote on the City Council but no veto power, and a charter-assigned task as head of economic development.

Nystrom, 64, a retired UPS driver after 25 years, has been active in city politics with few breaks since he graduated from Norwich Free Academy. He served on the City Council for four years before being elected as state representative, where he served for 18 years in a city then dominated by Democratic voters. He briefly returned to the City Council and then was elected mayor in 2009, besting Bettencourt and two other candidates.

Nystrom lost a bid for reelection in 2013, but was elected to the council in 2015 and elected as mayor again in 2019. The city charter limits mayors to two consecutive terms, but Nystrom is eligible to run again because there was a gap in his terms. Nystrom and his wife, Linda, have three adult children and one baby granddaughter.

Bettencourt, 61, is a retired state correction officer and currently works as a security manager for Securitas Security Services, which is now providing security at Pfizer Inc. in Groton. Bettencourt served on the City Council from 2005 to 2009 and 2011 to 2015, took time off to return to college to finish his bachelor’s degree at Charter Oak State College and returned to the council for his current term.

During and between council terms, Bettencourt served on various city committees, including the School Building Committee that oversaw the major renovation of Kelly Middle School, the Ice Arena Authority, which he currently chairs, and the new School Building Committee, which he also chairs. The latter committee is working on plans for a major overhaul of the city’s school system, with consolidations and renovations.

Bettencourt and his wife, Tia, have two grown children, and Tia owns an Italian deli/grinder shop in Mystic.

The campaign has been mostly cordial, with the candidates in agreement on many issues, such as the city’s need to tackle chronic flooding problems that damaged dozens of properties when the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the region this past summer and the city manager’s handling of the COVID-19 response. Both also support the referendum question on the Nov. 2 ballot to bond the city’s $145 million pension debt to stabilize payments and potentially save $43 million over 30 years.

While Nystrom cites his long experience and his involvement in city activities, including the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, food needs, testing and vaccination clinics, Bettencourt said his technical expertise is best suited “to bring the city into the 21st century.” One critical need being discussed is a major overhaul and upgrade to the city’s disparate emergency fire dispatch and radio system, Bettencourt’s field of expertise.

The biggest source of contention between the candidates is their approach to the city budget, staffing and taxes. While both say they hope to keep the city’s high tax rate in check, Nystrom accuses city Democrats, “led by Bettencourt,” of ushering in a 50% tax hike in 2014. Democratic Mayor Deberey Hinchey was in office at the time, and the city grand list tax base suffered in a revaluation following a recent housing value crash.

“He’s going to blame us for the real estate market crash,” Bettencourt said. “This is what they do, because they don’t have any ideas of their own.”

Nystrom said instead of sharply cutting city expenses in the crisis, the council at the time and the current Democratic-majority council have not attempted to cut the city manager’s proposed budget.

“They didn’t say ‘no’ to new spending requests. I think that was wrong,” Nystrom said.

During a debate Oct. 20 hosted by The Day, Bettencourt said Republican staffing cuts in recent years have hurt the city and ultimately the value of residents’ homes. He said lack of Public Works Department staff has led to unkempt streets, lack of maintenance and unchecked blight conditions in neighborhoods.

“We’re trying to create a city that is a more livable place,” Bettencourt said, “especially for our youth. We want this city to be a place people can live in, work and play in" and send their children to school in.

c.bessette@theday.com