58 declare for 20 city seats

By John Howell
Posted 6/30/16

In all her years in the Board of Canvassers, Dottie McCarthy doesn’t remember a year like this.

“This is absolutely insane,” she said at 3:59 p.m. yesterday, a full minute before the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

58 declare for 20 city seats

Posted

In all her years in the Board of Canvassers, Dottie McCarthy doesn’t remember a year like this.

“This is absolutely insane,” she said at 3:59 p.m. yesterday, a full minute before the deadline for candidates to file declaration papers. More than a dozen people milled at the counter and hallway, anxious to see who might walk in at the 11th hour and decide they were running for office.

“Fourteen seconds,” someone yelled. Then, it was official – the filing period was closed. A total of 58 candidates had filed for 20 positions on the ballot.

“Do you ever remember anything like this?” McCarthy asked.

Rob Farrell, chair of the Warwick Democratic Committee, sensed the buzz.

“We have a full slate and then some,” he said. “A lot more people have an interest in running for office.”

Farrell’s counterpart in the Republican party up until this month, Mike Penta, said “it is amazing how people are coming out.”

Penta, who served as party chair for three years, is one of those who declared. He’s running for House District 21, as are six other people.

“I think people are coming out because they have had enough of the old politics,” Penta said. “There’s a cloud over Rhode Island. It’s very dark right now and anything could happen.”

Asked about the tidal wave of local candidates in an interview Tuesday, Gov. Gina Raimondo attributed an increased interest in politics to what’s happening on a national level and a growing desire to be involved and to assume a leadership position.

Whatever the reasons, if all those who filed declaration papers end up on the ballot, Warwick voters will face a citywide primary for School Committee in addition to Democratic primaries in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 7, as well as primaries in House Districts 21, 22, and 24 and Senate District 30. There would also be a Republican primary in Ward 1 and Senate District 30.

A couple of incumbent councilmen, Steven Colantuono in Ward 1 and Joseph Gallucci in Ward 8, ended speculation they might not seek re-election early in the declaration cycle that started Monday. Both have filed to run for re-election. Colantuono faces a primary for the Republican nomination from Richard Cascella Jr.

On the top of the local ticket, incumbent Scott Avedisian is unchallenged for his party’s nomination. That wasn’t the case two years ago when Stacia Huyler ran as a Republican.

On the Democratic side, Richard Corrente, who began his campaign more than a year ago, is the sole mayoral hopeful.

Huyler is running again, however this time she’s set her sights on House District 24, which is currently represented by Joseph Trillo. After 16 years of service, Trillo is not seeking re-election. Two Democrats have declared for the district – Evan Shanley and former Ward 3 Councilwoman Helen Taylor.

While there’s a multitude of candidates in several wards and state districts, several incumbents will also go unchallenged in the November general election. Incumbent council members Ed Ladouceur of Ward 5, Gallucci of Ward 8, and Steve Merolla of Ward 9 are all running without opposition.

In state races, K. Joseph Shekarchi, House District 23, and Erin Lynch Prata, Senate District 31, don’t face opponents.

Six candidates have filed for the two at-large, non-partisan School Committee seats, thereby setting up a primary where the four top vote-getters in September will be listed on the November ballot. The lineup includes incumbent Karen Bachus, seeking her second four-year term, and newcomers Nathaniel Cornell, who recently graduated from Toll Gate High, Chadd Huddon, and Daniel Hall, who has run unsuccessfully for council. Also in the race having unsuccessfully run before are Dean Johnson and David Testa.

A number of independents are also running for office this time. Rep. Joseph McNamara, District 19, faces a challenge from David Mastriano. Two independents, Michael Underwood and Andrew Knutton, have declared for the District 21 seat now held by Eileen Naughton. Naughton faces a three-way Democratic primary with Camille Vella-Wilkinson and David Kruzona. Penta filed as the Republican candidate.

Independent Elizabeth Smith is running in House District 22, where incumbent Joseph Solomon Jr. faces a primary with Jennifer Siciliano. Independent Daniel Elliott is running in House Distinct 20 against incumbent David Bennett.

Democratic party leader Farrell said the committee was meeting last night and that he expected the party to endorse Corrente for mayor. Republicans have already endorsed Avedisian for a ninth full term as mayor.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    I wonder how come he didn,t say anything about JOE SOLOMON in ward 4 .

    Thursday, June 30, 2016 Report this