Although he filed declaration papers, the city’s sole Republican member of the City Council, Steven A. Colantuono, has chosen not to seek re-election.
An eight-year veteran of the council, …
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Although he filed declaration papers, the city’s sole Republican member of the City Council, Steven A. Colantuono, has chosen not to seek re-election.
An eight-year veteran of the council, Colantuono announced his retirement on Friday as well as his endorsement of Richard H. Cascella Jr. as his successor.
Colantuono’s retirement makes him the fourth council member not seeking re-election, ensuring one of the greatest turnovers in the nine-member body in recent history.
An attorney whose trademark has been thoughtful and deliberative reasoning, Colantuono is a close friend and ally of Mayor Scott Avedisian, although he has differed with the mayor on occasion.
“I am saddened to see Councilman Colantuono leave public service, but I am grateful for his eight years of dedicated service to the city and to my ward,” Avedisian said in a statement. “Steven and I have worked on many issues together – from OPEB funding, to open space preservation, to pension reform and preservation of the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I am going to miss his wise counsel and good guidance.”
“More importantly, I am grateful for the tremendous gift of his friendship and that of his beautiful wife, Maya,” Avedisian added.
Colantuono’s decision doesn’t come as a surprise. A week before the declaration deadline, he was unsure of his plans and stated that retirement was a possibility.
Last Wednesday, when the Republican City Committee held an event at Avedisian headquarters to gain signatures for candidates and Colantuano was not represented, it became apparent he had reached a decision. Furthermore, Cascella was present and seeking the signatures of registered Ward 1 voters to qualify for the ballot.
“It has been a great pleasure to spend the last eight years serving the people of Ward 1 as their councilman and to be the point person on the council for Mayor Avedisian and his administration,” Colantuono said in a statement. In a brief call Monday, Colantuono said leaving public service was a difficult decision but that faced with increasing business and demands of a growing handicapped daughter he decided it was time.
Avedisian and Colantuono, as well as Mark Russell, chairman of the Ward 1 Republican Committee, announced their full support for the candidacy of Cascella, of 110 Yale Ave., to be the next Republican councilman from the ward.
In a joint statement they said, “We all are well aware of Rick’s dedication to our neighborhood and his dedicated service to E.T. Wyman Elementary School and his work at Pilgrim High School. We are happy to have Rick as a part of the team. We look forward to supporting him and assisting in his election.”
Also choosing not to seek re-election are Ward 2 Councilman Thomas “TC” Chadronet, Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, who is running for House District 21, and Kathleen Usler of Ward 7.
Of those incumbents running for re-election, Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur, Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci and Ward 9 Councilman Steve Merolla are running unopposed.
Should they file the appropriate number of signatures from registered voters, Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon faces a challenge from independent Ernest Flagg, and Ward 6 incumbent Donna Travis faces John Simoneau running as an independent and Republican James Ferola.
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Reality
Let me understand this. Cascella was lurking in the back office at the Board of Canvassers at City Hall the day nominating papers had to be filed waiting to see if former Councilman Bob Cushaman was going to run. The story is if Cushman ran, Colantuono would have sought re-election.
Why was Avedisian so afraid of Cushman? Is it because Cushman would have exposed the fiscal quagmire Scottie has placed this city? Scottie's legacy costs are unsustainable.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
I have gotten to know Councilman Colantuano over the years and find him to be considerate, knowledgeable, professional and, in short a total class-act. Although his party affiliation has stopped us from attending each others fundraisers, I have always respected him and I believe I have earned his respect as well. I am glad our Democratic candidates don't have to run against him. He would not be easy to beat.
Enjoy your retirement Steve.
Take good care.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
The Ward 1 councilman has been an utter failure tot he residents of Warwick. Furthermore, we all knew of the game that he and Cassela and Scotty planned. Dirty politics and underhanded at best. By the way, he is in no way a Republican. He has not challenged anything in 8 years, and has not made 1 argument over any tax and spend issue. In the public sector, he would be fired. Thanks Steve , for nothing!
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Wow, Reality and Thecaptain, those are some entertaining stories you're telling. For outsiders to the political structure in Warwick, you sure know how to peddle insider rumors.
Said Thecaptain: "We all knew of the game." Who is "we?" You and your angry friends who can't stand to see Avedisian win again? I seem to recall that you couldn't even get 2,000 votes for your chosen opposition candidate in the GOP primary two years ago while Avedisian gathered almost 4,000.
In the end, your vote and those of the people you consider allies will not matter. Avedisian will win again. By a lot.
So, how about this: If Warwick is such a terrible place to live, then move. Leave the city for the rest of us who accept that being responsible members of a community means we pay taxes to keep the city running. And take your dark conspiracy theories with you.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear CrickeeRaven (odd name to be hiding behind),
You stated that their vote "would not matter'. You went on to say "Avedisian will win again. By a lot" That's offensive. Every vote matters.
We are a city that is 80% Democrat. Avedisian is a Republican.
Warwick is a city that is economically strained. Avedisian has increased taxes on that strained city every year for 16 years.
5,800 taxpayers have moved out in the last ten years alone. (according to the U.S. Census)
4,666 businesses have moved out in the last ten years as well. (according to the U.S. Census and the R.I. Secretary of States office)
I have actively campaigned daily since 12-14-2014, over 570 days in a row.
I have a plan to "cut taxes and cut spending", the opposite of what Avedisian is doing.
You can visit www.correntemayorwarwick.com and check it out for yourself, and CrickeeRaven, or whatever your real name is, come November, Warwick is going to have a new Mayor. If you would like to talk openly my phone number is 401-338-9900.
Thanks for reading.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Thursday, July 14, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Oh, Dick Corrente, making an issue of my online name is the first sign that you can't stand criticism and disagreement with your "platform." You have white knights in this comment thread who are writing anonymously, and yet I don't see you taking issue with them.
Spout all the numbers you want, Dick, but the fact is that Warwick is in comparably good financial shape, that taxes increase at a steady rate instead of going up astronomically every few years, and that Avedisian is a hugely popular mayor because he runs the city well.
That's why in a city that's 80% Democratic -- according to a number you've clearly invented -- Avedisian has been mayor for 16 years and counting. More people in the city are smart enough to see that he's doing a good job based on objective fact and not fall for the doom-and-gloom campaigns run against him ever couple of years.
Another fact is that you have spent almost $40,000 if your own money on a year-long campaign that has only gotten you support from people who share your dislike of a successful Mayor -- while Avedisian has almost that much in donations just sitting in his campaign account.
So, no thank you, Dick, I will not be looking at your website -- I know quite enough about you already.
Have fund spending your way to being another footnote in Avedisian's career as the latest losing candidate.
Thursday, July 14, 2016 Report this
Bob_Cushman
Ha ha ha ha ha I'm still laughing over that statement, "Warwick is in comparably good financial shape".
Compared to what? The state government and other city and town governments throughout Rhode Island?
That statement is anthologist to a cancer patient proclaiming "Overall my body is in comparably good shape".
Rhode Island was just ranked dead last in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (including Alaska and Hawaii) as a Business Friendly State by CNBC.
So even if as you want to claim Warwick is comparably in good financial shape, (which the city hired independent expert's recent financial reports show it is not) wouldn't you agree that by Warwick being in the State of Rhode Island, it really is not in good financial shape?
WHAT GOOD IS IT TO BE THE BEST, WHEN YOU ARE PART OF THE WORST?
Friday, July 15, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Bob_Cushman, please just stop already. Your doom and gloom was defeated two years ago as your preferred mayoral primary candidate was sent packing. You had your presentation before the city council that changed exactly nothing.
And your reply quoting CNBC's survey of "business friendliness" among states is a dodge, plain and simple. At least try to stay somewhere near the topic when you attack the city -- "comparably good" means 11th in tax burden, below several other communities that have had fiscal crises of one form or another in recent years while Warwick hasn't, which you would know if you'd read the earlier comments.
But, hey, don't let pesky things like facts get in your way, Bob. Keep predicting impending financial disaster for the city -- which will come true, ironically, if your preferred candidate gets elected this year.
Or do you really believe that Dick Corrente's plan for cutting taxes for one or two years -- only to have to raise them astronomically down the road -- is actually a more responsible way of managing city budgets?
Honestly, I'm not convinced your thought process on all of this is even that deep, Bob. You just don't like Scott Avedisian; you don't believe there's such a thing as responsible tax increases or affordable union contracts; and you think you're the one solitary person in the entire city who knows the "real truth" about Warwick's finances.
And, as you have before, you will be proven wrong again.
Monday, July 18, 2016 Report this