Already seven months into his campaign for mayor, Richard Corrente will host his first fundraiser Monday night at Lemongrass.

Corrente said it would be one of the longest campaigns in history. “I’ve already done more than the average candidate would.”

Instead of slowing down, Corrente is only “more invigorated” with each passing day.

“Trust me, I haven’t peaked yet,” he said.

His campaign focuses on “repopulating Warwick” through motivating businesses and families to move to the city, relieving the stress on the taxpayer, who is “taxed beyond reason.” He has some strong opinions on what the city should be working towards when it comes to recent issues such as the city’s schools and the health benefits of city workers.

When it comes to the consolidation of schools, Corrente said it is “heartbreaking” and the city needs to “reverse the trend” of closing schools.

According to Corrente, schools are running 38 percent below capacity, “sitting as ghost towns” mainly because families are moving out of the city. He would like to see some of his plans bring families back into Warwick and fill up the schools again.

One way Corrente would like to make Warwick more attractive is to offer a tax rebate check to those businesses and families that move into Warwick.

“Bring a business into Warwick, get a check, move here from somewhere else, get a check,” he said.

In terms of the issue of city employee healthcare benefits, he would copy a Texas model that bought out the contracts of superintendents. He said this would be done on a “voluntary basis” for city workers who could find healthcare benefits either through a spouse or on their own.

“It’s a win-win,” Corrente said. “The worker still has healthcare and receives a check, and the taxpayers no longer have to pay for that employee’s benefits. We will lose pennies to gain dollars in the end.”

He said any plan would be better than bankruptcy and he would fight against that at all costs.

Since starting his campaign, Corrente believes his chances are only increasing as “literally everyone” he meets agrees with his “mindset” of lowering taxes and cutting back on spending. They all appear to be very supportive of his campaign.

Corrente hasn’t endeared himself with some Warwick Democrats, though.

“I wish him well,” City Council President Donna Travis said Wednesday. “I know he’s with that group and associated with friends who have attacked me.”

Asked to explain, Travis said Corrente was involved with the group that circulated flyers attacking her and Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson over the selection of a City Council auditor, among other issues.

“I can’t do right no matter what I do,” Travis said of the criticism leveled at her.

Travis said she and Corrente talked about his candidacy. She described the discussion as cordial, saying that Corrente complimented her on her hard work on behalf of her constituents and the city. She said she made her position clear.

“I was up front and I don’t want to go that route,” she said, referring to Corrente’s criticisms of the administration. “It’s so easy to say you want to lower taxes; you need new equipment; you need the streets plowed; that takes money.”

Travis said she doesn’t harbor bad feelings toward Corrente, and she feels they have a mutual understanding of where they stand.

Corrente explained much of the same, saying that even when they have had disagreements on policy, he has a “deep respect” for everyone on the council and all the hard work they put into the city. He even says at times he has learned from them in his campaign.

“I can’t wait to work with them,” Corrente said.

Already, Corrente is quite confident. He said the chances of him winning the mayoral elections in 2016 are 100 percent.

“If elected, I can implement my ideas. Even if for some reason I’m not, my ideas will be recognized; they already are,” Corrente said.

Despite his confidence, Corrente still has a long way to go before the next election season.

Representative and State Democratic Committee Chairman Joseph McNamara, who has met Corrente “several times,” said that the candidate seems like a smart business owner and very “enthusiastic.”

McNamara cautioned that it is the Warwick Democratic City Committee who will ultimately make the choice of which candidate to endorse.

“They have a huge tent that includes individuals from across the spectrum of political philosophy,” McNamara said. “That being said, Corrente is the only candidate publicly campaigning at this time.”

He also said Corrente seems to have a “lot of the gas in the tank” to continue campaigning.

McNamara welcomes all candidates and has “complete confidence the committee will choose the right candidate to endorse.”

Corrente said he is campaigning not only for himself but for his “children and his children’s children.” He said, “They will be talking about our accomplishments years from now.”

For more information on Corrente’s campaign or the fundraiser visit his website at www.correntemayorwarwick.com or call him at either 338-9900 or 886-5600. The fundraiser will be Monday, June 22 at Lemongrass, 1138 Post Road, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 a person or $65 for a couple. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.