Mayoral candidates talk of challenges, future opportunities

Posted 10/30/14

Scott Avedisian

200 Atlantic Ave.

Age: 49

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College, Master of Public Administration degree from Roger Williams University, graduate of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Mayoral candidates talk of challenges, future opportunities

Posted

Scott Avedisian

200 Atlantic Ave.

Age: 49

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College, Master of Public Administration degree from Roger Williams University, graduate of Leadership Rhode Island (1997), completed courses at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Party designation: Republican

Occupation: Mayor (incumbent)

Community Activities: Includes serving on board of directors of St. Mary’s Home for Children (20 years), board of incorporators of Kent Hospital, trustee of Ocean State Charities Trust, board of advisors of Friends Way, past president of Standing Committee of Rhode Island Episcopal Diocese, past president of Gaspee Days Committee, past board member of the St. Elizabeth Community, Neighborhood Health Plans of Rhode Island, Urban League of Rhode Island, Westbay Community Action, Pawtuxet Village Association, Crossroads Rhode Island and Elmwood Community Center. Also served two terms as vice chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party and has been elected to the last seven Republican National Conventions.

If re-elected, what would you hope to accomplish during the next two years in office?

Over the next two years, my administration will build upon the momentum we have gained in expanding business development and promoting job creation, nurturing cultural and historic assets, protecting open space, parks and farmland; investing in our infrastructure, ensuring that our students have a quality education and enhancing the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

The development of City Centre Warwick is a top priority. New construction of hotels, office buildings and retail space, along with a strong residential component and infrastructure improvements on Coronado Road, will transform the area into a lively, mixed use community and thriving commerce center. Additionally, the redevelopment of Apponaug Village, a multi-faceted project that includes a new hotel and focused development around new traffic patterns, will enhance livability, improve safety and create a pedestrian friendly neighborhood and a vibrant marketplace for new business development.

We need to maintain healthy, vibrant neighborhoods, and my administration will continue to invest in and foster quality of life by strengthening code enforcement, promoting connectivity, providing diversified housing options, and ensuring that development is in harmony with the community while meeting the needs of the 21st century economy and its changing demographic. My administration will work collaboratively with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation to leverage opportunities at T.F. Green Airport and the train station, while protecting neighborhoods from adverse, airport-related impacts. 

Additionally, we will build upon our commitment to invest in public infrastructure with a pavement management plan and infrastructure renewal and replacement plan for all municipal departments. We also have made a lot of progress in ensuring that our city is a well-rounded home to a variety of cultural organizations and will look to further our efforts in building our creative and cultural economy.

I am also proud of our work to preserve open space, parks and farmland in Warwick over the past 14 years, protecting over 200 acres. My administration will continue to work collaboratively with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental management’s development of a Rocky Point Master Plan.

Also, my administration will remain dedicated to providing our students with a quality education. We will build on the work of the new Municipal/School Commission to further strengthen our partnership with the Warwick teachers’ Union, the school administration, and the School Committee to create a new energy and enthusiasm in our schools.

What do you consider as the major issues and opportunities facing the city?

The major issues continue to be traffic congestion, speeding and quality of life issues in our neighborhoods as well as aging infrastructure. Like other communities, the city must also continually balance tax burden with our responsibility to provide quality municipal services, meet our financial obligations, and maintain a strong educational system. As our city ages to 44 years, we must look to the future, creating a home for the millennial generation ripe with job opportunities, varied housing and multimodal transit options.

 

Kevin C. Eisemann

42 Bolster Ave.

Age: 49

Education: A 1983 graduate of Warwick Veterans Memorial High School, an associate’s degree from New England Tech (1985).

Party designation: Independent

Occupation: Carpenter

Community Activities: Member and board member of Riverview Improvement Association

If elected, what would you hope to accomplish during the next two years in office?

I am running for mayor of Warwick because I really want to revive this city once again and make it much more attractive to new businesses and families that are thinking of moving here. My first steps will be to lower taxes and repair our badly neglected roads and bridges, which, in turn, will lure more high-paying manufacturing jobs to our city and improve our economy. I will work towards streamlining all aspects of city services and create a “one-stop” permitting process for new businesses. I will also work with our school department to repair our neglected, crumbling buildings while also ensuring they are energy efficient. Additionally, I want to encourage more open spaces and better recreational facilities throughout the city. 

If elected mayor, I will be donating up to $10,000 of my salary to charitable organizations in the city. I will turn back on all street lights for safety and will allow the purchase of one new fire truck in my first year. Also, I will add more police officers to combat crimes and traffic violators and will work to ensure that vacant and abandoned properties are dealt with and fines are enforced on violators.

I will also mandate that Rhode Island Airport Corporation install sound barriers and noise and pollution monitoring equipment as well as create a buffer zone along the Lakeside neighborhood off Lake Shore Drive.

What do you consider as the major issues and opportunities facing the city?

Repair our roads. In particular, I would request that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation repair and upgrade all major roads around the airport (Post Road, Warwick Avenue, Main Avenue and West Shore Road) to handle increases in traffic.

We also must lower taxes so we can attract new businesses. The city needs to market itself better to the manufacturing sector so we can fill vacant buildings and create jobs.

Also, it’s important to ensure that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation meets or exceeds all compliance issues set forth by the council.

 John T.  Kirby

132 Shamrock Dr.

Age: 63

Education: Graduate of Warwick Veterans Memorial High School

Occupation: Owner of Kirby Bros. Construction

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Community Activities: Knights of Columbus, past Corporation president fort two years

If elected, what would you hope to accomplish during the next two years in office?

I have a plan to limit tax increases that would be based on increasing fees on airport-related vendors such as car rentals, parking garages and hotel rooms. I would also work to make Warwick more business friendly by lowering the tangible tax, and would freeze property tax increases for seniors age 65 and older.

I also think city services for water and sewer could be combined to realize greater savings. As to education, I would like to see an expansion of student opportunities through career and technical training.

What do you consider as the major issues and opportunities facing the city?

Stabilizing taxes, and making sure our police, fire and schools are adequately funded and our seniors are taken care of.

I also believe that to make Warwick more desirable to new business and create jobs, we should lower the tangible tax that businesses are required to pay.

Comments

6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • JohnStark

    Good Lord. The current mayor appears to have spent his 27 years since graduating college successfully avoiding any job in the dreaded private sector. Mr. Eisemann will hire more police, fix the roads and bridges, and buy a new fire truck while magically and simultaneously reducing taxes. Mr. Kirby, on the other hand, would "lower the tangible tax " and "...freeze property tax increases for seniors" while, again, magically expanding student opportunities. Note to Mr. Kirby: You can't increase fees on a laundry list of businesses near the airport while simultaneously making the city "...more business friendly". As these well-intentioned folks continue to rearrange the deck chairs the city and state continue to hemorrhage.

    Just once, I'd love to hear: "I will lobby all state reps and senators from Warwick to introduce legislation which would serve to reduce or eliminate the state income tax. You want "business friendly"? It's time to stop tinkering around the edges."

    Thursday, October 30, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    That's interesting, Avedisian did not mention the 14 straight years of tax increases, close to $1 Billion of outstanding debt, significant decreases in home values and placing ball fields right next to a major runway at Green. Must have been overlooked, or maybe just a don't give a ......... about the welfare of Warwick homeowners.

    Thursday, October 30, 2014 Report this

  • ..

    Mr. Howell, how much does the mayor pay you to write your own version of his curriculum vitae?

    More yellow journalism.

    Saturday, November 1, 2014 Report this

  • StaciaClueless

    Roy Dempsey you may be the biggest scumbag on this face of this planet. The only ones challenging you for the crown are Bob cote and stacia petri

    Sunday, November 2, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    @ Loser. From your comments, you appear to have a lot to offer this community. You would be better off taking all your frustrations out at city council meetings.

    Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    Mr Dempsey your backing of Ms Petri shows you and the others were just using her as a pawn... Please explain why most of the campaign money came from out of state?

    Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Report this