Hopes have almost run out for Republican Ray McKay, who planned to run for the U.S. Senate against Jack Reed this year but continually has been thwarted by a city ordinance that keeps him from announcing candidacy while holding on to his job.

His hopes have gradually lowered as weeks have gone on since November from the implications of city ordinance 48-10 that was brought to his attention by the city, which prevents him from running for the Senate and keeping his job as a “classified” employee.

McKay is a network and telecommunications administrator for the city. McKay hasn’t declared his candidacy because he was informed on March 14 that if he announced his bid for the U.S. Senate the city would take that as “abandonment of his employment and treat it as his resignation.”

McKay and his attorney, Matthew Fabisch, brought his case to the state Superior Court as he sought an injunction. The case was then brought to federal court. On May 30, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi ruled against McKay stating that his attorney didn’t do everything appropriate to resolve the issue. Lisi said that Fabisch should’ve filed an amendment prior.

In a last ditch effort, McKay emailed a letter to the City Council and submitted a hard copy on Monday asking them to change the ordinance that keeps him from announcing his candidacy.

In a phone interview McKay said, “I have not heard anything from them since.”

In the letter, McKay explains his motives for changing the ordinance. He states, “It is about correcting the inequity for an entire group of employees who are having their rights restricted by the government.”

As of yesterday, Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson said she has yet to read McKay’s letter.

“We have one more meeting on June 16 and everything had to be turned in by this Tuesday,” said Vella-Wilkinson. “I don’t know if anyone else is looking into it.”

Vella-Wilkinson said the council is very careful on what they talk about between each other because of the Open Meeting Laws.

Later in the letter, McKay also explains how he has experienced inconsistencies within the ordinance. He said, “In 1998 I ran for state senate and they didn’t say anything to me then,” while holding a “classified” employee position.

McKay said that, at the time, the chief of staff’s father was his educator into Warwick politics. The letter also says “there are at least 10 classified Warwick employees currently holding elected office…at this time and are under no implied or over threat of termination.”

The deadline for filing for candidacy is June 25, so the city’s considering of amending the ordinance for McKay is running out of time.

Councilmen Steve Merolla said there probably wouldn’t be enough time to amend the ordinance but didn’t want to comment without knowing what the outcome would be.

“I looked over it at the last council meeting,” said Merolla. “It’s great that he wants to be involved.”

McKay said, “If thing’s aren’t resolved by June 25, I stay city employee, and that’s where we’re at.” He said resigning from his job would not be economically feasible at this time.

“We just couldn’t make it happen to leave my job,” said McKay.

McKay continues to believe it’s his right to fight against the city of Warwick restricting him from running for office and hopes to be supported by the council members.