Representative candidates outline aspirations

Representative candidates outline aspirations for session

Posted 10/30/14

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 19

Joseph M. McNamara

23 Howie Ave.

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired school administrator

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: …

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Representative candidates outline aspirations

Representative candidates outline aspirations for session

Posted

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 19

Joseph M. McNamara

23 Howie Ave.

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired school administrator

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 1994

If you have been a candidate before, when and for what

office(s): State Representative, District 19

Education: Graduate of Pilgrim High School, bachelor of science from Boston University, master of education from Providence College

Community Activities: Chairman, New England Board of Higher Education; Higher Education’s Legislative Advisory Committee, member of Save the Bay, Cierra Club, Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project, Gaspee Days Committee

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

I will continue to fight for and sponsor legislation similar to the Back to Work RI program that assists our unemployed citizens in job training and legislation that reforms our business regulatory processes to make Rhode Island more competitive in a global economy. I also promise to do everything possible to capture all of the state funding that our community deserves to educate our children and provide other essential services.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

The major issues facing our state are job creation and improving economic competitiveness. Last year, my legislation that improved access to medical technology innovation led to a $10 million investment in Warwick with a potential $200 million economic impact on our state. This is the type of regulatory legislation that will improve our state’s outlook.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

I am very pleased that the following pieces of legislation that I have sponsored are now law in Rhode Island: the Back to Work Act, the Rhode Island Access to Medical Technology Innovation Act, an Act Relating to Leased Land Dwelling (increased rights for Gaspee Point homeowners), state ban on synthetic drugs, enhanced school protocols, Teacher Advisory Council, and legislation protecting Rhode Island’s blood supply.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 20

David A. Bennett

27 Shippee Ave.

Age: 59

Occupation: Registered nurse

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 2010

If you have been a candidate before, when and for what office(s): Rhode Island Senate in 2008

Education: Graduate of Toll Gate High School, Rhode Island Junior College, Rhode Island College, Community College of Rhode Island; associate’s degree in Social Service/Registered Nursing; bachelor of science in Psychology

Community Activities: American Nurses Association, Rhode Island Nurses Association, Sierra Club, Apponaug Old Timers, Pontiac Village Association, Norwood Neighborhood Association

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

Increasing the minimum wage three years in a row ($7.75 per hour Jan. 1, 2013; $8 per hour Jan. 1, 2014; $9 per hour Jan. 1, 2015). Also, developing a health care system for all Rhode Islanders, and access for medical crisis as well as mental health or substance abuse disorder; the integration of primary and behavioral health in Rhode Island.

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Keep a good communication line open with all my constituents and try to meet their needs as well as neighborhood needs. Also, listen to their ideas.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

The economy and the need to develop jobs in the state, and education to meet the needs of new technology, plus doing things to attract new business. For example, the Laser Spine Institute, based out of Florida, is building a new facility here on Route 5 near the Crowne Plaza because of the intermodal system and medical tourism. People from out of state will be coming to Rhode Island for back surgery and will stay for a number of days, which will help our local restaurants, hotels and other businesses.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 21

Eileen S. Naughton

100 Old Homestead Road

Age: 68

If incumbent, when first elected: State Representative since 1992

Occupation: State Representative, District 21

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College, juris doctorate from Southern New England School of Law

Party Affiliation: Democrat

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Rhode Island air quality monitoring – uses multiple state agencies with science-based decision making to provide data that is meaningful in protecting public health; also the establishment of Inner Space Center “Hope” Scholarships.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Helping business retention and assisting expansion into new areas are the best economic development investment. Rather than taking high risk chances, we should be concentrating on serving the businesses and the cluster businesses that are supporting them already here, and developing a culture that supports new initiatives and ideas for their growth and attract supporting businesses.

Several initiatives where I brought people together have created new successful partnerships that built on resources readily available and are now ready to expand and add more jobs to the Rhode Island economy. For example, farmers markets. I hope to continue energizing their growth and bring others together to create partnerships for job growth.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

I am very proud of Rhode Island public health prevention initiatives such as newborn health screening, vision screening in children, seasonal flu vaccination, and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of vascular disease. Also, the utilization of scientific evidenced-based methods for education of children with special learning needs such as dyslexia.

In addition, I am so very proud of developing Rhode Island’s statewide hands-on science education with the most advanced technologies and the highly acclaimed Inner Space Center located at the URI Bay Campus that is the international hub of global scientific research and exploration of our planet’s oceans. And, so proud of the establishment of Rhode Island Veterans Court and veterans serving on Rhode Island Statewide Housing Commission.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 22

Joseph J. Solomon Jr.

21 Crawford Ave.

Age: 31

Occupation: Businessman, attorney

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Education: Graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, bachelor of science in Accounting from Providence College, juris doctorate from New England Law, Boston

Community Activities: Save the Bay, Warwick Neck Improvement Association, Riverview Neighborhood Association, Warwick Historical Society, Sierra Club

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

My focus as a state representative will be to make sure Warwick is receiving its fair share of state aid. Currently, I do not believe that to be the case. Therefore, I will work with the Warwick delegation to increase funding to Warwick, which will help offset car and property taxes. The residents have been loud and clear in telling me that both are too high. As a lifelong Warwick resident, I will work with all parties to do what is best for our citizens.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

There is the perception that Rhode Island is not a business-friendly state and I will work to change that reputation by sponsoring and supporting legislation that will make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business in our state, which will lower the unemployment rate and improve the economy.

I will also scrutinize state spending and lead the fight to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in state government. Taxpayers deserve to get the most for their tax dollars.

Ralph Leone

76 Kenway Ave.

Age: 57

Occupation: Force protection officer, retired firefighter (battalion chief), former owner of a home heating oil company

Party Affiliation: Republican

Education: Graduate of Holy Cross High School, Waterbury, Conn.; Connecticut Fire Academy, FEMA Emergency Management Institute

Community Activities: Tri-City Elks, Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, International Association of Firefighters, fundraiser for the National Children’s Cancer Society

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Reduce taxes and red tape to lure businesses and jobs. Find grant money to fix roads and other infrastructure and to replace aged fire equipment.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Again, reduce taxes and red tape to bring business and jobs to Rhode Island. Bring accountability and integrity to represent the people, not special interest groups.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 23

K. Joseph Shekarchi

3524 West Shore Rd.

Age: 52

Occupation: Lawyer

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 2012

Education: Juris doctorate, Suffolk University Law School

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Continue the work from the first term.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Jobs and the economy. We need to grow the economy but not raise taxes. We took two major steps in that direction this year by reducing the corporate tax rate to the lowest in New England and raising the exemption on the estate tax. I also supported raising the state’s minimum wage in an effort to move the economy forward, and voted for the state’s 2014-2015 fiscal year budget, which included an additional $10 million in state aid to the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and Community College of Rhode Island to extend the education tuition freeze.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

One of my proudest accomplishments was introducing and then securing support and ultimate passage of legislation that eliminated the so-called master lever (the bill will eliminate the master lever in the 2016 elections). Also, I consider my bill that makes major reforms to the worker’s compensation laws and gives injured workers their payments on a more expedited basis to be a major success, along with my bill that provides local municipalities relief from the state mandates regarding the construction of affordable housing.

I also worked closely with Attorney General Peter Kilmartin on the passage of a bill that increases penalties for unscrupulous employers who take advantage of workers in the payment of wages; and two bills on animal rights issues: one that makes an abuser of animals financially responsible for the cost of their care related to their mistreatment and another that gives inspectors additional authority with cases of deceased animals.

RESPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 24

Joseph Trillo

19 Gilbert Stuart Dr.

Age: 71

Occupation: Retired, former president of AAA Custom Alarms

Party Affiliation: Republican

If incumbent, when first elected: 2000

Education: Graduate of LaSalle Academy, attended Emerson College

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Both locally and statewide, it’s the economy. We need to jump-start the economy or we won’t be able to move forward. We need to do that by lowering taxes or creating incentive programs. We need to look at Massachusetts and mirror them so there is no advantage to people moving there from Rhode Island. It’s convenient for people to go across the border and save money on sales tax and also property taxes. We also should look to other cities and towns and see what they are doing to attract new business.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

I am chairman of the House Rules and Regulations Committee and we’re charged with looking at all of the rules and regulations that affect businesses. This committee was just formed at the end of the last session, and I look forward to serving on it. Let’s look at these rules and see what can be cleansed, simplified or changed with the objective of making Rhode Island a more business-friendly state.

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