Retired colonel on rigorous campaign to represent Ward 7

By John Howell
Posted 8/18/16

Retirement is a foreign word to Robert Germani. After a career in the Rhode Island Air National Guard, where he retired in 2014 as a colonel and vice commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing, as of this January Germani assumed a new leadership

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Retired colonel on rigorous campaign to represent Ward 7

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Retirement is a foreign word to Robert Germani.

After a career in the Rhode Island Air National Guard, where he retired in 2014 as a colonel and vice commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing, as of this January Germani assumed a new leadership role as director of veterans’ affairs for YWCA Rhode Island. It’s a post that puts him in charge of the state’s largest veterans’ transitional housing program.

He’s got plenty of work on his plate. But Germani wants to do more and a good friend from his days in the Guard, Fred Sullivan believes in him. With Sullivan urging him on, Germani now finds himself in a four-way Democratic primary for the Ward 7 Council seat. The winner of the Sept. 13 primary will be the next councilman as there is no Republican or independents in the race.

“When Kathleen Usler said she was not going to run, I thought that maybe this is the time to get in the game and give back,” Germani said in a recent interview.

He views his entry into the contest that includes former council Charles “CJ” Donovan, who is looking to make a comeback after being narrowly defeated by Usler two years ago; a newcomer to the elective process, Steve McAllister and Jack Kirby, who has run for mayor against Scott Avedisian, not as a race against them but as an opportunity to offer his ideas and, should he win, to serve the community.

Germani sees quality of life issues as the priority.

He is concerned by the volume of car break-ins and speeding on neighborhood streets. He suggests a neighborhood watch program and stepped-up police presence to reduce speeding and the risk of youth injury. He would also like to see more recreational facilities for youth.

On broader issues, Germani calls for greater transparency regarding schools; favors term limits for the City Council, although he hasn’t fixed on a limit, and having attended council meetings said measures need to be taken to shorten meetings without cutting off public input.

On a personal level, if elected, he would take half of his $5,000 salary and not accept health coverage for an overall savings to the taxpayers of about $15,000.

Germani is relying on Sullivan for his political advice.

Having only run for an elective office once in his life – and that was for president of his fifth grade class – Sullivan has Germani on a rigid schedule of walking the ward, talking to people and learning the issues.

The husband of Linda Sullivan, who served as Ward 2 councilwoman and then went on to run for the Second Congressional District seat, Sullivan has already had Germani cover most of the ward. He carries a map of the ward along with a clipboard of registered voters, methodically checking off houses as Germani makes contact or, in those cases where people aren’t answering, slipping a card in the door.

“We want to make sure he gets back to people with answers,” said Sullivan. There will be follow-up letters to those residents who had questions for Germani.

So far he has found few voters know of the four-way contest for the Democratic nomination and that the primary will decide who will be the next Ward 7 councilman. When asked who else is in the race, Germani leads off with Donovan, a name that most long time Ward 7 residents know, but can’t say they have met or had a positive experience with.

That was the case recently as Germani, with Sullivan playing shadow, walked streets running off George Arden Avenue south of Main Avenue. From one homeowner he heard how the Rhode Island Airport Corporation had just completed noise mitigation measures including the installation of new windows and doors and a central air conditioning system. The homeowner was pleased with the work, saying it had substantially reduced airport noise. Yet, she noted that her neighbor across the street didn’t qualify for the program. She questioned whether the improvements made to her home would result in an increased valuation, resulting in a higher tax bill. She did not see that as fair since it was no action of hers that is resulting in an extension of the airport’s main runway and, as a result, the soundproofing of her home. Germani didn’t have an answer, but plans to look into it.

If elected, Germani said he would hold regular ward meetings so residents could air issues. He also suggests a “hotline” for residents to call with concerns and questions.

Germani is concerned with state plans to toll trucks, fearing there will be a diversion of truck traffic through Apponaug as well as on Main Avenue.

The VA supported veterans transitional housing program Germani oversees serves about 100 individuals annually who are homeless due to PTSD, substance abuse, depression and other factors. Veterans live in YWCA-owned properties for up to two years where they are provided care management services. According to a release announcing Germany's selection as director, the goals of the program are to assist the veteran with residential stability, increase skill levels and/or income and obtain greater self-determination.

Apart from walking the ward, Germani will get out the word about his candidacy and ambition to give back to the community through mailings and advertising. When asked what he expects to spend on the campaign, Germani turns to Sullivan. The answer is about $4,000.

Germani is a 1984 graduate of URI, where he studied political science. He entered the Rhode Island Army Guard as a private in 1979 and, after attending the ROTC program at URI, received a commission as a second lieutenant in 1981. In 1985 he left the Army Guard and joined the Air Guard, where he served the remainder of his military career.

Germani lives on Chapman Avenue in Greenwood with his wife Patricia and their two rescue dogs. 

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