Primary surprises

Vella-Wilkinson headquarters was primary hot spot

Posted 9/15/16

By TESSA ROY The place to be on primary night was Camille Vella-Wilkinson's headquarters. Located at the intersection of Post and Airport Roads, the storefront headquarters was packed. Eager volunteers and supporters chatted, ate from the numerous tables

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Primary surprises

Vella-Wilkinson headquarters was primary hot spot

Posted

The place to be on primary night was Camille Vella-Wilkinson’s headquarters. Located at the intersection of Post and Airport Roads, the storefront headquarters was packed. Eager volunteers and supporters chatted, ate from the numerous tables piled with food, and enjoyed music supplied by a DJ as they waited for results.

“It’s a close one,” someone said.

“I’ve got my fingers crossed,” said another.

One of those present was up to speed with results. North Kingstown State Representative Doreen Costa viewed incoming results on her phone and provided updates throughout the night.

Around 8:30 p.m., half an hour after polls closed, the news everyone was waiting on came; Vella-Wilkinson had won the District 21 Democratic Primary, taking 46 percent of the vote. Her 542 votes surpassed David Kruzona’s 156 and longtime incumbent Eileen Naughton’s 469.

“I don’t care if [she won by] 2 percent. She won!” said Rep. Costa, a Republican.

Political unification seemed to be a theme – Republican City Councilman Steven Colantuono and Mayor Scott Avedisian as well as Democratic council members Donna Travis, Joseph Gallucci and Thomas Chadronet. Former Councilwoman Linda Sullivan was also there in support of Vella-Wilkinson.

“I’ll be sorry to lose her as a council member,” Mayor Avedisian said. “But I’m glad her hard work paid off. She’s been working on this for a year.”

After the announcement, Ward 3 candidate Timothy Howe came out to “stall” while Vella-Wilkinson prepared to address her crowd.

“Through your help, she pulled through,” he said.

Eventually, he introduced Vella-Wilkinson, who emerged in tears to loud cheers and chants of “You go girl!”

“I’m so overwhelmed,” she said. She thanked her campaign manager Joe Fargnoli, staffers and volunteers for helping her win.

“There isn’t a single one of you that didn’t help,” she said.

Vella-Wilkinson then asked all her volunteers to stand so they could be applauded for their efforts, joking that their blood sugars must have risen when they spent late nights stuffing envelopes and eating pizza.

Vella-Wilkinson said many unions came together to support her. Firefighters Union President Michael Carreiro was at the event as was Scott Small, president of the Warwick Municipal Employees. She gave a special thank you to Small, who as a member of the Council 94 political action committee resigned when the PAC endorsed incumbent Eileen Naughton rather than make no endorsement as he had suggested.

“I didn’t want to look like a hypocrite,” Small said later.

“We fought the machine. They pulled out all the stops, every friggin’ dirty trick you can imagine they did and the people spoke. Let’s hope that the absentee ballot people speak, too,” she said.

“Even if we don’t have term limits as a practice in the state yet, voter after voter after voter gave a term limit to an incumbent and it’s about damn time.” Vella-Wilkinson is an advocate of term limits and sought to introduce them as a member of the City Council.

After her speech, Vella-Wilkinson announced it was “time to party.” “Eye of the Tiger” played as she left the podium and gave out more hugs and handshakes to supporters.

Candidates from all over Warwick came to the Vella-Wilkinson headquarters, including Ward 1’s Tanios BouRamia.

“My canvassing shoes need to be replaced,” he said with a laugh, noting that he’d walked about 125 miles in them since July.

“It was a great experience. You only discover certain parts of your ward when you’re actually walking through it,” he said.

BouRamia said he met lots of interesting residents walking Ward 1, including a man who kept bees.

Other candidates, including School Committee member and candidate for re-election Karen Bachus, School Committee candidate Dean Johnson, and Ward 2 candidate Sean Rainey, were a part of Vella-Wilkinson’s team. All three were in attendance to show their support.

Democratic mayoral candidate Richard Corrente also stopped by to offer congratulations.

Vella-Wilkinson later celebrated her win by lighting up a Cuban cigar outside the headquarters, calling it her “victory smoke.” On Wednesday, she told the Beacon she received a congratulatory, cordial voicemail from Rep. Naughton when she got home.

CELEBRATION:

Supporters and volunteers clap as primary results are announced. “MY HEAD IS SPINNING”:

Camille-Vella Wilkinson cries during her speech after winning District 21’s Democratic Primary. Prior to primary day, Vella-Wilkinson said, “I hope it’s going to be a party, not an Irish wake.” (Warwick Beacon photos) REPUBLICAN ALLIES:

North Kingstown State Representative Doreen Costa talks with Mayor Scott Avedisian at Vella-Wilkinson’s event. ON THE SAME TEAM:

School Committee member Karen Bachus (right) talks with her campaign manager Judy Cobden (center) and team member Jean Santurri. VICTORY SMOKE:

Vella-Wilkinson lights up a cigar after her big win.

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    Now there's another very attractive picture of the disgusting coucil woman and her circus tatooed offspring. Just the picture that I want to represent the children of Warwick. On the right you have Warwick's sweaty Giant Panda-er, and on the left her ink ladened clearly ubnder-dressed offspring. The photo speaks volumes as to where this city and this state is heading. This woman is a clone of Hillary. Whenever her lips are moving, she is lying. I wonder why there is no accounting for the rent at her campaign headquarters noted on her campaign finance reports? HMMM. Maybe she can use some of her donations to get a wardobe makeover, amongst other needed makeovers.

    The Giant Panda-er continues to take donations from all of the unions which she publicly panders to at each and every council meeting. Where is the audit that she put forth legislation for? That went in the trash as soon as Scotty told her to remove the legislation. Why did she, as the finance chair, ignore all of the recommendations from the health care expert? She talks about identifying best practices yet ignores all recommendations. Why is it that she has ignored the building inspector who has told her that her campaign signs are illegal and in direct violation of city ordinance 803.5 (oversized signs) I guess she is above the law.

    The people in district 21 stayed home and less than 1000 people voted. Just goes to show you that the residents are asleep while the unions are wide awake putting thier operatives in place to maintain control at all costs. Her record on the city council is deplorable, having voted to raise taxes 6 years in a row, failing to find 1 cent in savings, and placating to the unions in a form of political felatio yet to be seen in Rhode Island politics. Now you got her district 21, keep sleeping.

    Thursday, September 15, 2016 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Verbally assaulting this woman and her family. Very classy Mr. Côte. Very classy. On the other hand I expect it from your crowd.

    Thursday, September 15, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear Warwick Man,

    I dont see you casting judgement on Trailer Trash Wilkinson when she castigates taxpayers by calling them names on her facebook page. I dont see you holding her accountable when she sends emails thru her Warwick City Council account calling the residents that show up to council meetings as nothing but A-Holes. You dont seem to want to hold her accountable when she is recorded during an official city council meeting calling residents F-ing A-holes and conspiring to prevent them from speaking in public during a public comment session. You dont seem to hold her accountable when she blatently lies in public on so many occasions. I dont see you posting about her wiflfull open meetingsviolations and fines from the attorney generals office. Sorry Warwick Man, she drew first blood. By the way, if you would like copies of her official e-mails where she slandered taxpayers, I will be more than happy to send them to you as I have them due to the fact that I subpoened them thru the courts. Also, to jog your memory, those e-mails in question were released by this newspaper in an article and are a matter of public record. But you dont seem to want to hold her accoutable. Typical, have another sip of the Kool aid.

    Thursday, September 15, 2016 Report this

  • Scott58

    You both seem to completely miss the big picture.......... She may be the devil herself but at least she's not Eileen Naughton!

    Friday, September 16, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    She will fit in with the morons at the Statehouse. The regulation is that you cannot smoke within 50 feet of a building. Go by the Statehouse and see just how well that regulation is followed. Either that, or people do no know how far 50 feet is.

    Friday, September 16, 2016 Report this