Editor’s note: The Warwick Beacon was unable to make contact with Mr. Williams until after the deadline for Thursday’s Beacon. While this story will appear in the Tuesday, Sept. 9 …
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Editor’s note: The Warwick Beacon was unable to make contact with Mr. Williams until after the deadline for Thursday’s Beacon. While this story will appear in the Tuesday, Sept. 9 edition, the day of the primary election, it is being posted now on the newspaper’s website so as to afford voters in Ward 3 the opportunity to learn more of his candidacy.
Henry T. Williams Jr. believes it’s his time to step up as a citizen, which is why he is running for the Ward 3 City Council seat in Tuesday’s primary election. Williams faces John M. Falkowski in a Republican primary for the seat.
Williams, 65, has lived in Warwick since 1956. He attended Warwick Public Schools before going on to the Wentworth Institute in Boston. Williams previously worked for New England Telephone before serving for 22 years as a Warwick firefighter, where he was a radio tech, a position that provided him with a working knowledge and familiarity with procurement procedures and the bidding process. Williams now operates as a self-employed electrician.
Williams has two sons, Henry Williams and Brent Williams, five grandchildren, and has been in a long-term relationship with Elaine Cate.
“It’s time for a new face and new ideas, but it’s also time to reinforce some of the ideas we had in the past that weren’t implemented full-scale,” Williams said. “My experience working for the city gives me insight to the dealings of the city and I know where things can be changed and improved.”
Williams said it’s important to get feedback from supervisors of departments, “but sometimes the people doing the work have the best ideas of where to save money and how to run more efficiently.”
One of Williams’ top priorities is safety on the roads and cutting down on speeding motorists, especially in areas that have become cut-throughs.
“Traffic is out of control,” he said. “Warwick grew quickly and left many streets as cut-through streets and these streets should be managed better for the safety of our neighbors … some streets should be one-way streets and, to my way of thinking, some should be closed all together.”
As an example, Williams highlighted Easton and Partition Streets, which conduct traffic to Route 37.
“People fly down these streets and come out on Bucklin and Sand Pond Road … that cut-through should be blocked closed … there are ways to do that and not affect public safety vehicles,” Williams said, naming Diamond Hill Road as another area of focus.
As a way to cut down on speeders and erratic vehicles using cut-throughs and driving dangerously through neighborhoods and residential areas, Williams would like to see electronically measured devices installed to catch people going through red signal lights, as well as those who are speeding. Williams said these devices are capable of not only capturing pictures of the license plate of violators, but some can even measure the speed of the vehicle. A ticket would then be mailed to violators.
“These devices are used quite successfully all over the country,” Williams said. “These measures will free up resources to deal with the never-ending, and increasing, calls for police services. I would also like to see the number of officers on patrol increased on all three shifts.”
In addition to reducing speeders, Williams would like to see the ordinance that refers to big box store backyard burners changed to add that if the smoke from these burners is a nuisance to a neighbor, that the burner must be extinguished.
“If we can’t smoke in a public place, why can our neighbors fill our homes with smoke?” he said.
Williams said he would like to see pleasure boats taxed for their full worth, either where they are harbored or where the owner lives, many of which are in Warwick. He also feels people from out of town and out of state should be charged to use Warwick’s beaches and parks.
“I would like to see the airport start buying more homes and come up with a way to reimburse [the city] for our property tax loss when they do,” Williams said.
With regard to unions, Williams said, “I have always been under the impression that the unions in Warwick are part of the solution, not the problem in Warwick.”
Williams said the Police/Firemen I pension, which is a closed plan, would start to go down in cost as people age and pass on.
“The other pensions are in a position that they can be worked on and made solvent for years to come,” he added.
With regard to education, Williams quoted Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Block from a meeting Block held that Williams attended, when he said, “‘A child in the fifth grade should not be learning to read; that child should be reading to learn.’”
“Maybe someone should ask the teachers the best way to do that, seeing as it’s their job and they are the ones most educated in that area,” Williams said.
When it comes to taxes, Williams said everyone would like more services for less money but asked how that’s possible.
“Everyone that owns a home knows that the price of everything is going up every time we turn around,” he said. “I don’t know what can be done about it when one considers the electric bill for all the street lights and the heating cost for all the buildings and the fuel for all the city vehicles … these bills are similar to ours at home but on a much larger scale.”
Williams said he’s at a stage in his life where he feels he can step up as a citizen in his community and do the job as councilman efficiently.
“My understanding of being councilman is to be the conduit between the people and the agencies of the city,” he said, “to provide the people access to what’s going on and give them a better understanding of what’s going on.”
Williams said every area of Ward 3 has different things that need to be addressed, and he wants to be that voice for the people.
“I feel trapped with not being able to get my ideas across in an efficient manner,” Williams said of his current situation as a concerned citizen and feels he can do more for his ward and the city if elected.
Voters and constituents can reach Williams by telephone at 739-7655 (home) and 575-6440 (cell), as well as via email at HTW147@aol.com.
17 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
allent
another union stooge...no thanks
Saturday, September 6, 2014 Report this
mra139
@ hepdog::::and you know this as fact, right?
Saturday, September 6, 2014 Report this
allent
"serving for 22 years as a Warwick firefighter"
Saturday, September 6, 2014 Report this
Hemi_Royed
For hepdog................... As I have no knowledge of Mr. Williams but he served 22 years is now 65 years old. Why is he a "Union Stooge"? Seems he served his community honorably. What have you done to make the community better? You contribute nothing but insult. If that is your best asset.... Good For You!
Sunday, September 7, 2014 Report this
JohnFalkowski
Mr. Williams, why did you wait until now to start your campaign? You submitted your nomination papers by the same date as I did. I have been out distributing palm cards, sending mailers, placings sign and just working. Where are your palm cards, your mailings and signs? You don't even have a sign on your own lawn. Why should the voters now support someone who has proven that they will not work? If I am willing to walk in the sun when it is 90 degrees and humid while you stay home, what makes you deserve the confidence and votes from the hard working citizens of Ward 3? Seems that you may have other priorities? Your actions prove that there is only one person to represent Ward 3, John M. Falkowski. I take nothing for granted.
Sunday, September 7, 2014 Report this
Unionthug
Why would you care John, he has every right to campaign when he wants. He is on the ballot.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
kenaixoxo
I'd rather have a no nonsense representative with common sense than a "typical politician". Instead of creating campaign signs, he's concentrating on good ideas to make our city better. We need a no bulls$&it type of person supporting our growth as a community.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
allent
Gee, wonder how a union stooge will vote when it comes to union contracts and pensions. Too funny.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
Unionthug
Hepdog is so jealous it hurts. Mommy wants to know if you want the crusts cut off of your grilled cheese.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
patientman
Don't elect anyone that thinks raising taxes is the answer to paying for services. a well run state, city, town increases revenue by growing the economy. A poorly run government does it by raising taxes. If he doesn't understand that he's not fit to serve. But then neither are any of the current city leaders.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
JohnFalkowski
I promise to not to ever vote to raise taxes. I have lived here for over 40 years and been a business owner for 8 years. We, you and I, have paid enough.Cut spending, reduce taxes, attract business and we will all benefit.
Monday, September 8, 2014 Report this
mfa5852
I would never vote for anyone who says they would never vote to raise taxes. Typical Politician talk. Henry Williams was the only Candidate who came to our neighborhood and took the time to speak with us. He's real, along with what he proposes to do is far more realistic than what we have seen over the years. I did contact, Henry Williams a day later to see if he would actually get back to me, and he did within an hour. He has our vote. As far as how Henry decided to run his Campaign, John, should not concern you. I would think you would want to stay focused more on your own Campaign.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Report this
patientman
mfa5852, you want to vote for politicians that are going to raise taxes?
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Report this
mfa5852
John Falkowoski wrote; "I promise to not ever vote to raise taxes." Of course I DO NOT want taxes raised, NO ONE does. However, I don't believe that promise he made. I've seen to many broken promises over the past few years and many of us are tired of it!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Report this
Phil31
He said he thinkings Unions are the solutions and basically that us taxpayers just want more without paying. Sorry If I read that as he wants to raise taxes and will side with the Unions rather than the taxpayers. Does not make him a bad person but that is what he said.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Report this
Phil31
I apologize for the typo. Should be he thinks.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Report this
mfa5852
Two Candidates, one that put himself right out there with what he proposed to accomplish. Now we have the second Candidate who has not told us much of anything except we know a fairly good amount about his Family along with a couple of other things such as to reduce taxes, and he wins. We all know the reducing taxes line will never happen, we have been hearing that same song for years. There are many disappointed Voter's this evening. Well, Mr. Falkowski, please tell us what you honestly propose to do. To Henry Williams, thank you for taking the time to come to our home, and talking to us openly even when we asked you some difficult questions, you had some very sound solutions that could have been implemented.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Report this