By JOHN HOWELL House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined Friday why, at this early stage following Mayor Scott Avedisian's announcement he is leaving office on May 15, he's supporting Council President Joseph Solomon for the job and why he
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House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined Friday why, at this early stage following Mayor Scott Avedisian’s announcement he is leaving office on May 15, he’s supporting Council President Joseph Solomon for the job and why he thinks there won’t be a long list of candidates for the post.
Shekarchi, who had expressed interest in the city’s highest elective office and, with more than $600,000 in campaign funds, would be a formidable candidate, said he plans to run for reelection. He said he feels he would be shirking his responsibility and the commitment he made to the 60 legislators who voted for him if he were to now run for mayor. He said he has an “excellent relationship” with House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. He said Mattiello is running for reelection.
“I enjoy being a representative,” he said. Referring to the councilmen in his district, he said, “[Tim] Howe and Donna [Travis], we work as a team.”
Solomon is slated to take on the job of acting mayor on May 15, a role he will have until completion of Avedisian’s term after the first of the New Year. Had Avedisian vacated the office prior to May 11, his resignation would have triggered a special election, a cost and disruption Avedisian wanted to avoid.
Shekarchi waited two days before announcing he would not be running and throwing his support behind Solomon.
What was the rush?
Shekarchi said he believes Solomon is the best person for the job because of his 18 years of City Council experience and the times he has served as council president. In addition, he said, Solomon is an accountant and attorney. “Joe understands the contracts.”
Shekarchi also took time to applaud Avedisian’s service to Warwick. He said Avedisian has left the city “in excellent financial health.” He didn’t fault the mayor for choosing to leave at this time.
“The opportunity was there for him. Sometimes you just can’t wait,” he said. Avedisian will step into the role of chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority in June.
Shekarchi, who is attuned to the political grape vine, said he has not heard of other possible candidates for mayor other than Democrat Richard Corrente. Corrente announced some months ago. He ran in 2016 and has no intention of stepping out of the race, thereby setting the stage up for a primary in September.
No Republicans or independents have come forward, but the lack of candidates doesn’t surprise Shekarchi. He said politics has become highly partisan.
“It’s different,” he said. He said people can’t civilly disagree and that negative attacks on social media are constant.
“You have to have thick skin,” he said.
Can Solomon handle it?
“He’s got broad shoulders and thick skin,” said Shekarchi.
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Scal1024
After his 700+ days of campaigning and over $40,000 in campaign money blown, fellow Democrat Joe Shekarchi has seen enough of Rick Corrente.
Very telling...
Thursday, May 10, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Very telling, indeed, Scal, that the only mention of the make-believe mayor is what seems like a tepid acknowledgement by Rep. Shekarchi. As you note, that's all the breath that an actual elected official and leader in his party spent on the make-believe mayor after his money-wasting and ultimately futile campaign.
It is gratifying to know that Mr. Shekarchi reflects the opinion of the vast majority of honest, taxpaying voters who see the make-believe mayor as a political nobody and who will overwhelmingly reject his candidacy at the first opportunity.
Friday, May 11, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Scal,
Thanks for acknowledging my 700 day $40,000 campaign to "Cut Taxes - Cut Spending" I rallied the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab and they delivered my message LOUDLY to the City Council and Avedisian failed to get approval on ANY of his 29 new taxes! You're welcome.
For the record, I have donated my time and money to Joe Shekarchi. He has donated to my campaign as well. However, he and Joe Solomon and Scott Avedisian are all political insiders. Proudly, I am not. I don't believe Warwick should "tax and spend". Total tax revenue will INCREASE if we INCREASE the number of taxpayers. That's why I have a plan to "Cut Taxes - Cut Spending". My plan offers "Tax Rebate Checks" to anyone moving into Warwick and buys a home or a business. That will attract new taxpayers. Having a "Two Year Moratorium" (another part of the Corrente plan) on building permits will also increase tax revenue "forever" and only cost the City a small up-front loss. I'm anxious to hear what Joe Solomon has to say about his plan on taxes since he voted for every tax increase for 17 years in a row and only changed his vote AFTER my 700 day $40,000 campaign.
You're right Scal.
Very telling...
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, May 11, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
You know, Scal, I don't think I've ever seen someone so intent on spinning a loss as the make-believe mayor.
- He keeps trying to make his last campaign relevant. Why? Because he lost.
- He says he's not a "political insider." And why isn't he? Because he lost.
- He claims that his campaign was responsible for cutting taxes and spending. Why? Because he lost.
- He lies about the way the budget was passed. Why? Because he lost.
- He lies about having support of "80,000 taxpayers. Why? Because he lost.
- He lies about changes in Warwick's population and business sector. Why? Because he lost.
See, underneath all of his bluster and repeated false claims, the make-believe mayor knows that he lost -- he's just in complete denial about it, and is trying desperately to distract attention from it.
But in reality, all he's doing it continuing to expose himself as delusional by repeating such claims as "[Solomon] voted for every tax increase for 17 years in a row and only changed his vote AFTER my 700 day $40,000 campaign."
The council voted 9-0 to approve the FY18 budget that increased spending by $6.5 million, kept the tax rate the same [which is not a cut], counted on higher tax revenue through an unrealistic 99-percent collection rate, and left a $4.2 million shortfall that the FY19 budget will have to address, most likely through higher taxes. The council also proposed 29 amendments to reduce the budget -- Mayor Avedisian did not propose "29 new taxes."
So, Council President Solomon did not "change his vote" on the budget -- he voted in favor of the council's amendments and approved the budget.
No matter how often he tries to deny it, the make-believe mayor has been proven to be a liar, and he will be proven a liar again. I eagerly await a public debate where the make-believe mayor will attempt to repeat his false claims, only for Council President Solomon to destroy every one of them.
Friday, May 11, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear CrickeeRaven,
You say "money-wasting and ultimately futile campaign." Then you repeatedly say that I lost.
You're wrong!
I didn't win the election but my 700 day $40,000 campaign rallied the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab. They delivered my "Cut Taxes - Cut Spending" message LOUDLY to the City Council and Avedisian got DENIED 29 new taxes.
I don't call saving all that money for all those taxpayers a loss. I call it a HUGE WIN, but you can call it anything you want. After all, you call yourself by the fake name of "CrickeeRaven". How bad of a real name could you have that you would want to cover it up with "CrickeeRaven"? How are you somehow connected to a "cricket"? Or a "raven"? Never mind. I don't think the readers want to know.
Happy Spring CrickeeRaven.
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, May 11, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
The make-believe mayor again proves his complete inability to restrain himself from making more delusional and false statements:
"[Y]ou repeatedly say that I lost. You're wrong! I didn't win the election..."
Didn't win = lost.
"Avedisian got DENIED 29 new taxes..."
False. The city council proposed and passed 29 resolutions that reduced the budget. None of these originated with the mayor, and the budget resulted in a $4.2 million shortfall going into FY19.
"I don't call saving all that money for all those taxpayers a loss."
False. The council cut a total of $750,000 in a budget that raised spending by $6.5 million overall. More spending does not equal "saving," nor is it a "huge win" that the FY19 budget will have to make up the $4.2 million operating deficit that the make-believe mayor claims his losing campaign inspired the council to pass.
Friday, May 11, 2018 Report this