Steve McAllister plans to return consistency to the Warwick Democratic City Committee meetings, along with greater communication, community projects and some fun times.

The retired Ward 7 Councilman and City Council president, who at this time last year was seen as a likely candidate to challenge incumbent Mayor Frank Picozzi, was recently unanimously elected chair of the Democratic City Committee. Soon after he organized the first social event of year at the Jefferson Speakeasy, attended by about 40 members along with House Speaker J. Joseph Shekarchi, Sen. Mark McKenney and almost every council member.

McAllister has reserved the meeting room in the Sawtooth Building in Apponaug at 6:30 pm on the last Wednesday of the month. The committee consists of nine members from each ward.

Speaking of one of the impacts following the pandemic, McAllister observed, “A lot of groups found it good to get back to meeting again.” To get members to attend, McAllister plans to invite speakers to meetings and to plan social events and community projects. He’s looking for the committee to do an Earth Day cleanup in April and for a steak fry. To keep members informed, he’s publishing a newsletter.

“I’m looking to get some energy around it,” he said. He said activities would not be “big lifts” but rather “real simple things.”

McAllister confessed he expected to take a break from politics; however, he aims to be involved in the community and this seemed like a good way of doing that.

“My goal as chairman of the party is to get our committee more involved in the community and help out our neighbors,” he wrote in an email.

As a part of the social gathering at the Jefferson Speakeasy, the committee collected food items that went to Westbay Community Action.