By JOHN HOWELL -- This election year promises to be different from the nine election years that have preceded it. For the first time in 18 years, Scott Avedisian isn't on the ballot for mayor.
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This election year promises to be different from the nine election years that have preceded it.
For the first time in 18 years, Scott Avedisian isn’t on the ballot for mayor. As of the 4 p.m. declaration deadline Wednesday, four candidates are running for the post. Setting the stage for a primary in September are Democrats Joseph Solomon, who will serve out Avedisian’s uncompleted term; Richard Corrente, who was the Democratic candidate in 2014 and 2016 and newcomer to the political scene Gerald Carbone.
Running as a Republican is Sue Stenhouse, who served as the Ward 1 councilwoman, leaving the post to run for Secretary of State.
But the contests aren’t limited to the top of the local ticket, with Democrat primaries shaping up in Ward 4, Ward 8, Senate District 29 and Senate District 31. A Republican primary appears to be in the making in Representative District 21, held by incumbent Camille Vella-Wilkinson, where Michael Underwood and Ronald Loparto have filed.
Despite what appears to be a flurry of interest, much of it in the days before the declaration deadline, a number of incumbents will go uncontested. Assured reelection are Ward 3 Councilman Timothy Howe, Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur, Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis, Ward 7 Councilman Steve McAllister, Ward 9 Councilman Steve Merolla, Dist. 22 Representative Joseph Solomon and Dist. 23 Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi.
With Avedisian having left office and not on the ballot, the appraisal by some Democrats was that the Republican Party had lost its “glue” and would be scratching for candidates.
Looking at the number of Republicans on the ballot and Stenhouse running for mayor, party chairman Richard Cascella said, “that says to me that we’re still alive and kicking.” He said Stenhouse is an “excellent candidate.”
Newcomer to the elective process, although no stranger to elections and government as he worked as a Providence Journal reporter for 25 years, Carbone isn’t wasting time on his bid for mayor. He plans to hold an event this Sunday at his Warwick Neck home.
But why even run?
“It just seemed like the first time in a long time to make a real meaningful change…it’s time for a fresh outlook,” he said.
As often the case every two years as the declaration deadline approaches, the board of canvassers was a hub of activity as people watched to see if there were any last minute candidates. House Majority Leader Shekarchi was in the thick of it in a corner seat hunched over his cell phone. Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci, who is not seeking reelection after having served 18 years in elective office, was there to take in the excitement. City GOP Chairman Cascella lingered in the hallway but his Democratic counterpart, Rob Farrell wasn’t to be seen. He had put in an earlier appearance.
So as not to leave him out Dottie McCarthy, of the board of canvassers, sliced the cake she had baked for the occasion. The cake was festooned with flags. Farrell got a piece.
Also, on the watch were citizen activists Rob Cote and Stacia Huyler. Neither declared for office, although Cote had taken out papers, which he didn’t wind up filing.
Also on the lookout was Darlene Netcoh, president of the Warwick Teachers’ Union. As it appears there will be a primary in School Committee District 3 where incumbent Beth Furtado is not seeking reelection. She is a candidate for Ward 8 Council.
A District 3 primary would decide which two of the three declared candidates, Nathaniel Cornell, Paul Bowe and Corey Smith would appear on the November ballot.
Those declaring are: Mayor
Joseph Solomon, D
Richard Corrente, D
Gerald Carbon, D
Vincent Ferla, D
Sue Stenhouse, R
Ward 1
Richard Corley, D
Patrick Maloney, I
Ward 2
Jeremy Rix, D
Ward 3
Timothy Howe, D
Ward 4
Michael Penta, I
Ernest Flagg, D
James McElroy, D
Ward 5
Ed Ladouceur, D
Ward 6
Donna Travis, D
Ward 7
Steve McAllister, D
Ward 8
Bethany Furtado, D
Anthony Sinapi, D
Ward 9
Steve Merolla, D
Rep. Dist. 19
Joseph McNamara, D
Ruth M. Page, R
Rep. Dist. 20
David Bennett, D
Dan Elliott, I
Rep. Dist 21
Camille Vella-Wilkinson, D
Michael Underwood, R
Ronald Loparto, R
Rep. Dist. 22
Joseph Solomon Jr., D
Rep. Dist. 23
K. Joseph Shekarchi, D
Rep. Dist. 24
Julie Caiozzo, R
Evan Shanley, D
Senate Dist. 29
Michael McCaffery, D
Jennifer T. Rourke
Senate Dist. 30
Jeanine Calkin, D
Mark McKenney, D
Senate Dist. 31
Erin Lynch Prata, D
Jennifer R. Moffat, R
School Committee Dist. 1
Richard Cascella
Kyle Adams
Tanios Bouramia
School Committee Dist. 2
Judy Cobden
Mary T. Medeiros
School Committee Dist. 3
Nathan Cornell
Paul M. Bowe
Corey M. Smith
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
ronloparto
It's great to see so many terriffic candidates "Putting Themselves Out There" to serve our Public.
I wish all of them Best of Luck midterm Election 2018!
Thursday, June 28, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear ronloparto.
Thank you.
You're right. The people listed above are about to invest hundreds of hours of their time away from their families because they want to make a change for the better. Anyone can be a critic. You don't even need to identify yourself. Just look at some of mine, but it takes more fortitude to "put your money where your mouth is".
Thanks again for recognizing that.
Happy Summer ron.
Happy Summer everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Flo5582
Where’s Mr.Hall on this list? He’s arrogant enough to think he could run for an elected position for yet a THIRD time.....
Monday, July 2, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
ronloparto, don't be fooled by the make-believe mayor's self-serving statements.
He says candidates "want to make a change for the better," yet all he has done in four years is use fake statistics for false claims about the city while failing to pay the taxes and sewer/water fees on his residence, which he lost through tax sale.
He also complains about "critics" on this website who have provided factual, verifiable information disproving many of his statements -- and all he does in response is complain that they use screen names and claim "fortitude" for himself because he has already wasted $40,000 in a losing campaign in 2016.
Honest, taxpaying voters will make a change for the better by overwhelmingly rejecting the make-believe mayor again this year.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Report this
warwickmom
Best of luck to Judy Cobden, Kyle Adams and Corey Smith, the 3 best candidates for school committee. Terri Medeiros needs to go!
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Report this