EDITORIAL

CJ Donovan

Posted 12/18/14

CJ Donovan has a youthful look that belies the 14 years he has served on the Warwick City Council.

The son of former councilman and mayor Charles Donovan and the grandson of George Donovan, who …

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EDITORIAL

CJ Donovan

Posted

CJ Donovan has a youthful look that belies the 14 years he has served on the Warwick City Council.

The son of former councilman and mayor Charles Donovan and the grandson of George Donovan, who served on the council and then as city purchasing agent for many years, it’s understandable CJ would be attracted to politics and public service. He grew up with it. It was a part of life.

But being a member of the City Council takes work, and no matter how much it may be of a part of growing up, it is not an innate skill. The publicly viewed aspect of the job – submitting legislation and debating issues on the council floor – is a small part of it. The bigger part of the job is fielding calls from constituents, following up on requests and complaints and being an advocate for the ward and the city.

CJ has done that and then some.

He has been active in the community, serving as a member of the board of the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon and working with the Apponaug Area Improvement Association, the Knights of Columbus and Save the Bay.

We found the five “lessons” he lists in a letter in today’s paper as especially revealing and in the tradition of the Donovans. CJ cites involvement, perseverance, volunteerism, civility and communication as “important ingredients to a successful community.” Indeed, making a community successful demands commitment.

CJ made that commitment, devoting untold hours to the “big” issues such as airport expansion and the Apponaug Circulator affecting the ward. There were many more from developments impacting the ward, such as the most current proposal to build a boutique hotel in Apponaug, to the seemingly endless battle with the state to complete the Greenwood Bridge project. Remember that?

CJ’s first bid for public office came at the age of 28, 16 years ago. He lost that one, but two years later won the seat he has held ever since. There have been some tight races along the way, but he held on. This September, political newcomer Kathleen Usler, whose work with the Greenwood School is widely recognized, beat him in the Democratic primary. With characteristic Donovan grace, CJ introduced Usler to the job and, last Monday, she sat alongside him for his final council meeting.

We echo the words of Mayor Scott Avedisian and his council colleague, Joseph Gallucci, in thanking CJ for his service. His friendly, easygoing demeanor, kindness and genuine desire to improve the city, to use the mayor’s words, have been his trademarks. They are attributes we can always use more of in public service.

Godspeed, and thank you, CJ.

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  • Thecaptain

    14 years, not one resolution authored, pulled his only legislation for a shellfish dock on Edgewater when 1 person balked. Seeya!!

    Tuesday, December 30, 2014 Report this