Citywide seats may prove pivotal in contest for council control

By Daniel Kittredge
Posted 10/26/16

As the Nov. 8 election rapidly approaches, Cranstonians and others across the state have turned their attention to the mayoral race between Republican incumbent Allan Fung and Democratic challenger Michael Sepe. Also hotly contested -

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Citywide seats may prove pivotal in contest for council control

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As the Nov. 8 election rapidly approaches, Cranstonians and others across the state have turned their attention to the mayoral race between Republican incumbent Allan Fung and Democratic challenger Michael Sepe.

Also hotly contested – and highly consequential – is the campaign for control of the City Council, which Democrats currently hold by a 5-4 margin.

Who holds the majority for the coming term may well be decided based on the makeup of the three citywide seats – particularly with Richard Santamaria, the council’s Democratic vice president, leaving one of those posts due to term limits.

On the Democratic side, Council President John Lanni is leading the ticket, joined by Kate Aubin and Lammis Vargas. On the Republican side, Councilman Michael Farina is running alongside Ken Hopkins and Louis Petrucci Jr.

Below are profiles of the six hopefuls, presented in alphabetical order and based on recent interviews with the Herald.

Kate Aubin

Kate Aubin, a first-time candidate running as a Democrat for a citywide seat on the council, said she hopes to bring a new outlook to City Hall and a renewed focus on community engagement.

“I think we need a younger perspective,” she said. “It’s a whole new world. I’m learning a lot about politics … It’s just amazing to see people come together.”

A former Providence high school teacher, Aubin has described herself as an “advocate for environmental and social justice and an activist for progressive causes.”

“I’ve always been involved in my community,” she said.

Aubin said her decision to run stemmed from discussions with Ward 1 Councilman Steven Stycos. She pointed to the current lack of women or minorities on the council – calling that a “problem” – and said she wants to see increased diversity.

Aubin said working to expand park space in the city, and “protection of the green space we do have,” will be among her top priorities if elected. Addressing the condition of sidewalks is another top concern.

She also applauded the recent revitalization of the city’s Arts Commission, and said she wants to pursue other means of bringing Cranston citizens together.

“People who have a connection with their community are healthier and happier people,” she said.

Aubin also hopes to foster increased outreach to, and engagement among, the city’s young people.

“I think youth have a lot of good ideas, and they don’t get heard very often,” she said, raising the possibility of working with youth ambassadors from the city’s high schools. “They need to feel invested in their community.”

Aubin wants to see the council and city work more closely with small businesses, and aims to promote a streamlined regulatory process with a greater emphasis on connecting entrepreneurs with needed information and resources. She pointed specifically to the city’s website as a tool that requires updating and greater utilization.

“I think there’s a missed opportunity there,” she said.

Aubin said she believes the city’s current tax incentive programs have “gotten out of control.” In terms of education, she said municipal leaders “need to be making sure teachers and administrators are getting what they need, and the schools are served.”

Aubin said she has brought another progressive voice to the Democratic ticket, one that has been welcomed by mayoral candidate Michael Sepe and others with roots in the city’s party establishment.

“We challenge each other. We don’t agree on everything,” she said. “Progressive ideas are also needed. They’re valuable.”

Aubin was sharply critical of local Republicans, including Mayor Allan Fung, for standing with or not repudiating the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

Aubin and her husband have resided in Edgewood for four years. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability and social innovation at Goddard College in Vermont. She is a University of Rhode Island Master Gardener, and serves as project co-leader at the House of Hope garden at a homeless shelter for women in Warwick.

Michael Farina

Seeking his third term as a citywide councilman – and making his first bid as a Republican – Michael Farina frames his candidacy as one focused on the city’s future.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done to move Cranston forward in a positive direction,” he said.

Farina said the current term has seen progress on multiple areas that were “really high on my to-do list,” including helping Cranston Public Schools expand all-day kindergarten and restore sports and music programming that had previously been cut. He also cited the acquisition of new equipment for the police and fire departments, and the solar panel project at Cranston High School West.

“I was proud to get those done,” he said. “We did a lot of really good, positive things … These are the things that make me proud to be an elected official.”

In the next term, Farina said he intends to focus on infrastructure improvements, from school facilities to ailing roadways.

“We missed a little bit of the infrastructure work we had to do” in recent years due to financial constraints following the recession, he said. “Now it’s about infrastructure improvements.”

Farina has been the top citywide vote-getter in the last two local elections, and his switch from Democrat to Republican earlier this year had significant implications. In the short-term, the split on the council narrowed to a 5-4 advantage for Democrats. The current term has also seen the council become increasingly polarized along party lines.

“The partisan aspect of it doesn’t come from me,” Farina said. “I believe in doing what is right for the city.”

He pointed to the recent debate over panhandling as representative of the council’s Democrats injecting politics into various issues. A new measure introduced by Mayor Allan Fung initially had multiple Democratic co-sponsors, but they withdrew support after mayoral candidate Michael Sepe spoke out against the measure during a public forum earlier this month.

“[Panhandling] is the number one thing that people have told me [is a concern] as I’ve been campaigning over the last three months,” Farina said. “The Democrats, they were all for it before the forum … Then all of a sudden, it became a partisan stance.”

Farina rejected Democratic council members’ assertion that the withdrawal of support for the measure was tied to concerns over its ability to withstand legal scrutiny. He said he did “due diligence” before recent Ordinance Committee consideration of the proposal, and was told by legal advisors it would hold up to court challenge – which the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island indicated would be forthcoming were the measure to pass.

“It’s our job as elected officials to do what the constituents want us to do … That’s where I have an issue with their partisan tactics,” he said, later adding: “I don’t play games. That’s one of the reasons I left [the Democrats].”

Farina – who describes himself as a “moderate person” – said the reception to his party switch from constituents has been positive.

“Most everyone tells me they vote person, not party,” he said. “I’m a Rhode Islander. I’m here to make sure the people who elect me, and the people who don’t, that their needs are met.”

He has received criticism recently for a Facebook and Twitter message from earlier this year, in which he wrote: “You know a girl has gained weight when you no longer see pictures of her in her [social media] feeds.” Democratic mayoral hopeful Michael Sepe issued a press release accusing Farina of sexism and calling on local Republicans, including Fung, to pull their support for his candidacy.

Farina said the post was meant as a joke between he and his wife, but acknowledged it was an “insensitive comment” and a lapse in judgment.

“I said something. I owned it. It was a private conversation between my wife and I … Anybody who knows me knows where I stand,” he said.

Farina has made no secret of his political aspirations. He sought the council presidency following the 2014 election, and has said he one day intends to seek the office of mayor.

“The goal for Mike Farina is to continue to move the city forward … I am for Cranston’s future,” he said. “I will always fight for the future of this city, its youth, and its families.”

Farina works as a director in financial planning and business strategy for a Fortune 100 company and sits on the CODAC Behavioral Healthcare Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Cranston High School West. He and his wife have two children.

Ken Hopkins

Republican citywide council hopeful Ken Hopkins is making his first bid for public office, but he has long been a visible presence in the community.

After 36 years as an educator – including more than a decade as a Cranston High School East social studies teacher – Hopkins retired last year, and took roughly six months off while considering his next pursuit.

“I needed something to sink my teeth into,” he said.

Hopkins had mulled a run for office before, but a car accident – which required significant rehabilitation – delayed those aspirations. He said it also “gave me kind of a different perspective on things.”

Hopkins said he envisions himself “more as a statesman than a politician. He touts his family’s record of public service, and of his campaign, he said: “I want to make sure that the future is better for my children and my grandchildren.”

If elected, Hopkins said public safety will be a key area of focus for him. He pointed to a “blue light” campaign he has worked on with Durfee’s Hardware in recent months, providing a means for members of the community to “show the police that you have their back.”

The issue of panhandling on city roads and the presence of sex offenders at Harrington Hall are also areas of concern for Hopkins. He spoke highly of Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist for doing “an excellent job in creating a positive atmosphere” at the police department, which he believes is now on the right path following the “Ticketgate” episode and subsequent controversies.

“I think we’ve fixed that problem,” he said.

Hopkins also praised Mayor Allan Fung – “I believe in Mayor Fung … I think I can help on the council” – and Superintendent of Schools Jeannine Nota-Masse for her “very strong” leadership.

A significant part of Hopkins’ focus on the future centers on a desire to increase the availability of technology in classrooms.

“If I had a rallying cry, it would be ‘no more books,’” he said. “We should be spending money on electronic devices … I think that’s the future, but it has to start now.”

Hopkins also said he aims to address the condition of the City Hall parking lot, and suggested the possibility of a parking garage with an athletic complex on top. He pointed to his role in helping create Cranston High School East’s gymnasium,

In terms of economic development, Hopkins said he hopes to help continue the revitalization of Rolfe Square.

“I can picture it being like Main Street in East Greenwich,” he said.

Hopkins has resided in Garden City for 35 years. He and his wife have three children and three grandchildren. He also spent several year’s as athletic director for Cranston’s schools, and is a decorated coach, having the most wins in the history of the Community College of Rhode Island’s baseball team.

John Lanni

Seeking what would be his eighth term, Democratic Council President John Lanni said he aims to continue his focus on the city’s finances and providing relief for taxpayers.

“I think we have an awful lot to accomplish that we haven’t accomplished yet,” he said.

First elected as the Ward 5 councilman in 2000, Lanni was elected to the citywide post in 2006 and became the council’s president in 2008. After a two-year absence due to term limits, he was elected back to the body in 2012, and has served as president for the two terms since.

Lanni said in the coming term, he wants to explore ways to easy the property tax burden on city residents. While the tax rate itself has remained stable in recent years, he said rising home values have led to higher bills for many in Cranston.

“We’ve never lowered the tax rate … The average taxpayer is paying more than they did three years ago,” he said. “Other cities have done it.”

Lanni has also been a leading critic of Mayor Allan Fung following last year’s Rhode Island State Police assessment report of the Cranston Police Department. He said the document “speaks volumes about mismanagement” on the mayor’s part, which has led to a number of lawsuits and mounting legal bills.

“Could we have spent that more wisely? Of course we could have,” he said, also reiterating his criticism of the mayor’s decision to appeal in a legal dispute over the city’s 2012 redistricting plan.

Lanni described a recent panhandling ordinance introduced by the mayor as a “campaign gimmick.” While the council president initially lent his support to the measure as a co-sponsor, he said it became clear the administration had not done sufficient due diligence to ensure the proposal would be found constitutional.

Lanni said he is working with legal advisors to explore options on the panhandling issue. He said he would be inclined to support the establishment of a licensing mechanism for those engaged in panhandling, calling it “probably a good idea.”

While praising the success of Chapel View and Garden City, Lanni said the city must look beyond those developments when it comes to economic growth.

“I think we need big businesses,” he said. The 10-year tax incentive program, he said, has “done wonders” since its creation.

Lanni said the city’s Democrats do not “march lockstep together,” and he pointed to Kate Aubin and Lammis Vargas as bringing a new, more progressive voice to the party’s slate.

“I think we’ve got an excellent ticket … different perspectives in how we approach things,” he said.

He also said he believes it is important for Democrats to hold the council.

“A Republican council with a Republican mayor could be a disaster,” he said.

Lanni also spoke in strong support of Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Sepe, who he has known since childhood. He called Sepe an “honest guy.”

“I’m hoping he wins. I think he’d be good for the city,” Lanni said.

A lifelong Cranston resident, Lanni is retired after a career as an auditor with the Peter Pan/Bonanza bus line. He and his wife have one son.

Louis Petrucci Jr.

For Louis Petrucci Jr., seeking a citywide council seat on the Republican ticket is about focusing on doing the people’s business and supporting the community’s future.

“I’m not looking for world peace. I’m looking to pick away and make a bit of a difference,” he said. “This opportunity presented itself … I’ve got something to offer.”

Petrucci is a first-time office-seeker, but he has been involved in advocacy at the State House over the years through the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors.

“I learned how the system worked,” he said. “I think I’m well respected at the State House … your word, you’ve got to protect that.”

Petrucci is critical of many aspects of the system. Too often, he said, bills are approved or rejected according to partisan considerations – “not based on their merit, but based on who likes it.” He also sees the state’s leadership continuing to “pick at the people” through user fees and other expenses.

Locally, Petrucci said he believes the council too often gets bogged down in discussions that should take place outside the formal proceedings.

“I just see all the bickering going on,” he said. If elected, he hopes to help “keep it on track.”

We’re here on behalf of the people,” he said.

An electrician by trade, Petrucci works on a part-time basis as an inspector for South Kingstown and runs his own business, L & M Electric LLC.

He said more young people are needed in the trades, and he hopes to be an advocate for opening that career pathway for more young people.

“I want to get more trades in our schools. That’s our future … I don’t think the educators see it,” he said. “We’ve got to do more for the kids.”

Of his general viewpoint and approach, Petrucci said: “I’m all for government helping people, but it’s got to help people that want to be helped. That’s how I was brought up. You work for it.”

Petrucci said his status as a first-time candidate seems to have an appeal to many voters. He said has considered at some point making a bid for state representative.

“If I believe in it, I’m going to do it,” he said.

Petrucci and his wife have lived in Cranston for 26 years, and have two children and one grandchild.

Lammis Vargas

After mulling runs in the past, Democrat Lammis Vargas this year decided to finally make a bid for public office.

Soon after, she encountered an unexpected and far greater challenge. Just days after announcing her candidacy, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with APL leukemia.

That has not stopped her campaign, nor diminished her resolve. Based on consultations with her doctors and family, and confident that the cancer is beatable, she quickly vowed to continue her bid for a citywide council seat.

After spending much of July in the hospital for treatment, she returned home, and has since been out on the campaign trail.

“I’ve always been an optimistic person … I’m very hopeful,” she said. “I’m not going to let this stop me.”

A native Rhode Islander, Vargas serves as a Cranston Housing Authority commissioner, and works as director of unclaimed property in the office of General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. She also serves as a board member for Progreso Latino, and has served on the boards of the U.S. Selective Service System, the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, and the RI Latino Civic Fund.

“I want to see how I can be a fresh, new voice in the city,” she said, and promote “new, innovative ideas.”

“I will fight for what is right … I can be a tough cookie,” she added. “I am no one’s puppet.”

Vargas said she has always encouraged others to be involved in civic life, and has in return had others urge her to seek elected office. In the past, her focus on professional and family life led her to hold off on such opportunities.

“I don’t like leaving something halfway done,” she said.

As a Latina, Vargas said she feels the council – which currently includes no women or minorities – is in need of new voices and “balance,” particularly in a community that has seen significant demographic changes.

“I can be part of the boys’ club, too,” she said. “I’d like to make a difference and diversify the council … [to] reflect the constituents we serve.”

Vargas described herself as a proponent of “fiscal responsibility” and a “fine-tooth” approach to the annual budget review process. She also wants to focus on “finding ways to continue to work together.”

“I think Cranston has so many resources to offer,” she said, envisioning the city as a “creative hub” where non-profits, restaurants, and other segments of the community help one another thrive.

A significant part of Vargas’ pitch has been focused on the city’s relationship with small business owners. She said she believes officials should be doing more to provide information, guidance, and assistance to local entrepreneurs.

“There’s still a lot of red tape within the city of Cranston,” she said. She wants municipal leaders to “re-evaluate the steps a business owner has to take” and create a true “one-stop shop” for those seeking to start businesses.

“We can’t keep saying we’re developing Garden City when it’s privatized,” she said regarding the city’s current economic development efforts.

Vargas also wants to see that kind of outreach extend to the city’s growing Hispanic community and others who find themselves disconnected from City Hall.

“There’s so many resources where they don’t know where to go,” she said.

Vargas said she would like to see a greater level of transparency in terms of how infrastructure priorities are establishing, and an increased effort to foster diversity on municipal departments, boards, and commissions.

“Let’s see what other cities are doing, what other states are doing, and really be focused,” she said.

Vargas said she and fellow first-time candidate Kate Aubin are “bringing a balance” to the Democratic ticket with their more progressive voices. She said party has a “great formula” heading into November.

“We have such balance on our end that the Republican side doesn’t have,” she said.

Vargas and her husband, a Warwick police office, have lived in Edgewood for five years. They have two children.

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