Senate candidates define agendas

Senate candidates define local, statewide agendas

Posted 10/30/14

DISTRICT 29

Michael McCaffrey

115 Twin Oak Dr.

Age: 50

Occupation: Attorney

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 1994. Chairman of the Senate Judiciary …

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Senate candidates define agendas

Senate candidates define local, statewide agendas

Posted

DISTRICT 29

Michael McCaffrey

115 Twin Oak Dr.

Age: 50

Occupation: Attorney

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 1994. Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee 1994-present; Warwick Assistant City Solicitor 1991-1992

Education: Graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, bachelor of science in accounting from Providence College; juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Continue to fight for new methods to decrease the costs of installation of sewers.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

The major issue is jobs, jobs, jobs. Secondly, affordable housing for citizens as well as a solution to homeless people. Locally, the establishment of a recreational area on the easterly side of the airport is not acceptable and a new area for these fields must be established.

Also, the destruction of the trees along the area near the recreational area proposed by the Airport Corporation has nearly destroyed the living conditions for the people living in the area of Lake Shore Drive. Steps should be taken to assist these homeowners.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud?

I am proud of all my legislation, but I am especially proud of being able to obtain legislative grants for many of Warwick’s non-profits. I am also happy to have played a role in providing increased dollars for the Warwick school system.

Addressing the economy, the reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 9 percent to 7 percent. This makes our top corporate tax rate lower than every state in New England and other competitive states such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and will play a major role in growing Rhode Island’s economy while increasing jobs in the state. 

The cost of heating oil for homes sky-rocketed as did the price of gasoline to get employees to work; thus, the increase of the minimum wage from $8 per hour to $9 will keep people working and make the quality of life for the employees more in line with inflation.

DISTRICT 30

William A. Walaska

140 Aldrich Ave.

Age: 69

Occupation: President and CEO of Wal, Inc.

Party Affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 1994

If you have been a candidate before, when and for what office: State Senate

Education: Graduate of LaSalle Academy, bachelor’s degree in economics from Providence College, master of administration from Providence College, advanced certifications in commercial banking and financial management from Williams College and Dartmouth College

Community Activities: Trudeau Memorial Center Board, Warwick Elks, the Knights of Columbus, Commission on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Greenwood Credit Union Board of Directors, Volunteers of Warwick Schools (VOWS), JONAH Advisory Board, Advisory Board of House of Hope, Oakland Beach Fire Co.

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

I pride myself on being responsive to my constituents, and look forward to continuing to deliver results for them, such as increasing state aid to Warwick schools to both ensure students have the resources they need and provide property tax relief. I will continue to work for enactment of legislation I submitted to more fairly assess vehicles in the trade-in value, rather than the retail vale, an initiative that began as a grassroots effort here in Warwick.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the main issues facing the state, and how would you deal with them?

My top priority continues to be strengthening the Rhode Island economy and getting Rhode Islanders back to work. I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, such as reducing the corporate tax rate, increasing the estate tax exemption, removing regulatory barriers, bringing flexibility to the fire code, supporting the strong growth at Quonset, and promoting green jobs through the renewable energy sector. Of course there is more to be done, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to deliver results that get Rhode Islanders back to work.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud of?

First and foremost, I am proud of the small accomplishments that make a big difference for the people in our community, such as getting a constituent the help he or she needs. As far as legislative initiatives, the renewable energy legislation I sponsored will make a big difference in development of clean energy, driving down costs and creating green jobs. The port legislation I sponsored invested in dredging at Davisville, enabling them to maintain their competitive advantage as the only port on the East Coast not subject to the federal Harbor Maintenance Tax. This is leading to good jobs and a thriving business park at Quonset.

Steven Archer

121 Darrow Dr.

Age: 56

Occupation: Certified registered nurse/anesthetist; former Chief Harbormaster for City of Warwick; served in Army National Guard

Party Affiliation: Independent

If you have been a candidate before, when and for what office(s): City Council Ward 7; State Senate District 30

Education: Graduate of Toll Gate High School, bachelor of science in nursing from Rhode Island College, master of science from Central Connecticut State University

Community Activities: RIANA, AANA

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

State road repair. State open space use at Rocky Point, Goddard State Park – why build new recreation facilities in a toxic fallout zone? Let’s look into state and federal help to utilize what we have. Rocky Point – 14 years? Let’s go!

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Health care reform, job creation, unemployment, entitlement handouts, taxes, fees. These issues have been around since I ran 20 years ago. There is too much red tape, roadblocks, filibuster. Deal with these issues by priority – one at a time if necessary. Further study and filibuster must be stopped. Accountability must be enforced.

DISTRICT 31

 

Erin P. Lynch 

28 Goodwin St. 

Age: 39 

Occupation: Lawyer 

Party affiliation: Democrat

If incumbent, when first elected: 2008

If you have been a candidate before, when and for what office(s): State Senate

Education: Toll Gate High School, bachelor of arts from Boston College, juris doctorate from Catholic University, Columbus School of law 

Community Activities: Campaign leadership to restore Victorian lady, Women’s Bar Association, Family Law Inn of Court

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

The primary area of concern facing my district is the economy. As such, I will continue to work to improve the economy, reduce the unemployment rate, help the small businesses that we have to grow and attract new small businesses through the creation of greater access to capital and the elimination of red tape.

Additionally, I will continue to introduce and support legislation that ensures a safe and effective educational environment for our children. I will also advocate on behalf of our veterans and our seniors so that they receive the services they deserve.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Jobs and the economy. I will continue to fight for more resources for job training to close the skills gap as well as coordinating the workforce and education so that our students receive the skills they need in today’s economy. I believe we need to continue to support a comprehensive approach to our economic problems whereby we continue to reduce undue and burdensome regulations on our local businesses, create a skilled workforce and help to provide the education needed.

If you are an incumbent, which achievements are you most proud?

Serving as chairwoman of the Small Business Task Force and creating the Office of Regulatory Reform, speedier permit approvals and creating statewide online permitting. I also worked hard to pass fire code reforms that would assist small businesses by making it less costly and more flexible as well as requiring uniform enforcement.

Also, sponsoring the Back to Work Rhode Island initiative to enable people to attend job training at companies looking to hire while collecting unemployment, and sponsoring legislation that raised the minimum wage from $7.75 per hour to $8 on Jan. 1, 2014 and will further increase it to $9 on Jan. 1, 2015. Additionally, working to increase the education aid through full funding of the formula. In this term, annual formula aid to Warwick schools was increased by $1.67 million.

Jim Roche 

21 Valleybrook Dr.

Age: 48

Occupation: Commercial Financing Specialist

Party Affiliation: Independent

Education: Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting

Community Activities: Past member of Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce 

From a local perspective, what do you feel you can accomplish for the constituents of your district?

Real and transparent representation of the residents of Senate 31. Avoid situations such as what occurred where the citizens of Rhode Island are now responsible for paying back a $125 million moral obligation bond that was used in large part to fund 38 Studios, a now-defunct start-up video game company.

From a larger perspective, what do you feel are the major issues facing the state and how would you deal with them?

Transparency in government and competent representation of the people of this state. We need to do a better job managing the state budget and a better job reducing our expenditures to make this state a better place for businesses to flourish. Right now, Rhode Island has the third highest unemployment rate and is ranked dead last as a place to do business. Between 2009 and 2013, Rhode Island’s total expenditures increased 10.59 percent, or $779 million, which was more than the rate of inflation (9.06 percent) during the same period. We can’t continue to tax and spend and expect the state’s economy to improve.

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