Travis appears to have votes for council presidency

Posted 1/3/13

At the moment, it seems Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis has the votes to be City Council President. But nothing can be certain until a vote is taken at the Jan. 8 inaugural meeting at City Hall, …

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Travis appears to have votes for council presidency

Posted

At the moment, it seems Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis has the votes to be City Council President. But nothing can be certain until a vote is taken at the Jan. 8 inaugural meeting at City Hall, which will begin at 7 p.m.

“I’m definitely going for it,” Travis said yesterday morning during a brief phone interview. “It looks like I have the votes, I just don’t want to get into details about who.”

With the exception of a handful of council members, a few continue to be tight-lipped about who they plan to support. While Ward 7 Councilman Charles “C.J.” Donovan briefly thought about seeking the position, he said yesterday that Travis now has his vote.

“I put my name out there; I just didn’t have the votes and Donna did,” Donovan said. “She had the support from the beginning. I just want to support Donna and move forward with council business.”

Donovan said even if other council members throw their hats in the ring, he’s committed to Travis. Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci said Travis also has his vote.

“If Donna’s a candidate, I’m voting for Donna,” Gallucci said yesterday morning. “No one else has asked me for their support, so I don’t know who the candidates are.”

Ward 2 Councilman-elect Tom Chadronet said he’s in support of Travis, too. He predicts she will be victorious.

“I think Donna Travis is going to be Council President,” he said. “She’s got the votes. We’re tied 4 to 4 right now, with [Ward 1 Steven] Colantuono being the deciding vote.”

Colantuono said he is yet to hear anything about it, other than the fact that Travis is interested in the position.

“If she’s interested, I would support her 100 percent,” he said Friday. “I think she will do a fine job if she’s the majority choice.”

The rest of the votes, Chadronet said, are for Ward 9 Councilman Steven Merolla. But Merolla said he hasn’t actively pursued the position, however, people have called him and asked him to run.

“My name has been mentioned in the past,” said Merolla. “It’s flattering, and I’ll leave it at that. I’m not picking up the phone and calling people, but if something drastic happened and I needed to be council president, then I definitely would.”

Gallucci said Travis has his vote due to experience with the council (she’s served as Ward 6 councilwoman for 18 years) and her dedication to the people she represents and serves. He also praised her leadership qualities, the fact that she attends all necessary committee meetings, as well as her ongoing commitment to the city.

“She’s hardworking and has the best at heart for the city,” Gallucci said. “Someone like her is able to become a good council president. She’s a great person and has made a great public person of herself. I’m proud of her. She wants to do it. It’s not as if someone is pulling her in or drafting her for the position, as certain people indicated.”

Gallucci is referring to resident Rob Cote, the leader of the Car Tax Revolt, as Cote expressed concern for Travis’ election as council president. He made his feelings known at the Dec. 17 council meeting, noting that he doesn’t think she is qualified for the position.

In an interview Sunday evening, he reiterated his feelings, saying that she “knows nothing about finance.”

“She is completely unqualified, considering her education, professional experience, [and] mathematical background,” said Cote. “She is the least qualified, not only on the council, probably in the city, to manage a city’s budget of $275 million, not to mention the fact of the complete cronyism where it’s ‘pay to play.’”

He said he thinks she is simply going to be Mayor Scott Avedisian’s puppet. He claims the mayor gave Travis’ daughter a city job, as well as helped Travis secure a full-time position at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

“The mayor got her a job with the state, so it’s payback time,” said Cote. “He can manipulate her to do anything they want.”

In an email, Avedisian said he had “absolutely nothing” to do with Travis getting a state job.

“That comment is just false,” wrote Avedisian. “Her daughter is a well respected employee at the Warwick Public Library who doesn’t need any help getting or doing her job.”

Cote also said that the Warwick Car Tax Revolt intends to go on an active campaign to remove anyone from office who votes for Travis. He doesn’t understand why any of the council members would vote for her.

“Evidently, the rest of the council members forgot that she introduced a piece of legislation to ban signs, which is a direct assault on the First Amendment,” he said. “The ACLU had to come in.”

Merolla said he spoke to Cote about a newspaper ad Cote took out in the Warwick Beacon, which asks taxpayers to contact their respective council members to encourage them to vote for Merolla for council president. In an interview with the Beacon, Merolla said he doesn’t think it does anybody any good to put ads in the paper about this type of issue.

“I don’t think that personal attacks on people are the way to go,” Merolla said. “She’s an elected official. She was elected by the people, and she has that right to be a council president. I’m happy to have support from people in the community, but I don’t believe that destroying peoples’ characters will be a benefit to anyone.”

Gallucci shares his sentiments.

“It’s personally insulting,” Gallucci said.

But Travis said she’s not concerned with Cote’s point of view. Instead, she’s focused on obtaining the position.

“I just want to move forward and move in a positive manner,” Travis said. “Hopefully, we’ll work closely with the administration, and everybody will work together. I’m hoping to bring trust, leadership and experience. The biggest thing is my ability to communicate with everybody to make this city a better place and make people want to stay here.”

Avedisian said, “I am prepared for whatever decision is made by the City Council … and look forward to working with all nine members of the council over the next two years.”

Comments

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  • FedUp1

    We just get rid of Scottie's number 1 lapdog aka empty suit Bruce Place and we replace him with Donna Travis. Things only get worse for the taxpayers.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    You must be afraid to run Fedup..

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • FedUp1

    Steve D.....what was on sale at Dave's today ??????

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Chicken and steak tips. Milk was not on sale FYI.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • FedUp1

    Steve D...it figures the fire dept has practically nothing to do every day.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Yea we sit around all day long. Someone else must handle the 16000 calls they do.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    What do you do for work thats so impressive Fedup?

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • erzmys

    Let's see. Congress is made up of lawyers and it's all screwed up.

    The Rhode Island general assembly is made up by lawyers and it's all screwed up.

    I'd rather have an elected official with good old fashioned common sense rather than another self serving attorney.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • dormich

    I feel that whoever is voted in for council president, should be someone who is qualified to hold this position. That person should have a knowledge of finance and education. This person will be dealing with and making the final decision on taxpayer money. Would you let someone handle your pension or 401k who wasn't a specialist in that field? So why would you let an uneducated women handle your tax dollars! Was it also said that she doesn't pay her own bills, owes over due property taxes and car taxes.This is not good for the residents of Warwick. Wake-up people. What will it take for you to say enough is enough?

    Thursday, January 3, 2013 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Stevie D. Let Travis make the decisions on your pension and your personal portfolio, see how you do.

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Can't do any worse than many in the state that stole all the money that was supposed to be put into the system.

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • FedUp1

    Steve D.....nobody stole anything.....corrupt politicans like Scottie gave away the store without considering the liabilities....when we all leave the city we will all be laughing when there is no money for pensions....Central Falls anyone.

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    What do you call when they automatically take money from my pay check that was supposed to go directly into a pension fund and not one dollar THAT WAS STOLEN FOR YEARS ever sees that fund?

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Pork chops are on sale, you want me to pick some up for you?

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Yeah, Stevi boy, and you keep voting in the same people with the promise of more giveaways. You deserve what you got.

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    It also sucks when people steal Huh Stevieboy. Now you know how taxpayers feel when we see the ongoing theft in the city, be it tools, dirt, wasted gas, or unnecessary overtime.

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    You don't really wantbtomtalk about GAS do ya rob?

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    How many employees does the city employ? Thousands... Some bad apples (like there are in every workplace) make us all look bad. I've never been in the bam of a cop car, HAVE YOU ROB?

    Friday, January 4, 2013 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Yes Steve Douche, I do want to talk about gas. So why dont you put your story forward and then i'll put forth the facts and the documents. ASswipe.

    Saturday, January 5, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Classy Rob, very Classy....

    Saturday, January 5, 2013 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Perfect example Steve. You cannot attest to the facts, and you know that if you continue to put forth the non factual rehtoric on a public web site, that you will incur civil liability. So put forth your story.

    Saturday, January 5, 2013 Report this

  • FedUp1

    I think after reviewing Ms. Travis' qualifications, that she voluntarily withdraws her name for council president. Warwick is a $270 million enterprise that needs someone to look out for the taxpayers.

    Avedisian has run the ship into the ground. Bruce Place was to be the white knight but morphed into an empty suit. Scottie's cheerleader.

    How can Ms. Travis vote impartially on pay raises etc. when both her daughter and husband work for the city?

    Sorry Donna....you are not what Warwick needs.

    Sunday, January 6, 2013 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Rob, what "non factual rhetoric" have I put forth. Once again you go on the defensive and start really classin up the joint. Ever stop and wonder why you drive people away!!!!

    Sunday, January 6, 2013 Report this

  • thecaptainisabuffoon

    The "Captain" (dubious one at that) reminds me of Francesco Shettino . . . . .no manners, no job, no life and certainly no class . .never mind no skills

    Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    I dont have a dog in this fight, but I believe someone wanted the use the "gasoline story" against Rob Cote, when in fact, it would boomerang and prove Cote's case about the political situation at hand. I would like to see all that truth come out. But I dont see "Steve D" - after a month - backing his own words up on that topic. And these are important public matters which should be under the light of day. I suggest we keep it civil and debate the issues. I dont care to read insults or who doesn't like who. Let the facts stand on their own. So Steve and Rob, what about that gas story?

    Friday, February 1, 2013 Report this