In a release issued this week, Rick Cascella, Recruiting Chair  of the Warwick Republican City Committee, called on engaged, civic-minded citizens concerned about the future of the city to attend a candidate recruitment meeting Thursday, May 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at RI GOP headquarters, 1800 Airport Rd. Suite 17-1.

“It is time for a new breed of leaders that listen to, and value, the input of our constituents, the taxpayer. We need a leadership that plans for the future, its successes and pitfalls. One that sets a well-thought-out plan in motion with a commitment to conservative fiscal management, investments in our children and seniors and a responsible, real-time, focus on improving and maintaining our decaying infrastructure,” Cascella said. He said the party is looking for leaders “who can fashion a plan to achieve these goals without gutting public services and relying on the taxpayer to ‘foot the bill’ for the bad management and rampant frivolous spending of the past.”

Warwick offers nearly an open field for Republicans as the party does not hold a single seat from mayor to the City Council or the House of Representatives. The one exception is Senate District 29, which is held by Anthony Deluca. DeLuca beat Democrat Jennifer Rourke.  But that’s not to imply there weren’t some hard fought local contests in 2022, most notably the campaign mounted by Marie Hopkins to take the Representative District 21 seat held by Camille Vella Wilkinson.  Vella Wilkinson prevailed by 16 votes.

All but two of the nine Democrats on the council went unchallenged two years ago. In Ward 1 incumbent William Foley beat independent Patrick Maloney. And in a three-way contest incumbent James McElroy fended off Republican Ryan Kelly and independent Michael Penta in Ward 4. 

This will be the first year candidates running for mayor will have the opportunity of winning a four-year term. The change from a two to a four year term was made by the City Council last fall. The council also considered extending the terms of council members, but eventually let them as they are. In addition to extending the term for mayor by two years, it limited the term to two consecutive 4-year terms.

To date incumbent Frank Picozzi is the only candidate to announce for mayor. He is running as an independent. City Council President Steve McAllister, a Democrat, has expressed his interest in the post but said he is holding off on an announcement until the city budget is finalized in early June. The declaration deadline is June 24-26. Candidates then have until July 12 to submit nomination papers to appear on the ballot.

Cascella said the party also welcomes citizens interested in helping candidate campaign and joining the Warwick Republican City Committee to the May 9 meeting. For additional information contact Cascella at rickcascella8170@gmail.com .