With the calendar having turned to 2024, campaign season has already begun in eastern Warwick for Peter Appollonio Jr.

A Democrat, Appollonio is currently mounting a campaign for Senate District 29, which is based primarily in Conimicut, Hoxsie and Norwood.

He will face a challenge from Jennifer Rourke, the 2022 Democratic candidate. The seat is currently held by Anthony DeLuca, a Republican, and is the only Senate or House district in the city held by a member of the GOP.

Asked what policies and legislation he would champion in the Senate, Appollonio said his biggest priority at the moment is Rhode Island’s economy, which he said is currently hurting.

Public safety is also a major part of Appollonio’s platform, and he said that is in favor of making sure that the project to build two new high schools in Warwick is funded.

“Without good public safety, police and fire, and infrastructure, good electrical services and things like that, if you don’t fund these things, they cascade into a poor economy, and lower property values” Appollonio said. “With that, there’s a lessening investment, you’re not going to get people to invest into the community, and that trickles down into small businesses.”

Born and raised in Warwick, Appollonio is a graduate of Warwick Veterans during its tenure as a high school, and graduated from Rhode Island College with a criminal justice degree.

He spent 24 years in the West Warwick Police Department, retiring in 2017. Throughout his time as a policeman, he rose to the rank of captain, and also spent time working as a school resource officer. Since retirement, he has been working as a substitute teacher in the Warwick school system.

That tenure, he said, left him with passions for public safety and education. His passion for education only grew, he said, while fighting for his daughter, Maria, to have an independent education plan (IEP).

“We wanted her to experience what everyone else experienced in school, and, you know, we had some fights with [the school department]," Appollonio said. "We know what it's like to fight for your right to have a good education."

Being able to focus more on politics with Maria now a student at Rhode Island College helped Appollonio decide now was the time to run for office.

“I have thirty years of service between being a police officer and a teacher, and you come across thousands of people that are the ones that are really impacted by the laws and the policies that come out of the State House,” Appollonio said. “And you know, in the capacity as a police officer or teacher, you provide them the best services you can, but you know, at the end of the conversations, you always walk away always wanting to give them more outside of your service responsibilities.”

Currently, his campaign consists of himself, his wife Yolanda, Maria, and a few family friends. Appollonio described it as a “grassroots, kitchen-table” campaign, though he noted that he would need to raise more funds for it.

Appollonio said that he feels he and his vision represent that of the people of Warwick, and he welcomes Rourke, DeLuca and any other opponents in the months ahead.

“I think I have more of a vision that resonates with more people from Warwick,” Appollonio said. “I was born and  raised here. A lot of residents I consider personal friends. I just think that I have a better idea for people in Warwick, and I think they’ll prosper more under what I’m running with.”