Senate 30

Jeanine Calkin

Age:  46

Education:  Johnson & Wales University, B.S. Information Science (Summa Cum Laude),

Bryant University, M. S. Information Systems Occupation:  Information Technology.  Currently self-employed.

Names of community organizations you are a member of:  Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, Working Families of Rhode Island, Rhode Island for Bernie Sanders (Co-founder).

Many of the people I speak with are concerned about taxes, and have been hit hard by increases in their property taxes as well as increases in their assessed property values.  At the same time, income tax cuts for the wealthiest in our state were cut by about 40%.  I will fight to make sure the top 1% pay their fair share of taxes, and provide tax relief to residents. Another issue residents have discussed with me relates to taking care of our environment and alternative energies.  I will fight against the expansion of fossil fuel based energy projects, and will work to expand green energy including wind, solar, tidal and geothermal.  This includes proposing to have all public buildings move to green power as was done in West Warwick. Others I speak with tell me how they struggle just to make ends meet.  I will fight to raise the minimum wage to a living wage of $15 an hour over a period of a few years.  I strongly believe this will put more money into the hands of people who will spend it at local small businesses including stores, restaurants and other services, as well as increase car and home sales.  Local small businesses will benefit by increased customer sales. There are many other issues facing the people in our district, and I will do all I can to address them, including working to pass legislation on paid family leave and reform to reduce corporate influence in politics.

William A. Walaska

Age: 70

Education: Graduate of LaSalle Academy

Providence College (Economics),

Williams College School of Commercial Banking, Amos Tuck School of Credit and Financial Management at Dartmouth College,

MBA recipient of Providence College

Occupation: President, MAW Realty, LLC

Community organizations:  Past Chair, Greenwood Credit Union Board of Directors; Member, Trudeau Center Board of Directors; Member, Warwick Elks, Knights of Columbus, Volunteers of Warwick Schools Board of Directors, Jonah Advisory Board.  Recipient, St. Thomas Aquinas Award from RI Catholic Schools Parents' Association, recipient of the Kent Center Distinguished Service Award, named ALS Advocate of the Year, and received the Warwick Elks' Distinguished Citizen Award in August 2016.

My top priority remains fostering job growth and economic development.  I have been proud to advance many initiatives to achieve progress in these areas, and I am running for office to continue to work towards a vibrant economy in Rhode Island.

Similarly, job growth and economic development, ensuring public health and safety, and improving quality of life for all are the top three issues facing the state.  I have been proud of the successes I have been able to achieve in each of these areas, and look to build upon these successes in the next term.

This past legislative term, I helped exempt income tax relief for most RI seniors including exempting Social Security benefits and the first $15,000 in pension income from state income tax. I introduced legislation to more fairly assess vehicles for car tax purposes on trade-in. rather than retail value.  I worked to increase State aid to Warwick schools by $1.5 million this year alone, bringing total assistance to more than $38 million. 

 I also worked to pass ethics and lobbying reform legislation, campaign finance reform, and reformed ballots to remove the “master lever” and championed renewable energy legislation and sponsored Grow Green Jobs RI initiative.