CICILLINE-BUONANNO

Susan Cicilline-Buonanno

(endorsed Democrat)

Age: 46. Married, two children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Rhode Island College; master’s in special education, Providence College; master’s in administration, Rhode Island College

Occupation: Elementary school principal in West Warwick

Community involvement: Member of School Committee, now serving third two-year term; responsibilities at St. Mary, Star Of The Sea Church, including Eucharistic minister; fundraising for local causes.

Statement: “I will bring to this office an attitude that is open and receptive to hearing and respecting all points of view when considering any issue.”

Top three issues:

Fiscal responsibility: The town needs to balance its obligation to provide quality services and programs and fund its employee pension plan with a fair and reasonable tax rate.

Affordable housing: The town needs to pursue a realistic course that provides reasonable incentives for developers to build affordable housing while maintaining the character of the town.

Quality of life: Will support efforts to address noise and nuisance problems from student renters, enhance natural assets such as the Town Beach and coastline, and work with the School Committee to maintain the town’s schools at a reasonable cost.

David J. Crook Sr. (independent Democrat)

Age: 80. Widower, five grown children.

Education: Graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, Providence; some college courses at Bryant and Babson colleges

Occupation: Retired as a Providence police detective sergeant in 1981

Community involvement: Former four-term Town Council member, Lions Club, volunteer work for the Sprague Fund and the Jonnycake Center

Statement: “In my eight years as a member of the Town Council, I consistently supported issues in the best interests of the town and its residents.”

Top three issues:

Homestead exemption: Supports the adoption of one to help offset rising property taxes for resident homeowners

Checking development: Will cast a more critical eye on “grandiose” development plans.

Town spending. Will work to stop “out-of-control spending.” For example, opposes building a new police/fire station when the town already has to pay off a $21.5-million school bond.

James P. Durkin (endorsed Democrat)

Age: 48. Married, three children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Providence College

Occupation: Owner of Durkin Cottage Realty

Community involvement: Currently serving third term on Town Council; Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Democratic Town Committee, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Sons of Irish Kings, Land Conservancy Trust, School Building Committee, former Little League coach, communicant of St. Mary, Star Of The Sea Church.

Statement: “I love this town. … I am a registered Democrat and proud of it. I have served three terms and would like to complete some things that I have started.”

Top three issues:

Taxes: The town needs to consolidate services, in house and in with neighboring towns, to reduce costs. One possible example would be consolidation of the school-bus facility on Avice Street and the highway garage on Westmoreland Street.

Energy conservation: The town needs to consider not just the purchase price of vehicles and other items but how energy-efficient they are and whether energy savings would offset a higher purchase price.

The tax collector’s position: Filling it, to make sure that taxes are collected in an organized manner.

Alisa Trainor Fleet (independent Democrat)

Age: 50. Married, three children.

Education: High school diploma, some courses at Community College of Rhode Island

Occupation: Housekeeper/custodian at University of Rhode Island

Community involvement: Past involvement with the Mettatuxet Improvement Association, High School Boosters Club and Little League.

Statement: “I’m not ‘connected.’ No ‘special interest’ backing. My parents, Ray and Sheila Trainor, served as elected officials in Narragansett for a combined total of over 30 years. They inspired in me a love for this town, a sense of responsibility and, above all, a desire to serve.”

Top three issues:

Accountability: particularly with regard to income from the Town Beach. Would make sure that each dollar, especially the cash received for non-resident parking, is accounted for.

Schools: Maintain a high level of quality and make sure that money allocated for building maintenance is spent for that purpose, so the town does not face another expensive bond project.

Affordable housing: Would see that the town meets housing needs while protecting and perhaps even enhancing its small-town, semi-rural seaside character.

Krista J. Garrett (independent Republican)

Age: 46. Married, three grown children.

Education: High school diploma, two years of college.

Occupation: Manager, H&R Block

Community involvement: Now serving second term on Town Council; Narragansett/URI Steering Committee, Galilee Advisory Committee, Galilee Lease Committee, Sewer Committee, town representative on Coastal Resources Management Council, former council liaison to the School Committee, Seniors Helping Seniors. Past Little League volunteer, past CCD instructor for St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church.

Statement: “I have worked hard to build a reputation for doing my homework and weighing all sides of all issues. My goal has been, and will continue to be, to case my vote on the council in the best interest of the Town of Narragansett.”

Top three issues

Fiscal responsibility: The town needs to hold the line on taxes, looking at increasing costs the same way residents do at home, asking the whether the town wants or needs the items that are proposed.

Preserving Galilee: Would work with state and federal officials to maintain the historical integrity and economic importance of the fishing industry, as well as preserving fishing zones over ferry and commercial zones.

Pier parking: Would protect residents while providing parking for businesses and visitors.

Glenna Hagopian (endorsed Democrat)

Age: 42. Married, two stepchildren.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, University of Maine

Occupation: Senior vice president of bank

Community involvement: Activities through her employer, including Habitat for Humanity and fund drives to support local charities. Also volunteered with the Samaritans.

Statement: She has “an interest in finances and … think that there’s a real opportunity to instill a real risk-management perspective around some of the decisions that get made.”

Top three issues

Financial discipline and transparency

Greater internal controls regarding appropriations. “We’ve got very, very strong assets in the form of our beaches, and for whatever reason, these assets seem to be suffering with a lack of maintenance.”

Her experiences: “I think the diversity of background on the council could be broadened and I think I bring that to the table.”

T. Brian Handrigan (independent Democrat)

Age: 72. Married, three grown children.

Education: High school diploma

Occupation: Co-owner, Champlin’s Seafood

Community involvement: Now serving sixth term on Town Council; Lions Club; Elks Club; Marine Corps corporal, retired.

Statement: “I treat all issues as important, and have done so for the 12 years that I have been privileged to serve on the Town Council.”

Top three issues:

Affordable housing: The town needs to find the right balance, meeting state mandates and allowing our children, retirees and those whose careers are not highly compensated to live in Narragansett while maintaining control of growth and development.

Taxes: The town has a low tax rate, Handrigan says, but the council needs, especially in light of state cutbacks, to resist increases and control costs.

Quality of life: “We must maintain and protect the assets that make Narragansett what it is — the beaches, Canonchet Farm, sports fields for our children and the senior center.”

Joseph Jacome Jr. (independent Democrat)

Age: 54. Single father, two teenage children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Roger Williams College

Occupation: Owner of Groundworks Lawn Services; accountant and tax preparer for H&R Block

Community involvement: Member of St. Thomas Moore Church /St. Veronica Chapel

Statement: “We need to improve communication between the council liaison and each subcommittee and the entire council. This would ensure balanced decision-making on agenda items.”

Top three issues:

Improving communication: “Monthly reporting by each liaison to the entire council might be a good start. This would foster better communications between the council and local residents.”

Affordable housing: The town needs to seek more cooperation from the state on solving the unique problems Narragansett faces as a small seaside community. Local zone changes such as splitting of lots are not the best way to resolve the issue.

Historical district at the Pier and multi-use zoning: The town needs to be careful how it implements new zoning changes and make sure that they do not change the look of our beautiful community.

Michael L. Lapisky (unaffiliated)

Age: 64. Married.

Education: Bachelor of science in natural resources, University of Rhode Island

Occupation: Chief of state Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife

Community involvement: Chairman of Zoning Board, 1985 to 2002; chairman and vice chairman of Conservation Commission, 1975 to 1985.

Statement: “I want to be a member of the council because: I love my town, I have no vested interests and I think have the common sense to bring change to Narragansett.”

Top three issues:

Off-campus housing for URI students: The town needs to work more with the University of Rhode Island and landlords to resolve the ongoing problems associated with student renters.

Affordable housing: The town needs to look for out-of-the-box solutions to providing lower-cost housing. Using increased density to solve the problem forces the town to pursue an unfunded state mandate that simply cannot be met in some towns.

Efficiency: Would seek vigorous dialogue among the Town Council, School Committee and citizens to find ways to make the School Department more efficient, particularly in light of enrollment decreases.

George F. Lenihan Jr. (endorsed Democrat)

Age: 45. Single.

Education: High school diploma, vocational training.

Occupation: Owner of Pancho O’Malley’s restaurant, electrician

Community involvement: Current council member; Lions Club, fundraising for local causes

Statement: “I have lived and worked in Narragansett for over 35 years. … I have the experience, 6 of the last 10 years on the council. Although I am someone who works well with others, I will not hesitate to object when I believe it is not in the town’s best interest.”

Top three issues:

Town administration: Ensure that it runs smoothly and delivers quality service.

Town Council: Make sure that members do the same and are not influenced by outside interests and pressures.

Financial restraint: Continue to employ it while delivering quality town services and ensuring a good quality of life.

Julie A. MacMullen (unaffiliated)

Age: 39. Single, mother of teenage girl.

Education: Graduate of the Chariho Career and Technical Center, some courses at the University of Rhode Island College of Continuing Education

Occupation: Retired town police dispatcher

Statement: “Having worked for the town, I have a lot of knowledge of how the town runs, and I don’t like the way it’s being run at the moment.”

Top three issues:

Public facilities and parks: Maintaining them.

Recycling: Implementing a mandatory recycling program.

Town character: Maintaining the seaside character that draws tourists to town and supporting the businesses that serve them and are important to the town, including the fishing industry in Galilee.

Douglas E. McLaughlin (endorsed Democrat)

Age: 55. Married, two grown children.

Education: Associate’s degree in law enforcement, Bryant College; bachelor’s in law enforcement, Roger Williams College

Occupation: Retired police officer, East Providence; later served as supervisor of investigations for the state Office of Health and Human Services’ welfare fraud program

Community involvement: Narragansett Harbor Commission, South Kingstown Lions Club, South Kingstown Elks Club, Eagle Athletic Club

Statement: “I think there are a lot of financial issues in town…. I’d like to preserve the beautiful place that it is. I’d like it to be affordable for the young people to live here, and the older people, too. They’re struggling, they can’t afford 4-percent tax increases every year.”

Top three issues:

“Out-of-control” spending: The $21.5-million school building project was the largest bond expenditure in the town’s history, he said, and now there is talk of spending $18 million on a new police and fire station complex. Yet the very last consideration is how pay for it.

Beach pollution and beach closures: Said the town needs to study the problem of sewage runoff and high E. coli bacteria counts. Problems with pollution cannot be ignored. It could have a drastic effect on our community, hurting tourism and destroying our beautiful beaches and waterways.

Underfunded municipal pension plan: The town needs to renegotiate benefits and increase its contributions, without raising taxes.

Michael G. Riley (Republican, but running as an independent)

Age: 52. Married, three children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, University of Connecticut.

Occupation: Investment manager

Community involvement: Pension Board, Lions Club, coach for Little League Seniors Baseball and Fallball

Statement: “Those citizens who want the status quo should not vote for me. I represent a mindset that says we can do better. I intend to serve one term … in fact, if I am elected, I promise one term.”

Top three issues:

Accountability: It seems as though the council leadership, finance director and town manager simply sit down and take the prior year’s budget and add 3 to 4 percent. This is unacceptable, and I suggest a full internal audit.

Rationality: It is not enough to say that since we have a large tax base, that we can afford our current taxes and even raise them. We should instead examine the growth of government and its costs over a period of time versus the growth in the local economy and the population in the town.

Flexibility: Managers need to have the flexibility in the budget to deal with changes in costs or revenues. One step the town should take is to stop adding to its employee pension-fund deficit by moving all new employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan.

Denise Rubin (unendorsed Democrat)

Age: 57. married, three stepchildren.

Education: Master’s degree in speech and language pathology, University of Rhode Island

Occupation: speech and language pathologist, Pathways Strategic Teaching Center, Warwick; teacher, South County Hebrew School, Narragansett; yoga instructor.

Statement: “I’ve had the opportunity to interact professionally and socially with Narragansett residents on a daily basis for 28 years. I’ve established and maintained close relationships … As a result of these relationships I have a grasp and understanding of the wants, needs and desires of our community.

Top three issues:

Property tax relief: “I will go through our town budget with a fine-tooth comb to discover areas where savings may be realized without affecting essential town services.”

Schools: “I am a strong proponent of dedicating our limited funds to quality educational programs for our children as opposed to a top-heavy school administration.”

Public safety: “I support adequate resources so that our police and firefighters are able to continue to respond to the needs of our community.”

Christopher Wilkens (endorsed Republican)

Age: 56. Married, three children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Coast Guard-licensed master mariner; post-graduate and professional advancement courses

Occupation: Builder/remodeler

Community involvement: Serving first term on Town Council; Towers Committee, activities at St. Francis Church

Statement: “I have vision, 33 years of historical perspective, and work hard for the town in a nonpartisan fashion. I’ve initiated many ‘forward thinking’ items including: historical districts, Canonchet revitalization, Town Beach dune restoration and the ‘excessively loud motorcycle ordinance.’ ”

Top three issues:

Providing strong leadership, which includes sound fiscal management and consolidation of town services where possible..

Preservation: Enhancing the town’s “unique, semi-rural seaside community identity” and protecting it from overdevelopment and sprawl.

Pursuing beach/dune restoration efforts and open-space acquisition. This includes better communication and cooperation with federal and state agencies.