hartley

JOHNSTON — The two Democrats competing for a chance to unseat Councilman Ernest F. Pitochelli in November are newcomers to politics.

For that reason, the District 2 race between Keith M. Hartley, a business owner, and Debra A. Palermo, a waitress, has a different feel than other council contests in next week’s primary.

Each of the other primaries features at least one incumbent or a previously elected official. The challengers in those races include a former School Committee member, Lorraine Natale, and an activist, Traci A. Rossi, who has marshaled lobbying campaigns against various school-system policies.

But in the District 2 race, the candidates admit that they know nothing about each other.

“I’m sure she’s a nice lady and I wish her well,” Hartley said.

Palermo said she might even support Hartley in a November race against Pitochelli, although that would depend on what she learns about him between now and the primary.

Palermo, 49, of 14 Charter St., never envisioned herself running for public office.

“This is a very big step for me,” said Palermo. “I’ve never done anything like this in my life.”

Her political story begins with some traffic issues in her neighborhood.

She has aired many a complaint — to the police and to anyone else who will listen — about what she regards as traffic violations on her street.

Pitochelli spent some time monitoring the situation and he disagrees with her observations. At one point, he wrote her a letter and basically scolded her for making so much noise.

Palermo was surprised. Now, she’s mounting a campaign that aims to provide the sort of representation she wants for her district.

“I think the town of Johnston needs a new voice,” she said.

Palermo, a graduate of Cranston High School West, is a waitress at Stadium Fish & Chips in Cranston.

She said she believes the district’s representative should seek the residents’ input and base his or her council decisions on that guidance.

“If I happen to win, and I sit in that seat,” she said, “I want the people of the district to give me input.”

“I do not feel it is one person’s decision to decide issues that the taxpayers in this district will end up paying for.”

Hartley, 37, of 6 Woodlake Drive, said he has been thinking about running for several years.

He almost launched a campaign two years ago, but he decided his children were still too young and he needed more time to solidify his business, Rhode Island Precision, a maker of stainless steel products.

Now, he senses that the timing is right.

He promises to use his experience both in business and as a leader in the local Lions Club if elected to the council, where he would focus his efforts on controlling taxes.

That will involve evaluating the budget and finding ways to increase revenues and cut expenses, he said.

“It’s not the easiest thing to do right now,” he said, “but I believe it’s possible.”

Hartley said he needs to read through the town’s financial information before he can make any specific recommendations.

Hartley is a graduate of Johnston High School. He is vice president of the Johnston Lions Club and helps out with the Rhode Island Lions’ fundraising for children with cancer.

He said his other priorities include attracting new businesses to town, without resorting to tax incentives, and using zoning laws to keep businesses away from residential neighborhoods. Business development should take place on Hartford Avenue and Atwood Avenue, he said.

“That’s very important to me.”

mreynold@projo.com