A three-way primary for Senate District 25
Sep 09, 2024 | 5:45 am ET
Description
The voting screen is pictured in the Senate chamber of the Rhode Island State House. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
The Senate District 25 seat representing Johnston has sat vacant since six-term incumbent Sen. Frank Lombardo III died in February of bladder cancer. Three Democrats are competing to fill Lombardo’s seat in the conservative town, which backed Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
Rhode Island Current reached out to the candidates with a questionnaire.
Candidate Andrew Dimitri did not provide answers, despite multiple inquiries.
3 days ago
Progressive Pam Leary intends to support struggling families
Name: Pamela Leary
Party: Democrat
Race: Senate District 25
Age: 55
Residence: Johnston
Job: Operations Manager for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families; Assistant Director for the Coventry Emergency Management Agency
Years lived in Rhode Island: 55
Political bio: None
What are your top 3 legislative priorities if elected?
- Create and support legislation that will protect the rights and freedom for all people to make their own health care decisions, and be able to access affordable health care.
- Create and support legislation to protect and improve workers rights – including time off, wage theft, misclassification and cost of living increases, right to organize. Legislation to create a safer workplace for workers in social services, healthcare workers, police, firefighters, and our teachers.
- Protecting the environment- creating and supporting legislation that is proactive, including the bottle bill that would curb plastic bottle pollution in RI.
Do you support a state inspector general’s office? If so, where do you propose the funding come from within the state budget?
Yes — 37 states already have a state inspector general. This does not need to be another top-heavy state agency. The IG could collaborate with each state agency and utilize staff resources that already exist within the agency. Perhaps each agency could assign someone for six months as a resource/on a rotation, so the IG office would better understand each agency, holistically, instead of being on the outside, looking in. Each agency would also benefit from the understanding that is brought back with the staff when they return.
Do you support providing funding in the state budget to make school breakfasts and lunches free for all students? Why, or why not?
Yes. Kids are in school all day and start very early. Families are struggling. There is no reason we should not do this.
Last updated: 5:53 pm
3 days ago
Richard DelFino wants to strengthen community safety and support
Name: Richard J. DelFino III
Party: Democrat
Race: Senate District 25
Age: 37
Residence: Johnston
Job: Director of Community and Legislative Affairs for Tri-County Community Action Agency; previously Director of Municipal Affairs under Gov. Dan. McKee
Years lived in Rhode Island: 37
Political Bio: Served on the Johnston Town Council, Johnston Democratic Town Committee
What are your top 3 legislative priorities if elected?
- Introduce legislation that would establish a ratio of mental health workers in schools, to the total population, that will meet and address student’s mental health needs.
- Create a public safety net that includes corrections officials, police and federal law enforcement professionals along with local city and town inspections personnel that will provide more communication in all matters of public safety including the tracking of sex offenders of any designation with the proper community notification of information that would compromise the safety of residents. This would include community police substations located in the areas where residents would gather like city and town parks and recreation sites
- Create a task force of the Rhode Island State Police and municipal police departments to study, recommend, and enforce speeding in our neighborhoods
Do you support a state inspector general’s office? If so, where do you propose the funding come from within the state budget?
No. The cost could be burdensome to taxpayers and agencies such as the Attorney General’s office can assist with oversight.
Do you support providing funding in the state budget to make school breakfasts and lunches free for all students? Why, or why not?
Yes. No child should be deprived of a nutritious meal to accompany their school day. At the same time, you cannot identify any student based upon need, therefore everyone should be treated equal.
Last updated: 6:48 pm
Providence, RI
