Meet the candidates this election year. GoLocal is featuring all the candidates for General Assembly, those running for Mayor in cities across the state, and the Congressional candidates. This feature allows each candidate the opportunity to express their views on the issues. Meet candidate Mark Theroux - a candidate for Senate District 8.
1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?
The biggest issue this cycle is trust in government. I hear it every day as I knock on doors. There is a belief that the big shots make all the decisions and that the voice of the voter's doesn't matter. I have pledged to District 8 voters that I will hold regular town hall type meetings. That is not the case now.
2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?
Clearly, we have much work to do, taking into consideration the CNBC survey that ranks our state dead last for places to do business. However, as far as Pawtucket is concerned, I think I would focus on the proposed train station on the Pawtucket/Central Falls border. A significant state contribution is going to be needed. That's where I will focus my efforts. It will impact the entire city.
3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?
I hate to be redundant, but I would once again point to trust! Also, I think the voters have a right to expect their senator to do the work that is expected. Senator Doyle's attendance over his many years of in politics is nothing short of horrific. It's seems like a social club for him and a game. That must stop, and it will if I am honored to be elected.
4. Why are you running for office?
Because my neighbors, friends, and family deserve serious and responsible leadership. Someone who will do the job, not just accept the salary and health benefits. I'm that candidate.
5. Who is your inspiration?
I am inspired to run for public office by two people, my late mother Patricia and my grand- daughter Ryleigh. My mother dedicated almost all of her free time to the Veterans of Foreign War Women’s Auxiliary. She was always reaching out to people she didn’t know to give them the help they needed to get by. She understood that these were the people who made out country great. She really instilled in me how important public service was.
The reason I am inspired by my grand-daughter is very simple, I want her to grow up in a city she can be proud of. I want Pawtucket to be her home, as it is mine, and was my parents. I am willing to do my part to make sure that happens.
BIO:
I am a 19 year veteran of the Pawtucket Police Department. I currently serve as the Officer in Charge of the Bureau of Identification where I have been for the last 6 years.
I am married to Sarah, my wife of 21 years whom I met while attending Tolman High School. We have two children, our son Ryan who is 23 years old and our Daughter Kali who is 18 years old. Ryan is father to our only grandchild, his daughter Ryleigh.
I have a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Public Administration and a certificate in Municipal Management. I also have a masters degree in Management with a concentration in Law Enforcement.
The reason I chose to run for office at this time is because I feel as though most of our Pawtucket delegation has lost touch with their constituent base. I don’t necessarily feel as though our elected officials are looking out for the best interests and welfare of the citizens of this city. I can distinctly remember conversations with multiple elected officials at separate times about the tolls that were slated to be built on area highways. To each official I asked how does this bill benefit Pawtucket? Not one official could give me a scenario in which Pawtucket would benefit. The responses all came back to a common theme, “why does it matter, it won’t affect you.” The truth of the matter it will affect all of us, whether it be additional costs added to products we buy or local trucking businesses relocating.
As a taxpayers and registered voters in the City of Pawtucket we deserve a voice in the State House, I want to be that voice. I have served this City for 19 years; there is nothing I would love more than to serve this City at the State level.
Related Slideshow: 10 Primaries to Watch in RI in ‘16
Rhode Island political primaries on are September 13 -- here a just a few key races to watch out for.
The path to square off against Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello in Cranston starts in the Republican primary. Republican National Committeeman Frias — who twice ran for State Senate unsuccessfully in his early 20s in Providence — has consistently set his sights on the Speaker, and not his primary opponent, founder of Rhode Island Alliance for Vaccine Choice challenger Shawna Lawton.
The cohort of Republican voters that the candidates are looking to woo aren't high. In the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary, 4065 votes were cast city-wide when Allan Fung squared off against Ken Block — and the recent GOP Presidential Preference primary saw just over 5,100 votes cast for GOP candidates city-wide in Cranston this past spring.
Mattiello won in the general election unopposed in 2014 with almost 4200 votes. And come the general election, independent Patrick Vallier waits in wings along with Mattiello, making for an always difficult cross-cutting three-way race.
DeSimone, the tax-beleaguered House Majority leader, recently shook off an ethics complaint filed by the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats for his failure to disclose his indebtedness to the City of Providence, as well as income derived from the city and state for his role in United Providence, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars.
First elected in 1992 and chosen as Majority Leader in 2014, DeSimone is facing a strong challenge from Progressive Democrat and Providence school teacher Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. “Our community needs someone who will fight for us. For too long, we’ve had politicians who are only helping themselves and their well-connected friends,” Ranglin-Vassell said when she announced she would be running back in June.
She faces a formidable candidate in DeSimone, who despite his need to pay over $18,000 in back taxes, landed in the #6 slot on GoLocal’s list of legislators with the biggest war chests back in June, when he reported having over $111,111 cash on hand through the first quarter of the year. The question now is will deep pockets and leadership machinery be a match for Ranglin-Vassell who has the backing of an energize Progressive Democrat operation this year.
Pawtucket resident Norton has been campaigning long before he declared officially declared his candidacy this past January. Norton had been one of the main organizers in the effort to keep the PawSox at McCoy, when the effort arose in 2015 by the new owners to move the AAA team to a new, taxpayer-subsidized stadium in Providence.
After notching that win — for now — Norton joined forces with City Councilor Sandra Cano to hold a series of “Crash Pawtucket” events to bring residents to a different establishment each month, to rev up support for small business in the city.
Opponent Coughlin was first elected in 2014 when he ran unopposed, which Norton said was “handed” to him by House leadership. Coughlin recently fired back at Norton’s position on the plans for a new train station in Pawtucket.
“This train station will raise the quality of life for Pawtucket’s residents and businesses and it will breathe new life to an area that is still recovering from the Great Recession. Combined with his opposition to the millions of dollars to fix Pawtucket’s roads and bridges, and our state investments to find ways to rebuild and renovate McCoy Stadium, my opponent does not seem to be in touch with the needs of the people and businesses of Pawtucket,” said Coughlin.
Incumbent Rep. Bill O’Brien and progressive challenger Bill Deware have been trading barbs throughout the summer in North Providence, with the Progressives going after O’Brien about missing ethics filings, and O’Brien releasing a video of his campaign signs being stolen in the district — and questioning Deware’s voting record, having voted in Johnston while living in the district.
"I think people should be more concerned on the issues than worrying about signs and petty politics, when there are policy issues to debate,” said Deware following the sign incident. O’Brien, meanwhile hit out at Deware on this issue of his voting. "I am deeply disturbed by this revelation. My opponent admits to committing voter fraud multiple times. People have fought and died to protect the right to vote fairly and I have a colleague from Pawtucket who lost an election by one vote," said O'Brien.
Deware, who is endorsed by the Progressive Democrats, recently came back from a hospitalization from meningitis that had left him in a coma — but said in a statement that full recover is expected.
Who: Matt Fecteau v. Mark Theroux v. Sen. Jamie Doyle
What: Dem Primary
Where: Pawtucket
The three-way Democratic primary in Senate District 8 in Pawtucket which features six-time incumbent Jamie Doyle; Matt Fecteau, who ran against United States Representative David Cicilline in the 2014 primary; and Mark Theroux, is one of the top races to watch this primary election.
In 2014, Fecteau, a political newcomer, was able to snag 37% of the vote in the primary in the first Congressional district against Cicilline, with 22,447 votes to Cicilline’s 38,186. Meanwhile, Doyle needed to amend his ethics filings after admitting he failed to disclose tens of thousands of dollars in personal and business debts. WPRI reported Doyle filed the amended the amended ethics reports after he had “not disclosed multiple liens on his home and business properties related to unpaid taxes.”
Meanwhile, the Valley Breeze reported that Theroux’s wife, who is on the Democratic Committee for Senate District 8, voted to endorse…Doyle.
Incumbent Malik, who was first elected to the House in 1996, is facing a fierce challenge from primary opponent Jason Knight.
Sam Bell with the Progressive Democrats highlighted the race back in June. "Malik has been extremely ideologically conservative, with an 'A plus' rating from the NRA. He voted against marriage equality and his district isn't extremely right wing -- it's very liberal on social issues. And Warren is a place where you saw two successful progressive town council primaries last cycle, knocking out established [Democrats]," said Bell.
The East Providence battle pits a former State Representative against a Democratic candidate who is currently under investigation by the State Ethics Commission.
In 2004, outgoing District 64 State Representative Helio Melo challenged then-incumbent Coogan in a four-way Democratic Primary, winning with 970 votes (62.1%) and then prevailing in a three-way general election. Now, Coogan is seeking a return to his former seat.
This past July, GoLocal reported that Cunha, who current serves as East Providence Assistant Mayor, had been been barred from trading in the futures industry by the National Futures Association, the industry-wide, regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry. Then earlier this month, East Providence Mayor Thomas Rose filed an ethics complaint against Cunha, which the Ethics Commission voted to investigate.
Senator Frank Ciccone, who was first elected in 2002, is being challenged by Doris De Los Santos, who garnered the endorsement of the Progressive Democrats.
“In 2012 Governor Chafee appointed Doris as the director of the Office of Municipal and External Affairs. Her opponent, Frank Ciccone, has been involved in several scandals, including threatening a police officer who had pulled over conservative Senate Majority Leader Dominic Ruggerio for drunk driving,” wrote the Progressive Democrats in their release.
Michael Gazdacko, a West End resident and member of the City Plan Commission, announced his candidacy in June as a Democrat for State Representative in District 9 — to take on incumbent Rep. Anastasia Williams.
In May of this year, GOP Chair Brandon Bell filed an ethics complaint against Williams for failing to disclose her employment with the city of Providence on her state financial disclosure form.
In 2014, the ousted Executive Director of the John Hope Settlement House alleged that Board President Rep. Williams had used the house for political purposes, without compensating the organization, including holding a campaign event for then-Democratic candidate for Governor Gina Raimondo.
GoLocal reported that Williams appointed former discredited head of ProCAP, Frank Corbishley, to serve as the interim Executive Director in the wake of former Director Taino Palermo's sudden departure, when Palermo challenged Williams' leadership.
