Candidate for City Council Ward 2: Jill Davidson
GoLocalProv Political Team
Candidate for City Council Ward 2: Jill Davidson
GoLocal interviewed her this past week. Learn more about her campaign HERE.
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GoLocal: Where did you grow up?
Davidson: I was born in Philadelphia, and I grew up for the most part in Brookfield, Connecticut.
GoLocal: When did you move into the Ward?
Davidson: So I moved to the second award for the first time in 1985 when I attended Brown University. And I stayed for two years beyond my graduation, so that was six years. Then I moved back in December of 2004, and I have been here in the same house ever since.
GoLocal: What is the City of Providence’s budget?
Davidson: Offhand, I do not know. I would have to look back. Got it. They are tricky. That is a trick question. Read more about the exchange HERE
GoLocal: How would you describe your politics?
Davidson: So I am a lifelong Democrat, and I am fairly progressive.
GoLocal: Are you a Smiley or a Morales supporter?
Davidson: I'm not answering that question. I have not answered that for the entire campaign. I don't think it's smart for some people who's running the office to indicate now sort of where their allegiance is. Well, you have to be open to looking at everybody. Of course, I will have my own private vote.
GoLocal: Why does this election — the Second Ward — matter?
Davidson: Well, I think it matters very much to the 12,000 people that the second ward is representing. And, you know, it's important that we have, you know, sort of representation on Providence City Council. It matters for any number of issues. It's going to be safe that somebody who is ready to do the job and community-minded is sitting in that seat.
GoLocal: How are you different from your opponents?
Davidson: I think that my main difference is that I have been working in the community, getting people together to address challenges that we've been having in an education environment for 20 years, which is how I've always operated. And from the minute I got to Providence, you know, I sort of got to work identifying what felt like something that I could contribute in, how I could connect with neighbors and how I could make a difference. As it turned out that issue was on Nathan Bishop Middle School. And I have continued, you know, to sort of work with neighbors to identify what we advocate at the city level, at the state level ever since. So I think it's my deep community connections and ability to take action on issues that feel aversion from lots of people that just that set me apart.
GoLocal: Do you think the City Council has gone too far left — Palestinian Flag, attending American Socialist events?
Davidson: Well, I don't know where the line is to be able to say it's on too far. I will say that I think the Providence City Council should be focusing on what's happening in Providence. That's why I am running. I do not think that the Providence City Council needs to be taking an international relations role and understand why some people might feel that way.
GoLocal: Providence has among the highest rent in the country (fastest increasing too), clearly the market is not providing enough inventory — should the city implement rent control?
Davidson: Rent control, is that something [I'm] thinking about? Yes, well for what it's worth, and it's pedantic, but I do think that it is worth making a distinction between rent control and rent stabilization. We have a real crisis, and we have an obligation to care for our neighbors. So it seems extraordinarily short-sighted to not even be willing to consider ways for people to be able to pay rent and stay in their homes.