Political Profile: Clara Hardy, Candidate for State Representative in District 55

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

GoLocalProv Political Team

 

View Larger +

PHOTO: Campaign

Clara Hardy is a Democratic candidate for State Representative in District 55. Here is what she has to say.

 

1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

I believe the biggest political issues this campaign season are the attacks on people’s rights and freedoms. It is clear, with the recent overturn of Roe, that we no longer can take for granted that the choices one makes, whether related to when to give birth or who a person can marry, will not be legally threatened by a conservative Supreme Court that seems to be willing to put aside legal precedence for their own conservative, religious beliefs. That is why it is so important to have a strong State legislature with elected officials willing to uphold individuals’ civil rights and personal choices, as it has become clear that more decisions will be made at the State level.

 

2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?

Our economy is strong when we invest in the people of our State, not the out-of-state big corporations or the big developers making more luxury housing that is not needed, rather than what is needed, low-income housing. The economy of Rhode Island should be doing well, considering we have a surplus right now.  However, this money doesn’t seem to be used to help those most in need such as the small business owners struggling to survive after the devastation of Covid. The caregivers such as CNAs and daycare providers who barely make above minimum wage need a livable wage.

 

3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?

Apathy is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island. People don’t trust that politicians will actually keep campaign promises. I hear this a lot while I have been campaigning. People are jaded and don’t believe their vote counts. This is a threat to our Democracy when there is no trust in our government.

 

4. Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?

I am running for office because I believe everyone deserves a voice and everyone counts. But to make that a reality we need to speak truth to power. As a social worker, I see the struggles of those who are the most marginalized in our State; people who feel they don’t have a voice and are disempowered. I want to be the voice for the voiceless and give power to those who feel disempowered. These are the people that our government ignores. I am also running because I disagree with the politics of my opponent. He is probably one of the most conservative Democrats in the General Assembly, voting against an increase in the minimum wage, against the Reproductive Privacy Act, and the Act on Climate. He doesn’t represent my political beliefs and values. He also has been in office far too long, since 1998. I am uniquely qualified because I have seen the struggles individuals and families face on a daily basis in my job as a home-based social worker. I will bring the unique perspective of compassion, trust, and accountability into politics.

 

5. Who is your inspiration?

My inspiration was my mom who died last year at the age of 84. She was an ordinary person with no extraordinary abilities but she inspired me to be in service to others. To work toward justice. She is with me in every step I take and every door I knock during this campaign.

 

Website: https://claraforri.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaraHardyRI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarahardyri

Bio

I grew up in central New York with my father, a judge, and my mother, a public-school teacher. My mother, who is my inspiration and best friend, passed away in March 2021 at the age of 84. She is one of the reasons that I decided to run for office. I had considered running several times in the last few years, ultimately deciding not to, but her passing demonstrated to me the necessity of seizing opportunities while we have the chance.

From a young age, my parents instilled in me the value of education, social justice, and civic responsibility. I remember going on trips to Washington DC with my mom and sister to fight for reproductive rights and to rally for peace and social justice in the war-torn areas of Latin America. My family has always taken action and spoken truth to power. I plan to do the same in the Rhode Island legislature.

In 1997, I came to Rhode Island after graduating from Washington University with a Master’s in social work. In 2012—after many years working in the nonprofit world— I opened up my own private practice that provides home-based counseling, case management, and advocacy to people living in poverty, elderly and disabled folks, and people on Medicaid and Medicare. My job has called on me to help those most in need, to be the voice for the people whom our corrupt systems have left voiceless, and to empower those who feel powerless.

Every day through my work as a social worker, I see the struggles of single mom’s working multiple jobs to feed their children, families unable to make rent or find suitable and affordable housing, and the elderly struggling to get proper healthcare because their insurance refuses to cover certain necessities. These experiences have pushed me towards the world of politics.

In the last two decades, I have been active in progressive politics all across the state. In 2001, I initiated a meeting with then Senator J. Clement Cicilline to address the pervasive problem facing my clients of finding affordable housing—particularly the problem of securing Section 8 housing. This led to my active involvement in advocating for the passage of the “Neighborhood Opportunities Program” legislation designed to alleviate Rhode Island’s housing crisis.

Last year I ran to be on the District Committee for Lenny Cioe, my dear friend and Democratic candidate for State Senate in District 4. Lenny is a registered nurse and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Like myself, Lenny believes that basic needs like housing, food, clean air and water, and affordable healthcare are human rights. I spent months canvassing for him in North Providence, getting to know his and my neighbors and our shared community.

I have spent a fair share of my time at the State House either rallying for causes I believe in or testifying for bills that will protect and improve the lives of my community. This includes advocating for reproductive justice by organizing and testifying at the State House for the passage of the Reproductive Privacy Act in 2019 and in front of the Supreme Court in DC in 2020. I also testified in support of the Rescue Rhode Island Act, crucial legislation that would invest in the construction of energy-efficient low-income affordable housing, better access to locally grown agriculture for the urban core areas where food deserts are often found, and the establishment of “Green Justice Zones” that would protect areas from polluters and hazardous waste.

When I am not working as a social worker or engaging in activism, I volunteer at my Unitarian Universalist church as the Chair of the Peace and Social Justice Committee. This committee has organized a coat drive for the homeless, made Mother’s Day baskets for CNAs at Golden Crest Nursing Home, and brought staff and residents baked goods for Valentine’s Day. We help protect the earth through our semi-annual marsh clean-up located near the Port of Providence. During Christmas, I spearheaded my church’s involvement in giving gifts to teens in DCYF care or to elders through the “Elves for Elders'' program. Each June, my church gets involved in PRIDE festivities to support our LGBTQ+ community. I have also spent the past decade volunteering for Providence Books through Bars, a prison book program.

 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook