Stephen Casey Thanks Voters, Friends, Family After Dist. 50 Primary Win

Stephen Casey, Woonsocket's likely new representative for Dist. 50, struggled with fatigue, excitement and the prospect of much work ahead at his home the morning after Tuesday's primary.

"I'm exhausted. It's my birthday," Casey said, repeating his remark that he doesn't consider the job of Dist. 50 representative (he'll run unopposed Nov. 6) a present. The 44-year-old said he's still aware he's got a lot of work to do.

In the back yard at his Park Avenue home, poll signs from the primary race were stacked up against his house. Congratulatory texts, e-mails and calls were arriving in a steady stream. Through a break in some plants hanging between Casey's yard and the house next door, a neighbor leaned over and greeted Casey, "Good morning, Mr. Representative."

"I really want to thank the people who came out and voted," Casey said.

Though Casey said he's been assured there aren't enough outstanding provisional ballots to sway the results (The State Election Board reports results may not be final for a week or two), the primary tally only . 

"I think that with the spread of only 50 votes, that says there are still people that are not sure," and not confident he's the right guy for the job, Casey said. "I will try to show them through my actions working with the Woonsocket delegation at the State House."

He said cooperation with the other members of the delegation has already started. Casey made a call Tuesday to Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (D-Dist. 49), who won against her own primary challengers Mike Morin and Stuart Gitlow Tuesday night. "We had a nice conversation," Casey said. While he was on that call, Casey said Rep. Bob Phillips (D-Dist. 51) called too. "I'll be talking to him today, I'm sure," Casey said.

Casey refrerenced his amiable nature and ability to get along, noting he thinks he and the other representatives can work together for the city. "I think there'll be no problems," Casey said, "We're all going to have to be committed to keeping the city first, in mind."

Casey repeated his intent to set up community meetings for residents to speak their minds about city affairs. "I think as a representative, it's going to be important to always be available," he said. Setting up community meetings for citizens will provide more of an opportunity for voters to communicate with him and other officials, Casey said. At the moment, voters' only avenues to speak directly to elected officials are during the public comment periods at the City Council, School Committee and Budget Commission meetings. That time is limited, he said, and not everyone can make the meetings or get ample time to speak during them.

"I think it's important because I want to know how they feel," Casey said.

In addition to the people who voted for him, Casey also took some time to thank the people helping him on his campaign, which included friends, neighbors and a lot of family. Despite his union membership, Casey said the campaign was a grass-roots, feet on the ground effort.

Those feet included his own. "I woke up this morning, I couldn't even walk, my feet were so sore," said Casey, who stood at Bernon Heights greeting voters from the morning until 8 p.m. Tuesday. "I didn't leave until the last person voted," Casey said, "Without being at the polls until eight, you can't be sure you didn't leave anything on the table."

Casey's whole family helped him during the campaign. His wife, Debra, helped during the campaign. His dad, Joe, and brothers John and Paul were at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs holding signs and greeting voters. 

His uncle Richard visited to stand with him at Bernon Heights, and his uncle Bill held a sign and greeted people all day at Fire Station #1. Caseys' sister Kathryn and his nieces also helped out. "It was just a great family effort," Casey said.

Friends and neighbors offered their help during the campaign, too, for which Casey said he's extremely grateful. "I wish I could list and mention everybody," he said.

When he got word at Ciro's Tuesday night, where he and Dist. 49 challenger Mike Morin had a gathering that night, there was a lot of cheering and yelling, "But I was still very reserved," Casey said, though, "I believe I hugged everyone in the room and thanked them, especially my wife."

Casey credited the hard work of his family, friends and supporters for making the 50-vote difference in the primary. He said his campaign was a person-by-person effort for every vote, right up until the primary was over. "You work till the end. You work hard till the end," Casey said.