Friday, October 19, 2012
About 40 heard candidates speak about importance of parent's role in teaching, uniting northern RI communities to leverage fair funding.
Local candidates for state offices attended the Woonsocket Candidate Education Forum Monday night at Woonsocket High School hosted by Woonsocket's Parent Advisory Council. PAC members Cindy Stepanian and Tony Gabriele organized the event, and were set up with PAC flyers just inside the school entrance greeting people as they showed up. Candidates Senator Roger A. Picard, (D-Dist. 20), Senator Marc A. Cote, (D-Dist. 24), Representative Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (D-Dist. 49) Rep. John D. Brien (D-Dist. 51) Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51), candidate for Dist. 51 Stephen M. Casey and candidate for Dist. 50 Christopher Roberts attended. Candidate for Dist. 49 Michael Moniz did not attend the event. He also did not show up for the …
42.005089
-71.485196
Woonsocket High School
777 Cass Ave, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/candidates-speak-about-education-at-woonsocket-high-school
505160
/locations/8036669
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Did Obama redeem himself? Was Romney as masterful as in the first debate?
The town-hall debate at Hofstra University Tuesday night proved much more combative than the first debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Obama, who was roundly panned for his performance in Denver Oct. 3, came out much stronger, but Romney was equally forceful. So, who won? Was it enough for Obama to come out the victor? Or was Romney's ability to stay the course the deciding factor? Let us know in the comments section below. And share your favorite debate moment.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tell us who you thought did better in Thursday night's debate: Vice President Joe Biden or Congressman Paul Ryan.
The sole vice presidential debate is over – a swift, lively, and contentious exchange between Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Congressman Paul Ryan, a Republican. Now it's your turn. How did the candidates do? Joe Biden with his talk of "malarkey," and Paul Ryan with his workmanlike demeanor. And what did you think of Martha Raddatz, the moderator? Have you been swayed? Let us know in the comments.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Federal law would prohibit Stephen Casey from running as a partisan candidate if federal funding directly affected his firefighter's job.
This morning at 11:30 a.m. at the Pastore Federal Building in Providence, outgoing Rep. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50), loser of the Sept. 11 primary, will talk about his claim that the victor, firefighter Stephen Casey, has violated the Federal Hatch Act. The Hatch Act limits political activities of federal employees on and off duty. According to Ann Hanlon, spokesperson for the US Office of Special Counsel, which investigates complaints about violations of the law, Casey's campaign, which won against Brien by a 52-vote majority, might have violated the Hatch Act if his job as a firefighter directly benefited from federal funding. Hanlon said if his job was ruled to benefit directly from federal dollars, Casey would be prohibited from running as…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
In honor of National Voter Registration Day, we’re giving you all the information you need on how and where to register to vote.
If you haven’t yet registered to vote, head over to Woonsocket City Hall this week and get it off your to-do list. Today is National Voter Registration Day, and thousands of local, state and national organizations have mobilized to make sure millions of people don’t miss the chance to cast their vote in this year’s elections. Six million people didn’t vote in the 2008 elections because they either did not know how to register or because they missed the voter registration deadline. The voter registration deadline for Rhode Island is Oct. 7. Mail ballots may be requested up to Oct. 16. Here’s information on how you can register in time for the Nov. 6 elections: And don't forget — this year, all voters are required to show valid photo ID at…
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Dist. 50 incumbent's campaign faces daunting political history.
Incumbent Rep. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50) and his supporters launched a write-in campaign Thursday against Democratic primary victor Stephen Casey, defying the inauspicious history of such efforts with a mix of optimism and chagrin. The last successful write-in campaign in RI was in 1990, according to Ian Donnis's blog, On Politics. Dist. 69 incumbent Mark Dailey failed to get enough votes to get on the ballot, and wound up running a write-in campaign against two other write-in candidates. Dailey won, but Brien's write-in effort faces an additional challenge: Casey is on the ballot. Casey is on that ballot thanks to a 52 vote majority — hardly a resounding mandate, which gives Brien and his supporters confidence as they admit they could …
41.994639
-71.487203
Pepin Lumber
830 Cumberland Hill Rd, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/brien-supporters-aim-to-buck-write-in-hurdle-nov-6
505340
/locations/7888303
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Supporters, spectators welcomed announcement with applause.
Rep. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50) told supporters outside Pepin Lumber Thursday morning his decision to launch a write-in campaign was inpired by voters who urged him to keep running for the seat. Brien lost by 50 votes to primary challenger firefighter Stephen Casey Sept. 11, which the incumbent attributed partly to confusion over new polling places this year. Brien said he was also targeted by "public sector union bosses" looking to protect their turf and silence him as a voice for small business in Woonsocket. Many small business owners showed for the conference, making up the lion's share of a crowd that punctuated Brien's speech with applause. Among them were Paul's Family Restaurant, The Burrito Company, WNRI, Olly's Pizzaria and …
41.994639
-71.487203
Pepin Lumber
830 Cumberland Hill Rd, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/video-rep-jon-brien-speaks-about-reasons-for-write-in-campaign
505340
/locations/7887047
Supporters, representatives from about 30 small businesses, show for press conference at Pepin Lumber.
Rep. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50) is not taking his 50-vote loss to primary challenger Stephen Casey lying down — he's firing up a write-in campaign for the seat Nov. 6. "I am announcing my write-in campaign for state representative so that voters who may have lost their chance to be heard in the primary and voters who want to be heard in November will have that chance," said Brien to a crowd of about 50 people gathered outside Pepin Lumber on Cumberland Hill Road Thursday morning.
41.994639
-71.487203
Pepin Lumber
830 Cumberland Hill Rd, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/rep-jon-brien-annouces-write-in-campaign-for-dist-50
505340
/locations/7876036
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Dist. 49 Incumbent stands behind recent vote against supplemental tax.
If Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt's (D-Dist. 49) popularity at Paul's Family Restaurant is any indication, her primary challengers have a lot of work ahead of them. The representative got welcoming smiles from Paul and the staff Friday morning and spent a few minutes making small talk with patrons on her way to a table. The incumbent seems at home and comfortable there. To those voters who might be on the fence about whether to back Baldelli-Hunt for another term, she says her service has been conscientious, in the best interests of her constituents. The life-long Woonsocket resident has been getting to know those constituents for some time now. She worked as a Post Office clerk from 1984 until 2005, when she left to begin managing real …
42.01279
-71.50136
Paul's Family Restaurant
867 Social St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/rep-lisa-baldelli-hunt-seeks-re-election-on-principled-record
504720
/locations/7841911
Monday, September 3, 2012
Dist. 50 Rep. says opponent is running to protect union interests.
In 2006, Woonsocket native Rep. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50), ran against Democrat Todd Brien (no relation) in the primary after the incumbent voted for letting daycare workers collectively bargain with the state. The incumbent's vote is one example of what Brien calls an anti-taxpayer record, including what he said was a position against pension reform. Brien makes the point that his opponent this year, firefighter Stephen Casey, shares something in common with Todd Brien, a retired policeman: they’re both union members. Brien stands on a record he touts as pro-taxpayer, including votes for pension reform, (which saved Woonsocket $6 million this year, he said), and against the supplemental tax bill. “I grew up in that house right there,” …
David T
9:44 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
iPads in Woonsocket? That idea is so crazy, it just might work DR! Thanks for showing me the light! more ›