Mayoral campaigns staff up for final weeks

By Daniel Kittredge
Posted 9/21/16

The candidates for mayor are ramping up their campaigns as November's general election rapidly approaches. Michael Sepe, the Democratic nominee, announced last week the hiring of Kristina Fox as campaign spokesperson and senior field

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Mayoral campaigns staff up for final weeks

Posted

The candidates for mayor are ramping up their campaigns as November’s general election rapidly approaches.

Michael Sepe, the Democratic nominee, announced last week the hiring of Kristina Fox as campaign spokesperson and senior field advisor. A Rhode Island native, she previously served as field director for Jorge Elorza’s mayoral campaign in Providence. She also serves as first vice president of the Young Democrats of America.

Michael Napolitano Jr., son of former Cranston Mayor Michael Napolitano, has joined Sepe’s team as deputy campaign manager, while former City Council member Ralph Ciunci is the campaign’s treasurer.

“I’m proud of the team we’ve built and look forward to the days ahead,” Sepe said through a statement. “Election Day will be here soon, and we’ll keep up our hard work connecting with the voters of Cranston.”

Sepe’s announcement additionally lists several campaign advisors, including Deputy House Speaker Charlene Lima, former councilman and current Cranston Democratic City Committee treasurer Richard Del Sesto, former councilman David Hershey, attorney Thomas Ginnerty, and city committee members Steve Carrera and George David.

Sepe recently left his post as chairman of the city committee to focus on the mayoral race, with Mario Carlino having succeeded him in the role. City Democratic headquarters are located at 154 Gansett Ave.

Republican Mayor Allan Fung, meanwhile, has named Carlos Lopez his campaign manager. Lopez, who works as Fung’s chief of staff, has taken a leave from his City Hall post to oversee the campaign.

“I’m happy to be coordinating Mayor Fung’s re-election effort,” Lopez said. “After eight successful years in office, the mayor is looking forward to continuing to serve the people of Cranston.”

Fung’s campaign has opened offices at 1000 Chapel View Boulevard, which will serve as a base of operations for the full slate of local Republican hopefuls. Lopez said an open house will be held there at noon on Oct. 1.

“We’re going to run a fully operational campaign,” he said. “There’s many ways for people to get involved.”

Lopez also said there are “many seasoned veterans from Cranston’s political community helping out and advising us.”

The mayoral contest pits a tenured incumbent against a longtime fixture in city politics.

Fung was first elected in 2008, having previously served on the council. After winning a pair of two-year terms, he is in the midst of a four-year term to which he was elected in 2012 following changes to the city’s charter. If he wins re-election, the coming four-year term would be the last for which he is eligible.

Sepe, who formally announced his bid in November 2015, previously served as a Ward 5 and citywide representative on the City Council, and ran for mayor in 1994. He had chaired the city’s Democratic Party since 1997. He owns the accounting firm Michael Sepe and Company.

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