Over the last couple of months, Ward 6 Councilman and Republican Party Chairman, Matt Reilly, has been arrested multiple times by Cranston’s Police Officers for wielding a crack pipe behind the wheel of a car in our community, as well as charges of sexual assault on a 12-year-old child. The entire Cranston City Council has been disgraced by these reprehensible actions, but now the voters of Ward 6 have the opportunity to restore integrity to their City Council seat. The choice to do so is clear. Dan Wall is the right person to lead Ward 6 and its Council seat back to a position of responsibility and integrity.

 Dan Wall has an honorable record of public service. Mr. Wall led the school committee with integrity and commitment. He put in the hard work over eight years as an unpaid member of the committee, serving as Chairman for four years. His leadership, dedication to the job, responsiveness to residents, and ability to work with people from both parties has been repeatedly praised by many, including former Mayor Mike Traficante, who served with Dan on the School Committee. Dan will lead with integrity, support strong public safety, fight to protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and do everything in his power to keep taxes down.

 Anthony Melillo, on the other hand, lied to the voters of Ward 6 all last year while campaigning for School Committee. The very top of his campaign flyer that he had distributed throughout the ward began with the following quote:

“This position isn’t just a steppingstone for me. I am not a politician looking to take any seat just to start a political career. I actually want to serve the City of Cranston on the School Committee. I want to be a voice for children, neighbors, and educators…”

 Now, just twenty weeks removed from being sworn into his seat on the School Committee after an election where Mr. Melillo told the voters of Ward 6 that he cares about schools and truly wants to be a School Committee member, he’s using that election as a stepping stone and announced that he's running for higher office. Not only is he a politician who is only concerned about advancing his own political career, but he has demonstrated that he is willing to lie to voters in order to achieve his own self-interested goals. This is the worst kind of politician, someone who will do or say anything just to get elected and then not stand by his own words. Cranston and Ward 6 deserve better.

 Matt Reilly concealed his lack of integrity and fooled the voters of Ward 6 to vote him into office. Mr. Melillo has shown he lacks integrity too. Don’t get fooled again.