POLITICAL WINDS

McAuley won't seek new term in Ward 2

By DANIEL A. KITTREDGE
Posted 5/27/20

By DANIEL KITTREDGE Saying he "e;gave it my all for four years,"e; second-term Ward 2 City Councilman Paul McAuley has announced he will not seek reelection this year. "e;Serving the people that elect you is not just a political catch phrase. Every day as

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POLITICAL WINDS

McAuley won't seek new term in Ward 2

Posted

Saying he “gave it my all for four years,” second-term Ward 2 City Councilman Paul McAuley has announced he will not seek reelection this year.

“Serving the people that elect you is not just a political catch phrase. Every day as councilman I wake up with that commitment and try to do my absolute best for my neighbors. I do not take my responsibilities lightly. I devote one hundred percent advocating for my ward and my city of which I was born, raised and raised a family,” McAuley, a Democrat, said in a statement.

He added: “Until my term expires I will continue to do the best work possible for my neighbors that I deeply care for. Being councilman has given me the opportunity to give back to the community from which my family gained so much. I am so very proud of our city and will continue to do anything I can to help. Cranston is truly is a great city. It’s always been my home. I wish to thank my constituents for welcoming me into their lives and for making me a better person. I hope that my service over the past several years, in some small way, helped to make Cranston a better place.”

Reached by phone Tuesday, McAuley added of his decision: “I think it’s time.” While he is retired, he said he enjoys working and plans to pursue new part-time employment opportunities.

McAuley, 65, was first elected to the council in 2016. It was his first bid for public office. He won a second term in 2018.

His decision not to run again creates another open seat on the nine-member council, which appears likely to have at least five new members when the next term begins in January.

Council President Michael Farina and Citywide Councilman Ken Hopkins have both announced their plans to run for mayor and are set to face off in a September GOP primary. Democratic Citywide Councilman Steve Stycos, who has also announced his mayoral candidacy, is term-limited, as is Michael Favicchio, the council’s vice president and a Republican representing Ward 6.

The four remaining incumbents have announced reelection plans or appear likely to do so in the weeks ahead – Democrats Lammis Vargas of Ward 1 and John Donegan of Ward 3, and Republicans Ed Brady of Ward 4 and Chris Paplauskas of Ward 5. Vargas, Donegan and Brady are all in their first elected term – Brady having been appointed to fill the seat formerly held by Trent Colford in July 2018 – while Paplauskas is currently in his third term.

McAuley’s statement touts his record as “a consensus-building, bipartisan councilman that puts his constituents and Cranston neighborhoods before his personal political ambition.” The recognition he received from officials across the political spectrum in the wake of his announcement is testament to the relationships and respect he has built.

“Paul McAuley exemplifies what a city councilman is all about,” Michael J. Sepe, chairman of the Cranston Democratic City Committee, said through McAuley’s statement. “He is good person and an enthusiastic advocate for the people of Cranston and for the ideals of the traditional Democratic party. His ability to gather consensus of the City Council will be sorely missed.”

Mayor Allan Fung offered the following: “Even with me as a Republican and Paul as a Democrat, I am very disappointed to hear the news. Paul is selfless and always does the right thing for our community. He calls it as he sees it. Paul serves the city proudly and, as we both will move away from City Hall, I have gained a friend that I greatly admire. His departure will be a great loss to the City of Cranston.”

McAuley’s council colleagues, too, spoke highly of the Ward 2 councilman.

“Throughout Councilman Paul Mcauley’s last two terms the city of Cranston has benefited from his leadership greatly! Paul has become a mentor and a great friend,” Brady wrote on social media. “Paul always put “politics” aside and led with his compassionate heart! We need more leaders like him. I’m very sorry to hear that he will not be seeking re-election and his leadership will TRULY be missed. Thank you for your friendship, guidance, service and investment to the citizens of Cranston my friend!”

“Paul will me missed,” Paplauskas wrote in a post. “He is a tremendous advocate for Ward 2 and the entire City. I wish him the best in future endeavors. Chambers will be missing a great voice for the City next term. A true gentleman.”

Donegan wrote on Twitter: “Paul is one of the kindest, hardest working people in politics, and a fierce advocate for his Ward. I’ll genuinely miss serving with Paul next term.”

Farina added, also via Twitter: “Good luck Councilman Paul McAuley, you were an honest and very authentic councilman. Best of luck with the rest of your term.”

Hopkins, in a press release, praised McAuley’s “reputation of bipartisanship” and described him as a “fierce advocate for his constituents.”

“It is an understatement to say Councilman Paul McAuley will be missed serving the people of Ward 2 and all of Cranston,” Hopkins said. “Paul is one of the most respected members to ever serve on the City Council. He has a unique ability to gets things done across the aisle. Paul is an old school Democrat that is humble and genuine. Along with his sound initiatives, his character serves him well in being highly effective with a Republican-controlled city council.”

He added: “I am proud to call Paul my trusted friend and our friendship will last beyond politics. He is one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all members of the City Council. Paul exemplifies what dedicated public service is all about. His departure will be a significant loss to the City and the people that he serves.”

McAuley on Tuesday called the statements from his colleagues “extremely humbling.” He said he has spoken with several prospective candidates for the Ward 2 seat, although at this point he has no plans to endorse a successor.

“Whoever wants to succeed me, I wish them all the best, but I’m staying out of it,” he said.

McAuley said he is taking a similar position in terms of the mayoral race, at least for now. He spoke highly of Farina, Hopkins and Stycos.

“When the time is right, I’ll come and throw my support to who I think would be the best mayoral candidate,” he said.

He also praised Brady, Donegan, Paplauskas and Vargas, saying: “I have a feeling the council is going to be in good hands.”

He additional offered particular praise for Favicchio, who “took me under his wing” as a member of the council’s Finance Committee during his first term.

“I’ll be forever grateful for his help,” he said.

McAuley’s statement points to a number of accomplishments during his tenure on the council, including “keeping the line on taxes, building the Eden Park School playground, fighting for neighborhood upkeep, safety initiatives and preserving open space by stopping privatization of the Doric Ave. field.”

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