POLITICAL NEWS

Teamsters back Bucci Democratic mayoral candidate Maria Bucci

Posted 10/7/20

Teamsters back Bucci Democratic mayoral candidate Maria Bucci has received the backing of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251. "e;Maria Bucci's background and experience demonstrate her commitment to the needs of Cranston's working families.

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POLITICAL NEWS

Teamsters back Bucci Democratic mayoral candidate Maria Bucci

Posted

Teamsters back Bucci

Democratic mayoral candidate Maria Bucci has received the backing of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251.

“Maria Bucci’s background and experience demonstrate her commitment to the needs of Cranston’s working families. We can trust her to prioritize the health and safety of city workers and residents. She will fight for economic equality and work with all of her constituents to make Cranston a great city,” Matt Taibi, secretary-treasurer and principal officer of Local 251, said a statement from the Bucci campaign.

“I am honored to receive the Teamsters endorsement,” Bucci said in the statement. “The men and women of the Teamsters are dedicated working Rhode Islanders who know what it takes to build a great City and state. I look forward to working with them on this campaign and as partners in making Cranston the best place to live and work in Rhode Island.”

The statement touts “hundreds of Local 251 union households in Cranston” that will “support the get-out-the-vote effort” for Bucci heading into the Nov. 3 election.

Bucci’s other endorsements include Commercial Workers Local 328, Clean Water Action, the National Organization for Women Rhode Island Chapter and the Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus.

Teachers’ union endorses Hopkins

Republican mayoral candidate and Citywide Councilman Ken Hopkins announced he has received the endorsement of the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance, Local 1704 of the American Federation of Teachers and AFL-CIO.

In a Sunday statement, the Hopkins campaign said he was informed of the endorsement by CTA president Liz Larkin and Jessica Palumbo, chair of the union’s political action committee, following an interview last week.

“I am grateful to the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance for their endorsement and support. Solid commitment to Cranston schools, our teachers and students is a major plank of my mayoral campaign,” Hopkins said in the statement. “We absolutely need to implement the necessary steps and initiatives to bring 21st century education programs into our classrooms and school buildings.”

He added: “In my discussions with the CTA, I stressed that I look forward to a meaningful partnership to support our teachers and Cranston’s schools. That starts with a working dialogue with the CTA, school administration and School Committee and adequate financial support to improve our schools and to support its educators.”

Hopkins served as a teacher and athletic director in Cranston’s schools for several years before retiring. His late wife, Mary, was also a Cranston educator.

Hopkins, has been endorsed by Mayor Allan Fung, has also received the backing of the city’s police and fire unions.

Upcoming election deadlines

Rhode Island’s voter registration deadline arrived Oct. 4, but there a number of other key dates coming up ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Voters seeking a mail ballot must apply by Tuesday, Oct. 13. The following day, early in-person voting begins at Cranston City Hall. Early voting ends on Monday, Nov. 2, at 4 p.m.

City Registrar Nick Lima said as of Sunday, 10,701 Cranston votes had applied for mail ballots. For those who intend to vote in person on Election Day, the city will have all 30 of its polling places open.

For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Center at vote.sos.ri.gov.

Additionally, voters will soon get an updated look at candidates’ fundraising and spending. The next campaign finance reports, reflecting the period from Sept. 1 to Oct. 5, are due Oct. 6. After that, the next filing deadline is Oct. 27, seven days before the election.

Additional information and past reports can be found at www.ricampaignfinance.com.

Citywide council forum planned

A Zoom forum featuring the six candidates for citywide seats on the City Council, cosponsored by the Cranston Herald and the Cranston Public Library, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19.

Like the mayoral debates held this year, the council forum will be held virtually pandemic-related safety concerns and restrictions. Final details regarding the citywide forum will be announced shortly.

Herald editor Daniel Kittredge will serve as the event’s moderator. Participants will including the three Democratic candidates, Jessica Marino, Larry Warner and Dylan Zelazo, and the three Republican candidates, Robert Ferri, Nicole Renzulli and Don Roach.

All three citywide seats on the council are open this year.

Political Winds is a semi-regular feature focused on the 2020 election campaign. Candidates or those with political news may contact Daniel Kittredge, editor, at 732-3100, ext. 234, or dan@rhodybeat.com.

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