Edward Brady, a Republican who represents Ward 4 on the City Council, has announced he will seek reelection this year.

“My focus has been to continue to listen, learn, and grow as we work together as a community in a bipartisan effort for and with the citizens of Cranston,” Brady said in a Monday statement. “I am a proud Cranstonian. I grew up in Cranston, I received a great education in Cranston, I bought my first home in Cranston, I opened my first business in Cranston, I plan to raise children in Cranston – and I will continue to invest my time, heart, energy and resources to the continued growth of the city of Cranston as I proudly serve our community. If reelected, I promise I will continue to be honest in the performance of my duties as your councilman while putting ‘politics’ aside and the people of Cranston first.”

Brady, 35, was appointed to the Ward 4 seat in 2018 after Trent Colford stepped down. Brady won a full term in the seat later that year.

Brady is member of Dig in Dining restaurant group, which owns The Thirsty Beaver locations in Cranston and Smithfield along with other restaurants in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Cranston High School West and Bryant University.

The councilman’s statement points to his community involvement, including his restaurant group’s work to feed first responders during the COVID-19 crisis; his work with the Cranston-based Rhode Island Dream Center to help feed the area’s homeless population; his restaurant group’s collaboration with the Friendship Foundation to provide hundreds of Mother’s Day meals to families in need; the annual toy drive held at The Thirsty Beaver’s Cranston location; and his efforts to help “raise millions of dollars for various local non-profits through his philanthropic efforts.”

Brady is also a board member of the Cranston West Alumni Association, a role in which he has helped bring the Cranston West Alumni Auditorium project and the athletic field renovations at the school to fruition.

“Councilman Brady has also worked with Parks and Recreation and his fellow council people to build new community basketball courts at George J. Peters Elementary, Beachmont Courts, Garden City School Courts and others,” the statement reads.

Brady’s statement touts his record as a “bipartisan” council member who has “collaborated with all eight other members on the City Council on numerous positive community initiatives in addition to working with Mayor Allan Fung and the current administration.” It also points to his focus on “fiscal responsibility while also advocating for fellow small business owners.”

The councilman additionally highlights his co-sponsoring of a moratorium on commercial-scale solar developments in the city and his advocacy “to local solar investors to keep green energy savings and energy credits here in Cranston before selling them to competitive municipalities resulting in millions of dollars of potential savings for the Cranston taxpayers.”

In a nod to recent events in Rhode Island and across the nation, Brady said in the statement: “As a community of individuals with varying beliefs, we need to continue to listen and educate ourselves on the issues that we've faced in the past, are facing today, and will continue to face in the future, as more light is shone on the many social injustices that still exist in the world. I commit to keeping an open mind as I continue to listen, learn, invest and educate myself on different perspectives, while being sensitive to the fact that we are all people from different walks of life who enter this world in different environments. I am committed to standing with and assisting all people including those whose struggles I may not directly understand. I am also committed to stand with our local and state first responders, who are the very men and women tasked with the responsibility of protecting and honoring our community every single day. I will continue to support our police and fire departments with my utmost respect as we all should as members of this community.”

Fusco seeks to regain School Committee seat

Domenic Fusco Jr., who represented Ward 3 on the Cranston School Committee from 2015 to 2019, has announced he will run to regain the seat in this year’s election.

“I never did this for political or personal gain, I truly did this for the right reasons – keeping Cranston the best school district in the state,” Fusco said in a statement announcing his bid.

Paul Archetto, who previously represented Ward 3 on the City Council, topped Fusco for the School Committee seat in 2018. Archetto, a Democrat, has chosen to run for a citywide seat on the council this year, making the post open.

In his statement, Fusco points to his previous work on the Cranston Public Schools five-year facilities improvement plan and his service on the Special Education Advisory Committee, School Buildings Committee and Parks and Recreation Committee.

In the two years since his departure from the committee, Fusco has remained active as chairman of the Cranston Education Advisory Board, a board member for the Cranston YMCA and a member of the city’s Board of Contracts and Purchasing.

Fusco cites his willingness to “ask the tough questions” and serve as an advocate for students and parents during his time on the School Committee. He specifically points to his vote against continuing the district’s school sports busing agreement with First Student and his work to retain Aramark as the district’s food service provider.

“All this being said, for the last two years I feel the children of Ward 3 have not been served in the manner I feel they deserve, as such, I am announcing my candidacy to regain the seat to represent the children, parents, teachers, staff and administrators of Cranston Ward 3 and all of Cranston,” he said in the statement.

Fusco and his wife, Shelley, have two children, both graduates of Cranston High School East. A native of Providence, he is a graduate of Classical High School and Rhode Island College. He and his family have lived in Cranston for 18 years.

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.