Paplauskas

Chris Paplauskas, who made history in 2014 as the first Republican to win the Ward 5 seat on the City Council in more than 70 years, will seek reelection in November.

“Over the last six years, my focus has been on ‘Making Cranston Better - Together’ with all of you. Together, we can look to the future of our great City, and with that community spirit we can accomplish anything,” Paplauskas said in a statement last week. “It’s been an honor serving our great city, and as long as my neighbors continue to put their trust in me, I promise to continue putting our residents and neighborhoods first.”

Paplauskas, 37, is currently in his third term on the council. He serves as chairman of the council’s Safety Services & Licensing Committee and as vice chairman of the Ordinance, Public Works and Claims committees.

He has been eyed as a potential Republican candidate to succeed term-limited Mayor Allan Fung, and earlier this year he told the Herald he was “strongly considering” a bid for the city’s top elected office.

The mayoral field has since come into sharper focus, with Council President Michael Farina and Citywide Councilman Ken Hopkins set to square off in a GOP primary.

Asked about his decision not to make a mayoral bid, Paplauskas on Monday pointed to the impending departure of several long-serving council members – including Farina and Hopkins, as well as Democratic Citywide Councilman Steve Stycos and Republican Ward 6 Councilman Favicchio, who are both term limited. Stycos has also announced his candidacy for mayor.

If elected to a fourth term, Paplauskas would become the body’s longest-tenured member.

“I decided to stay on the council because I know many of our current members will not be coming back,” Paplauskas said. “I think I can help lead the city just as much from Council Chambers as I could from the mayor’s office. I plan on taking a major role in ensuring we come out of this crisis in the best way possible.”

Asked if he has a preferred candidate in the mayoral race, Paplauskas said: “I am fortunate enough to call both [Farina and Hopkins] my friend and colleague. And with them moving on we are losing leadership on the council. Right now, my focus is on the future of the City Council and to continue it on a path of doing what’s best for the city.”

Regarding his priorities if elected to a new term, Paplauskas said in his statement: “I will be focused on navigating the waters of city government in these challenging times, and as I have always done, I will continue working closely with my colleagues from both parties in a truly bipartisan effort. Working with our residents and community stakeholders to accomplish virtuous goals, we will keep Cranston one of the best cities to live in throughout America. I humbly and respectfully ask once again for your vote, so that we can continue the hard work we’ve done together to improve our city and the Fifth Ward.”

Paplauskas’s statement touts his “hard-earned reputation for being highly responsive to his constituents, garnering respect from both sides of the political aisle for his bipartisan, community-first approach to governing.”

It also includes an endorsement from Cranston Republican City Committee Chairman Christopher Buonanno, who said: “I’ve known Chris for years, and his passion and work ethic are unsurpassed in city government. The residents of the Fifth Ward and our entire city have been well-served by Councilmember Paplauskas, and in these challenging times we all face together, I can think of no better leader than Chris to have representing Ward 5 on the Council.”

Paplauskas and his wife, Judy, live on Highland Street with their two children, Aidan and Sophia. His statement highlights his community involvement, including as a former CLCF softball coach and Cranston East Little League coach, a current assistant scoutmaster for Troop 6 Cranston, a parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish, and an active member of the St. Mary’s Feast Society and the Santa Maria Di Prata Society.

“Paplauskas finds time to remain highly active across the City and in the Fifth Ward,” his statement reads. “Paplauskas and his team have taken the lead to start the Annual Ward 5 Christmas Tree Lighting at the Knightsville Gazebo, and he organizes an annual community Earth Day Clean-up of Meshanticut Lake. Paplauskas has also welcomed newly renovated playgrounds to Woodridge Elementary School and Sivo Park, helped to build a new basketball court at George J. Peters Elementary School, and has donated and planted flowers throughout the neighborhoods of the Fifth Ward.”

Hopkins calls for bag ban delay

Citywide Councilman Ken Hopkins, a Republican candidate for mayor, on Monday called for a one-year delay in the city’s impending ban on single-use plastic bags for retail checkout purposes in light of the pandemic’s impact on businesses.

“The last thing a local business needs is for us to burden them with this requirement as they fight to survive through this pandemic,” Hopkins said in a statement. “We have restaurants and businesses suffering with the severe effects of the necessary health shut down.”

The bag ban – which came through an ordinance amendment titled “Plastic Bag Reduction” – was approved by the council last year. It was vetoed by Mayor Allan Fung, but the council voted unanimously on Earth Day to override the veto.

Presently, the measure is set to take effect July 1. It prohibits businesses from providing customers with single-use plastic bags at the point of a sales transaction. Reusable bags or recyclable paper bags are allowed, and several exemptions are provided. The new rules additionally provide for fines of $250 to be assessed for repeat offenders.

Hopkins’ statement cites his “general support for the intent of protecting the local environment,” but points to the “extreme business closures being experienced” as the COVID-19 crisis continues.

“Businesses still have an abundance of plastic bags that they could use,” Hopkins said. “We need to give them time to use their existing inventory of plastic bags.”

The councilman has also called on his colleagues to revisit the $250 penalty included with the new rules.

“Looking at the totality of circumstances today, perhaps we need to look at that fine again as punitive,” he said. “When I am Mayor of Cranston, economic development and business friendly policies will be a top priority. We will balance that with a common sense approach to protect our environment and the great quality of life our citizens enjoy.”