Early voting for the September 13 primary began Aug. 24 and will continue through Sept. 12 at the Peter T. Pastore Youth Center located at 155 Gansett Ave (voting is closed Labor Day). Early voting will take place weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the statewide election being held Sept. 13. For more information on Cranston voting, visit the Canvassing Authority tab on the city’s website: www.cranstonri.gov.

What residents will vote on:

 According to Registrar/Director of Elections Nick Lima, there are no School Committee or City Council primaries.  Declared party registered voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots for General Assembly candidates and Ward Committee members.

There was supposed to be a School Committee primary between Ward 5 candidates Kimberly Lettieri, Tera Norberg and Arthur Scavitti, however Littieri withdrew. The question remains on the ballot since they were printed prior to her withdrawal.

As for the House races on September’s ballot, there will be a primary for District 14 between Democrat incumbent candidate Charlene Lima and Giona Picheco. In District 15, there will be a race between Republican incumbent candidate Barbara Fenton-Fung and Suzanne Downing. In District 16, Democrat incumbent Brandon Potter will pair up against Natalya Delsanto. In District 19, incumbent Joseph McNamara will go against Stewart Wilson. In District 42 there will be a three-way race between incumbent Edward Cardillo, Dennis Cardillo and Kelsey Coletta. 

On the Senate side of the General Assembly races, there will be a primary in District 26 between incumbent candidate Frank Lombardi and Eric Asselin. In District 31, there is a primary between Democrat candidates Matthew LaMountain and Harrison Tuttle and Republican candidates Lisa Morse and John Silvaggio.

Meeting Your Candidates

 The Cranston Herald asked primary candidates to submit a 400-word profile on their thoughts on the current condition of Rhode Island government and policies, what they would bring to the state legislature should they be elected or simply why they’ve decided to run. Candidates for House District 14, House District 42 and Senate District 26 were featured in last week’s paper.

House District 15: Barbara Fenton-Fung

“Since I was first elected two years ago, Cranstonians have seen a lot get done at the General Assembly. We’ve eliminated the car tax a year early, finally removed the tax on military pensions and raised the tax exemption for social security recipients. At the same time, we’ve capped co-pays on insulin, made huge investments in our mental health infrastructure, improved cybersecurity measures around our voting processes and increased state funding to the Cranston school system. 

Locally, we’ve made targeted investments through a lot of state grants. We’ve secured $5,000 to rebuild in the infields at Brayton Park, $5,000 to improve safety infrastructure around Cranston Western Little League fields, $21,000 for speed deterrent radar signs across the city, $10,000 for Knightsville Gazebo renovations and $5,000 to Cranston Historical Society. We’ve also been able to support the Western Cranston Garden Club, the St. Mary’s Feast Society and Special Olympics. 

In the next two years, my focus will be on working with DEM and legislative leadership to start the long overdue process to renovate and revive Meshanticut Lake State Park. We have massive infrastructure and environmental resiliency issues at play, but an opportunity to work together and make great things happen in an area that is so important for recreation and relaxation in our city.  

I’ll also be working with members to do more for those who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The PUC has been wholly ineffective at limiting the rise in electricity prices, and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) needs to be expanded to help those on fixed incomes cope with the rapid rise in home heating oil – a direct consequence of extreme swings in policies coming from Washington DC. I won’t allow my elderly neighbors to freeze in their own homes, and it’s going to require a full court press to help on the frontlines first, and fix in Washington D.C., second.  

We’ve done big things in Rhode Island during my first two years in the legislature. Now it’s time to hit it out of the park, and I humbly ask for your support in the Republican primary on September 13th.”

House District 15:  Suzanne Downing

Suzanne Downing will run against Barbara Fenton-Fung in the upcoming primary. The Cranston Herald was unable to get in touch with her, even after visiting her home, for this article.

House District 16: Brandon Potter

“These are challenging times for a lot of us. The cost of living has gone up, and people are feeling the effects in their pocketbooks. The division in our politics, efforts to undermine our democracy and threats of political violence have a lot of folks rightfully concerned. That’s why I believe it’s never been more important to have real Democrats in office that not only fight for our values, but deliver results on the issues that matter to everyday people. In my first term as a State Representative, I’ve seen how people can come together to get good things done. We’ve made major progress on a host of issues from healthcare, education, housing, worker protections, voting rights, gun safety and the environment. We’ve delivered real economic relief by eliminating the car tax early, cutting taxes for seniors and veterans and raising wages for working people. But no matter how much progress we’ve made, there’s a lot more work to do to build a Rhode Island that works for everyone. I’ve focused a lot on healthcare policy issues, and I’m especially proud of what we got done in the last two years. We expanded access to Medicare and Medicaid, we took bold steps to combat the opioid epidemic and we finally passed nursing home safe-staffing. But I’m also very concerned about our healthcare delivery system, the shortage of workers and what it means for the most vulnerable among us. We have an aging population, and we need to ensure that people can age and be cared for with dignity. We have both children and adults with developmental disabilities that can’t get the care they need because of worker shortages. Tackling these issues takes real policy work. It takes maintaining and recruiting a workforce that’s equipped to care for people like they deserve to be cared for. It takes a willingness to take on corporate greed and put people first. And that’s why I’m running for re-election. I believe people deserve leaders in office that focus on real issues, stand up against special interests, and build coalitions to get things done. I’ve done that. And I believe that by delivering on major issues, we can show people that the government can in fact work for them – and that’s the best way for us to start to heal the division in our country.”

House District 16: Natalya Delsanto

“Natalya Delsanto was born in the Soviet Union and came to Rhode Island with her family when she was 19 years old, living in a small apartment above a Providence bakery. Although she spoke almost no English, Natalya went to work the day after arriving in America, cleaning houses with her mother for a combined $2.50 an hour. She worked hard enough to afford to attend cosmetology school and start her first business working as a hairdresser.

She currently owns the European Food Market, which sells traditional Eastern European food, desserts and decorations. The business was started by her mother, Yelena, over 30 years ago and moved to its current Cranston location in 2000. Natalya knows that her story of going from cleaning floors to running a small business is only possible in America. She wants to make sure other people can enjoy the same success she has.

She’s running for State Representative to be a voice for regular working people like herself. Owning her own business has shown her how Rhode Island’s government can be an obstacle for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company. At the State House, she will fight against insider deals and radical policies, speaking truth to power on behalf of her constituents.

Natayla is the proud mother of two daughters, Sophia and Ivana, who both attended Cranston Public Schools. One of Natayla’s top priorities is making sure every child can access a high-quality public education. That means giving our teachers the resources and training they need, making sure our school buildings are worthy of the children inside them and keeping politics and age-inappropriate material out of the classroom so people are focused on learning.” (The Cranston Herald obtained this information via Natalya’s website.)

House District 19: Joseph McNamara

“I am running for office to continue working to improve the lives and economic opportunities for every resident of our state. I hope to continue to be an effective voice at the State House who listens to our neighbors in the 19th District. I graduated from Warwick Public Schools and raised my own family here. I love this community and want to continue working to make it even better, whether it’s the historic reconstruction of the Pawtuxet River Bridge in the Village or identifying resources to improve our parks and ensuring that our community members continue to have access to the natural resources that enhance our neighborhoods.

I will continue to be an effective advocate for our community, and have a track record of successful leadership:

I led the fight to end the car tax.

I co-sponsored critical gun safety legislation.

I sponsored legislation that placed a school construction bond on the ballot and doubled the amount of preschool slots.

I co-sponsored legislation that codified Roe v. Wade into law.

I co-sponsored the Act on Climate.

Additionally, I have worked on the transformation that has taken place in Pawtuxet Village, with traffic calming, new sidewalks, dredging the cove, removal of the dam and, most recently, advocating for increased oversight by DEM on environmental issues impacting our community. We have a wonderful community of advocates, such as Pawtuxet Green Revival, who I enjoy working in partnership with to ensure that our historic access to the Pawtuxet watershed is preserved.

As a retired public school teacher and administrator, I care deeply about education and expanding access to opportunities. I am the Chair of the House Education Committee, the former Chair of the New England Board of Higher Education and a founding board member of College Unbound, an organization that helps adult learners re-enter higher education. I am a member of numerous community organizations, but am especially passionate about my work with Friends of Salters Grove and the RI Marine Archeology Project’s search for the Gaspee.

I am also the former owner of Joe’s Dairy Shoppe in both Warwick and Cranston. I have earned a Master of Education Degree from Providence College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston University, and am a proud Pilgrim High School graduate. I was honored to receive the Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award for my contributions to RI’s Marriage Equality Act and anti-bullying law.

My campaign has been endorsed by Clean Water Action RI, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, the RI Coalition Against Gun Violence, the National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI), the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, United Nurses and Allied Professionals and many additional labor unions.”

House District 19: Stewart Wilson

“My name is Stuart Wilson, and I think it’s time for change. I’ve biked through all of District 19, Warwick and Cranston, knocking on doors. (Maybe you’ve seen me on my old Blue Schwinn.) I hear it every day: voters are ready for change after 27 years of the same representation.

I was born in Rhode Island, and I’ve been here my whole adult life. My mom was a nurse, and my dad ran a small business in Pawtucket. Today, my wife Nicky and I are raising our kids here in Warwick. My oldest is about to start in the public schools in Warwick (shout out to the Wyman Wolves!). We love it here, but we also see the potential for a better and stronger future for our community and our state.

I’ve worked as an educator throughout the state, teaching mostly in Providence and Central Falls schools. Cranston and Warwick schools face similar challenges. Suffice to say, every child in this state deserves access to a high-quality education, not just the ones who live in wealthy communities.

I’ve been talking to voters all across District 19 and have heard so many people say the same thing: we are ready for a representative who stands up to lead on important issues.

Women’s rights: why haven’t we protected the reproductive rights of every woman in this state?

Education: building the schools that equip our kids for the future.

Safer Streets: a smart, forward-thinking transportation plan that considers pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and automobile users over the interests of the oil lobby.

Gun safety: meaningful legislation that will keep our kids and neighbors safe.

We must take meaningful action on these issues. These aren’t just ideas supported by Democrats, but the overwhelming amount of Warwick and Cranston residents I meet every day. They don’t want half-measures that end up costing taxpayers more in the long term; they want real solutions. Solutions that require bold imagination and hard work. At the same time, people are struggling out there, and we need to find ways to make these changes without placing the burden on working families. I’m ready to stand up and push for this kind of change, with the needs of our community in the front of my mind.

I don’t take any money from special interests or corporations – just regular citizens. I won’t just bring the General Assembly leadership’s message to you, I’ll take your concerns to them. This is the power we can have if we work together as a community.

It’s time for change.”

Senate District 31: Harrison Tuttle (Democrat)

“My name is Harrison Tuttle, and I’m running to be the next State Senator of District 31. I’m running to continue the legacy of Senator Kendra Anderson and make sure that the people of District 31 have a working-class champion representing them on Smith Hill.

I am 23 years old, and I work in the education sector for Genesis Center in Providence. As the son of a disabled, single mother, my lived experiences with poverty and homelessness give me a unique insight as to how to best advocate for working people. We see it everyday: people having to choose between essentials, people choosing either medical care or bankruptcy, or if they feed their family or pay the rent. I’m running because we need an advocate for working people, not the corporate lobbyists and special interest groups that have a stranglehold on our political leaders.

I want to go to the State House to make life better for working class people in our state. I want to fight for affordable housing, to make sure college grads can build a life in our state and that elders don’t have to leave the Ocean State. I want to increase our minimum wage, so people can make a good living in Rhode Island. I want to fight for Medicare for All, to make sure everyone has equal access to medical treatment. I want to invest in our education system to make sure our kids have a strong start: putting mental health and career readiness counselors in our schools.

My lived experience guides my conscience. Experiencing elements of poverty and homelessness shaped my worldview with a bend toward the arc of equality and justice. We must make an investment in the working class of the Ocean State. If the people of District 31 want a working class guy to work for working class people, I would be honored to be their champion and State Senator.”

Senate District 31: Matthew LaMountain  (Democrat)

“In recent years it has become increasingly difficult for young families to buy a home, afford childcare and raise their children in Rhode Island. We can change this by electing more young parents to the General Assembly who will fight for working families. That’s why I decided to run for the State Senate earlier this year. When my wife, Casey, and I purchased our cape home on Mayfair Road in 2012, we pictured ourselves raising a young family across from St. Peter’s Church, strolling with our children down to Salter Grove and dining out on Friday nights in Pawtuxet Village. Casey was working as an R.N. at Rhode Island Hospital, and I was prosecuting criminal cases in the Attorney General’s Office. We both had substantial student loan debt, but we scrimped and saved and finally closed on our home. Casey and I now have two children, and we often take them to Salter Grove to play with their grandparents. But right now, the economic pains of parenthood are inescapable. Gas prices are through the roof, grocery bills are high… not to mention the cost of diapers. The skyrocketing cost of childcare has us constantly rethinking whether it’s more affordable for one of us to stay home with the kids. We need to increase state investments in early learning, affordable childcare and Universal Pre-K. We must also act to combat the effects of Climate Change to preserve our coastal communities for our next generation to use with their families. As the son of a public-school teacher, I know the benefits of supporting our teachers, students and providing a quality public education. Our school buildings are in desperate need of renovation and I will fight to increase our reimbursement rate for school construction. We also need to ensure Warwick gets the necessary state funding to support students with learning disabilities, English Language Learners and students from lower income families. As a nurse’s husband, I have watched firsthand the toll Covid-19 took on Casey and our frontline healthcare workers. It is clear how important accessible and affordable healthcare is – including access to reproductive and maternal healthcare. As a former state prosecutor, I witnessed first-hand the tragedy of gun violence, and the plague illegal firearms have on our streets. Because of this, I will fight for common sense gun laws. And, in light of recent Supreme Court rulings, I will use my legal and courtroom experience to protect women and marginalized communities. I carry with me the lived experience of a working family and know first and foremost a community is judged by how it respects its seniors. I will be a strong advocate for reducing taxes on retirees and the elderly so they may age gracefully in their communities. We must work together to solve the issues facing us. I believe I have the vision and temperament to be an effective advocate for our community. With your support, we can work together building a Warwick that works for working families.”

Senate District 31: Lisa Morse (Republican)

“Thank you for your time and consideration. This is my first campaign, so campaigning is new to me. I am a regular Rhode Islander and a mom who has had enough. Rhode Island has become impossible to live in. Decades of bad policies have driven us to the bottom of the lists in all state categories – except depression. We are number one in that! Rhode Islanders are suffering, and we must help each other.

I want to restore hope and independence to all Rhode Islanders. The State Legislature refuses to focus on the things that matter in ordinary Rhode Islanders’ everyday lives. Drugs, crime, decaying cities, unsafe roads, unusable schools, burdensome taxes, regulations, laws, ordinances and mandates are crushing us -- especially financially. We are tired of watching businesses and people leave. We are tired of watching Rhode Island crumble before our eyes. I will vote against more nonsense, burdens and bad policies. I will work to repeal and abolish all of the laws, taxes, mandates, ordinances and regulations that oppress and depress us. We need a Rhode Island that is safe, affordable and free.

I will restore a public service attitude at the State House. I am a public service person by nature. I am a perpetual volunteer, currently serving at ATCRI Women’s home. I am second vice-chairman of the Warwick Republican City Committee. I loved serving in restaurants. As a waitress, mom, grandmother and volunteer, I say to people, ‘What do you need?’ They tell me, and I do it. We all need that attitude of serving from our elected leaders.

It would be an honor to serve you as your Senator.”

Senate District 31: John Silvaggio (Republican)

John Silvaggio will run his campaign for District 31 Office of State Senator as a Republican. Silvaggio’s name appeared in the Providence Journal and in a corresponding story on TurnTo10 showcasing his involvement with The North American Competitive Beard and Moustache Alliance (N.A.C.B.M.A.). This charity contributed over one million dollars to various causes.

Silvaggio currently sports the number eight ranking in the world in addition to holding second within The United States of America for facial hair. He is a proud dad of one daughter who attends school in Cranston, where he was actively involved in her previous elementary school at Gladstone Elementary; there he helped raise thousands of dollars while serving as treasurer within the Parents and Teachers of Gladstone (PTG).

Before becoming a public servant, Silvaggio was the principal of ‘JP Silvaggio & Associates’ a Private Detective and State Constable Agency involved in over 200 documented court cases. He is an Instructor for the Use of Force Continuum by Armament Systems and Procedures which is considered the standard for Defensive Tactics within Law Enforcement that comes in addition to an array of NRA Civilian Instructor Certifications with emphasis on Personal Protection.