Projo Politics: Cumberland

Welcome to the Projo Political News Blog Here you'll find political news stories and candidate biographies. Campaign releases and news sent to us from local candidates will run here. We're also encouraging candidates to post campaign news and information directly to this blog.

We hope you'll join us and make this blog a hot spot for discussion about what's happening - the good, the bad and the ugly - on the local political scene.

Ryan Pearson annouced the launch of his campaign website today. The site can be reached at voteryanpearson.com. Ryan hopes that residents will visit this site to learn more about him, the issues, and how to help his campaign.

He also announced today that his campaign will be holding a fund-raiser on Monday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cumberland House of Pizza, 2360 Mendon Road. Tickets are available at the door or by visiting voteryanpearson.com. The suggested donation is $25 per person

In his first term as Cumberland's District 1 Town Councilman, Antonio Albuquerque, who is seeking re-election, learned the value of communication between all branches of government. "We need to work together to solve the problems of our community. No one is right all of the time and no one is wrong all of the time."

A former member of Cumberland's Planning Board, Tony has concerns about growth and development in town. "I know we need to maintain our infrastructure and make improvements to remain competetive." "Communication, cooperating and negotiating that balance is vital to the job of a councilperson," stated Albuquerque. Albuquerque states that he does not take lightly the responsibility of balancing the needs of our town with the ability of the residents to afford those needs.

As a former president of the Lusitana Club, volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln and fundraiser for the Northern RI Community Mental Health Center, Albuquerque states, " I have seen what can be accomplished when people work together towards a common goal. The mindset that I bring to the Council table is one of cooperation that encourages our government to operate efficiently and be responsive to its residents."

Albuquerque is proud to be part of a government that cares about Cumberland, its residents and its businesses. Says Albuquerque, "I will continue to build consensus on issues and support thos issues that benefit the Town of Cumberland, not those that are politically expedient."

Tony Albuquerque is planning for tomorrow, today. He is the right choice in these tough times.

Representative Rene R. Menard was one of only twelve of the 75-member Rhode Island House of Representatives who on April 26 voted against the supplemental budget legislation which was necessary to make up a $168-million-deficit in last year's (FY 2008) state budget.

"My primary reason for voting against the supplemental budget was Article 17,'' said Menard who is seeking reelection to House District 45. "That article made major cuts in state aid that the General Assembly had earlier budgeted for Lincoln, Cumberland, and every other Rhode Island city or town."

Menard said general revenue sharing and reduced reimbursements for lost vehicle excise taxes for Lincoln were cut by a total of $206,131 or 15.4 % of the amount approved by the legislature in last year's budget. "Cumberland suffered an even bigger loss," he added. "The other municipality which I represent as District 45 Representative saw its general revenue sharing and excise tax reimbursements cut by $294,681.

"I couldn't in good conscience go against the aid commitment which I amd my colleagues made to our cities and towns," he said. "Those municipalities were nine months into their budget year when we pulled the rug out from under them. I recognize we needed a supplemental budget to make up the deficit. But the way the General Assembly treated local government by cutting their aid in midstream was not justified and not fair."

Menard said the legislation didn't have the intestinal fortitude to cut state services so they forced every city and town to either raise local taxes or cut services to replace aid which the legislature had eliminated. "One way or the other, Article 17 in the supplemental budget was just passing the buck of a state deficit problem to local taxpayers in every Rhode Island community."

Kevin Crawley, Democratic candidate for State Representative, states that we need to look at the larger picture and set forth an agenda for the future of Cumberland. Making the youth of our community one of his priorities, he will propose legislation to prohibit drug paraphernalia from being sold in our neighborhood convenience stores.

"As parents we continue to teach our children to resist drugs and violence. We need to make sure that as a community we also send that message to our children. It's counterproductive when store owners place wrapping papers for marijuana cigarettes for sale in plain view for our young children to see. What kind of a message does that send?"

"The youth of this community are the future of tomorrow. I will fight for equal funding for education, after school programs and youth sports. In my nineteen years as a police officer and nine years as an attorney I have worked with thousands of juveniles. I have been a DARE Officer and a prosecutor in the Family Court and Juvenile Hearing Board. My wife Kara (Mansi) is an elementary school teacher and we have three young children who attend North Cumberland Middle and Community Elementary. I will do everything I can to ensure that the Cumberland public school system is the best.

I am a strong proponent of youth sports and after school programs because they have proven to be effective measures to keep our children engaged in positive social activities. They are vital components for the future success of our children."

A fundraiser for Mayor Dan McKee will be held on Monday, August 18th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cumberland House of Pizza, 2360 Mendon Road, Cumberland. Tickets are available at the door or by calling McKee Headquarters at 633-4107. Suggested donation is $25 bronze sponsor, $50 silver sponsor or $100 gold sponsor.