Tuesday was a busy night for Bristol residents hoping to win a seat in the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives. 

Eleven candidates for five seats spent an hour talking policy during the Rhode Island League of Women Voters’ candidate forum held at the Bristol County Courthouse on the Bristol Town Common. Patrick Luce of East Bay Newspapers moderated the event, which was also sponsored by the newspapers chain and Full Channel TV.

House, District 69

The race for House of Representatives, District 69, in particular is wide open this year following the resignation of Raymond Gallison amidst ethics allegations. In his place, three hopefuls — Antonio “Tony” Avila (R), Analee Berretto (L) and Susan Donovan (D) talked policy in answer to questions posed by the audience through Mr. Luce.

“I have a lot of frustration based on a lot of the decisions that have been made by our legislators,” Ms. Berretto said. “I want to offer a third choice to our two-party system.”

A resident of Bristol since coming from the Azores in 1969, Mr. Avila has owned small businesses and said he knows the troubles his would-be constituents face.

“After seeing what was happening at the state level, what was being put on small business, of all the lack of common sense on how our tax money is being used, I decided that I could be a new voice, a new direction for our district.”

“I’m running because I believe we need people who are truly committed,” said Ms. Donovan, who taught in the local school district for 33 years. “I have children and grandchildren and I’m committed to the East Bay.”

On how you would improve the state’s business climate:

“I really think the state needs to focus on our small business,” Ms. Berretto said. “We waste a lot of money on corporate welfare (but) we have (thousands) of small businesses in the state, and that is where we need to focus.”

“We all want to bring in new business (but) with tolls coming in, all the products are going to cost more,” Mr. Avila said.

“I think we have to invest in our infrastructure,” Ms. Donovan said. “We are 50th in infrastructure. We have to invest in primary, secondary and higher education; our work force needs to be ready, and surely we need fair taxation and regulation.

On whether you support state Question Two, ethics commission oversight of the legislature

“Absolutely,” Mr. Avila said. “Question Two will ensure that everyone is responsible for their actions, that they will do what is right for their constituents and what is right for the state, not only what is right for them. We also need to enact term limits.”

“I certainly support the bill,” Ms. Donovan added. “It’s unfortunate that we don’t have it right now.

“I do, absolutely,” Ms. Berretto said. “We need an independent organization to look at the actions of our legislature.”

Are Rhode Island gun laws adequate?

“I think we can make improvements,” Ms. Donovan said. “I think concealed weapons laws need to be changed.

“I do support our second amendment rights,” Ms. Berretto said. “We have the second lowest gun crime in the country.

“The second amendment does not need to be changed,” said Mr. Avila. “We do not need to impose more regulations. If people were able to carry, a lot of those children that were killed at some of those schools could have been alive today. Why fix something that’s not broken?”

On whether you support state pension reform

“Once you are promised (a pension) and you worked hard and contributed to it, that is your money,” Mr. Avila said. “From now on it’s totally different; I do not support pension reform.”

“I am happy that I still have a pension so reform was necessary,” Ms. Donovan said. “We’ve changed the rules going forward. Will it be enough? I don’t have the answer to that but it’s the job of the General Assembly that we don’t get into the situation of an unfunded liability ever again.”

“We really need to be looking at how that money is managed,” Ms. Berretto said.

What should the General Assembly do about immigration that is fair and safe?

“We need immigration reform,” Ms. Donovan said. “Thirty percent of our kids in our schools in our inner cities do not speak English. Yes, we need reform but I am not in favor of putting people in jail.”

“I believe the real issue is the vetting process,” Ms. Berretto.

Mr. Avila, who immigrated to the United States, had a different take:

“When I came to this country, I had to show a green card to start at Andrews School .So what’s wrong with asking people that?”

“We cannot continue on being a sanctuary state,” he added. “That does not mean people in jail. What that means is we need to stop allowing all these illegals to come in. They never contribute one penny to our tax system. They are draining us. I’m an immigrant but I came they right way. They also have an opportunity to come the right way.”

In closing

Ms. Berretto said she seeks to be an independent voice and did not seek out endorsements in running for office.

“At the end of the day I want you to know that I’m voting what’s best for my constituency.”

“Are you tired of being squeezed?” Mr. Avila asked. “Have you had enough? Do you want relief or do you want change? If you want someone that will be your voice, then you have to think about Tony Avila.”

“I believe in living wages, fair taxation and fair and affordable health care,” Ms. Donovan said. “I think a lot about Rhode Island’s future and I’m asking you to trust that I will be a thoughtful and reasonable voice.”

House, District 68

Next up were District 68 candidates Kenneth Marshall, the Democratic incumbent from Bristol, and William Hunt Jr., a Libertarian candidate from Warren.

“I’m sick and tired of waiting for my state government to work for me,” Mr. Hunt, 33, said. “Every two years we hear excuses. The leadership in our state has given us nothing but tolls, scandals and embarrassment.”

“Certainly I can understand the public’s frustration,” Mr. Marshall said. “But I will tell you that having served you as a state official for four years, I have certainly seen progress.”

On offering cash incentives to lure companies to Rhode Island:

“Absolutely not,” Mr. Hunt said. “The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. We should leave it up to the free market.”

On commercial vehicle tolling:

“I did vote for the tolls,” Rep. Marshall said. “I want to be clear on this this. This is authorized by the federal govenremnt procedure that ultimately only allows tolls to go on federal bridges and federal highways that are in need of repair and replacement.”

“I’m 100 percent in favor of fixing Rhode Island’s infrastructure,” Mr. Hunt replied. “Adding a new tax in the tom of tolls is no way to do that.

On the legalization of marijuana:

“Until the federal government re-classifies marijuana, we need to tread very carefully on whether we put that on the ballot,” Rep. Marshall said.

“The economic benefit that our state could get for the service of the cannabis industry alone should be enough to make it legal,” Mr. Hunt said. “Nobody should be telling us what we put in our bodies anyway.”

On eliminating the state car tax

“100 percent, yes,” Mr. Hunt said. “I think we should eliminate the car tax immediately.”

“We already did eliminate the state car tax,” Rep. Marshall said. “At the end of the day it’s the intent of the next legislative body to work toward an incremental decrease of the car tax.”

In closing

“I recognize the difficulties that we all go through on a daily basis and I’m proud to have served you the last four years,” Rep. Marshall said.

“My opponent is not a bad guy, he is just part of a bad system,” Mr. Hunt said. “I want to go to the General Assembly and change the system. People just want a state government that is efficient.

State Senate, District 32

Next up were candidates for District 32, including incumbent Democrat Cynthia Coyne and James Kazounis, a Republican.

From the get-go, Mr. Kazounis attempted to paint Sen. Coyne as a member of the establishment, saying in his opening statement that “your current senator has a record of voting with leadership 100 percent of the time. I think I can do a better job.”

For her part, Senator Coyne said her first two years were fruitful and successful.

“Just imagine what we can accomplish the next two years.

On how you will improve the business climate:

“First of all we need to fix our infrastructure,” Senator Coyne said. “A poor infrastructure … affects our business climate. I do agree with starting to reduce the car tax so that we can put more money in our constituents’ pockets. And if we vote for Question One for that casino, that’s a way that we can get some new revenue.”

“I just want to be off the cuff,” Mr. Kazounis said. “We just need to be competitive with Massachusetts and Connecticut. That’s not gong to take much, just better legislation.”

On the legalization of marijauna:

“I would really like to see how Oregon and Colorado do before we write and pass legislation,” Mr. Kazounis said. That said, “I think we have a lot bigger problems and issues.”

“As a retired state trooper I have seen the ill effects that drugs have on individuals,” Sen. Coyne said. “I currently believe that I would not support legalizing marijuana.

On pension reform

“I can’t support (the current plan) at this time,” Mr. Kazounis said. “We need to find better investment vehicles. We lost $500 million this year. We should be scared at the percentage of funding that our pension plans have.”

“Yes I do,” Sen. Coyne said. “It has affected me and my family.”

Support the line item veto?

“Yes I do,” the incumbent said. “There are different varying types. I think we need to make sure that we research and make sure we choose the right one for Rhode Island.”

“Absolutely,” Mr. Kazounis said. “We have effectively hand-cuffed an entire branch of our government without veto power. The General Assembly gets away with what they get away with because the governor has no defense at all.”

In closing

“The way that bills get passed in your statehouse should be frightening you,” said Mr. Kazounis. “I could do a better job.”

“Running for public office isn’t easy,” Sen. Coyne added. “It’s challenging. I’m prepared and I want you to know I work very hard for you. I believe my commitment to public service has made a significant difference.

Senate District 10

In his opening remarks, incumbent Democratic Senator Walter Felag said he considers himself a public servant, not a politician. “For 38 years I’ve demonstrated leadership and integrity in being an elected official in the East Bay,” he said. “I believe I’m a community servant who represents all the people.”

His opponent, Warren Independent Jarrod Hazard, said he too would like to serve:

“New ideas are what the state needs, he said. For too long there’s been a stagnation in the State House.”

On whether state’s gun laws are adequate:

“I believe it’s important that we review our gun laws (and) maintain an open mind on these issues,” Sen. Flag said.

“Currently, Rhode Island has the second or fourth lowest rates of gun violence,” Mr. Hazard responded. “We have many laws already on the books that are good. What we do need to look at are cases of domestic violence.

On whether you support the governor’s truck tolling plan:

“Tolls area hot button issue and I vehemently oppose them,” Mr. Hazard said. “I believe that tolling just the trucks … just one class of vehicle is not fair. It is not the way to go.

“The tolls were part of a three-pronged program,” Sen. Felag added. “The most important aspect for people in the East Bay is the fact that (tolls elsewhere are going to the turnpike and bridge authority) so we don’t have tolls on the Mt. Hope and Sakonnet River bridges.”

On whether legislative grants should continue:

“One problem is it gives the opportunity for the appearance of misbehavior,” Mr. Hazard said. “I think it’s got to be looked at for reform; maybe not necessarily eliminating them.”

“I’m very much behind (legislative) grants,” Sen. Felag added. “Thery’re small amounts of money, but they do a lot of good in the community. there’s accountability.”

On whether the state education funding formula is fair

“Obviously. I feel it’s not fair because I voted against it,” Sen. Felag said. “It is very detrimental to the East Bay communities. We lost $8 million over a 10-year period; it’s getting to the point where we’re starting to cut services. It’s important that we bring back the money, especially to the regionalized school systems.”

“With the funding, we’ve started to see more improvements,” Mr. Hazard responded. “We’ve got some higher performing schools. We need to look at reform in terms of eliminating the Common Core curriculum, which I believe is a mistake.”

In closing

“I believe transparency is what is needed to help the state and to bring business to the state and move forward,” Mr. Hazard said.

“I’d like to say that I still have the fire in my belly to run for office,” Sen. Felag said. “My campaign is based on my integrity, my fairness and my communication skills. (Freshman legislators) soon learn that you have to compromise. The most important aspect is that your’e not going to get everything you think you can get. But if you get (small victories) then I believe you’ve done your job.

Senate, District 11

The race for District 11 is between John Pagliarini of Tiverton, the Republican incumbent, and challenger James Seveney, a Democrat from Portsmouth.

A former Navy aviator who worked for years as an aerospace engineer, Mr. Seveney said he has been active in Portsmouth politics since 2000 and hopes to bring his love of service to Smith Hill.

As for Sen. Pagliarini, “my ties to Bristol are deep.” The town has a soul, he said, “and I think I bring that to the State House. I put the time, I put the effort and my passion into representing my constituents.” 

On legislative ethics oversight:

“Yes,” Mr. Seveney said. “We have a crisis of confidence in government by our citizens. We must regain a foothold.”

“I do” support it, Sen. Pagliarini said. “I think everyone should vote ‘Yes’ on Two.”

Support the Tiverton casino?

“I do,” Sen. Pagliarini said. “I will vote yes on Questions One and Eight.”

“I support it, not philosophically but practically,” Mr. Seveney added. “The State of Rhode Island has wedded itself to gambling. I agree with the decision to put it on the referendum.”

On stopping late night voting as way for General Assembly members to sneak things through:

“I would” support it, Mr. Seveney said. “The fact is that they go too far, working all night, making big decisions when they’re tired.”

“Yes,” Sen. Pagliarini added. “It’s a broken system. Cold we do bills earlier in the session? Yes we could. Should we? Absolutely. What I do bring to District 11 is that I read every bill. I”m prepared. I vote the way I think my district wants me to vote.”

Not so fast, Mr. Seveney responded:

“You cannot allow yourself to lose the big picture. My concern is my opponent’s voting record, where he voted ‘No’ over 100 times; (he) missed many opportunities to help move his constituents forward.”

What would you do to bring more jobs to Rhode Island?

“I think we need to lower the corporate tax,” Sen. Pagliarini said. “We keep giving corporate welfare to the new businesses that move in but we do nothing for existing business. That’s wrong. Additionally, I don’t think cities and towns should have the right to do tax incentive plans.”

“My opponent left out the part on how you pay for that,” Mr. Seveney said. “The business income tax nets in excess of $150 million per year. I do believe that education and skills training in the maritime business, in the defense business. For every 100 jobs the defense business brings in, thee are 150 jobs in the accompanying sectors that get brought in with that. I believe that that is the path, and a well-educated work force is the key.

In closing:

Instead of talking about his campaign, Sen. Pagliarini implored voters to “Vote ‘Yes’ on Question Six. Secondly, everyone in Bristol needs to get a flu shot in memory of Victoria Sousa,” a young girl who died in 2009 of the H1N1 virus.

If elected, Mr. Seveney said, “I will approach it with honor and integrity, and certainly with your interests at heart. I believe that the core competency that I would bring to this is the ability to reach consensus, to forge coalitions, to move things forward. In the final analysis I believe my opponent has voted poorly. If you elect me I will change that.”