Susan Donovan is first to announce run for Gallison's District 69 seat

Donovan missed a town council seat by 44 votes in 2014

By Victor Paul Alvarez
Posted 5/6/16

Democrat Susan R. Donovan is the first person to announce official candidacy for the open District 69 seat vacated by Ray Gallison Jr. this week.

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Susan Donovan is first to announce run for Gallison's District 69 seat

Donovan missed a town council seat by 44 votes in 2014

Posted

Hattie Brown Award winner and Bristol Democratic Town Committee Recording Secretary Susan R. Donovan is the first person to announce official candidacy for the open District 69 seat vacated by Ray Gallison Jr. this week.

Ms. Donovan, a Bristol native, was a Democratic contender for Bristol Town Council in 2014. She missed the council seat by 44 votes, placing sixth behind fifth-place finisher, Councilman Halsey Herreshoff. A retired teacher of 35 years, 33 in the Bristol Warren Public School System, and longtime community advocate, Ms. Donovan worked with the local non-profit environmental organization, Save Bristol Harbor, to successfully stop the transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) through Mount Hope Bay. She is Chairperson of the East Bay chapter of Habitat for Humanity (HFH), a non-profit organization that builds homes and provides affordable mortgages to qualifying families. HFH recently finished its fourth home and first in her hometown of Bristol.

Ms. Donovan lives in Bristol with her husband, Glenn. They have three adult children - Glenn, Colleen, and Cara - and three grandchildren. 

She was also the 2015 recipient of the Bristol 4th of July Committee’s Hattie Brown Award. Named in honor of the late 4th of July Committee member who was well-known for her charitable contributions and community activism, the committee presents the award each July 4 during Patriotic Exercises at the Colt School. It is awarded to a Bristolian who shows the same spirit of charity and community service Hattie Brown was known for.

"I knew Hattie Brown. I remember seeing her everywhere. She was a presence," Ms. Donovan said at the time. "I was so surprised and humbled (to get the award). There are so many people who are deserving in Bristol."
Ms. Donovan is also the Recording Secretary for The Bristol Democrat Town Committee.

Mr. Gallison, the former House Finance Chairman and Bristol Democrat, resigned from his state representative seat Tuesday, April 3, after news of law enforcement, state and federal investigations broke Monday evening. Rhode Island State Police and the FBI are said to be investigating Mr. Gallison’s link to prostitution, and news broke this week of a raid at Mr. Gallison’s home at 50 King Philip Ave. in March.
A longtime fixture in Rhode Island politics and last year’s Bristol Fourth of July Parade Chief Marshal, he was a member of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s leadership team. He has not returned multiple calls and texts requesting comment. Mr. Gallison and his wife, Diane, have two sons. Timothy Gallison is a member of the Bristol Police Department Honor Guard. Nathan Gallison is a volunteer member of the Bristol Fire Department and a Pawtucket Police Officer.

Ray Gallison, Bristol, 2016 election, Susan Donovan, House Finance Chairman, Victor Paul Alvarez

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