Voters elect DaSilva as first East Providence mayor, approve new high school bond

Rodericks, Sousa win only other contested city office races

By Mike Rego
Posted 11/6/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — The first elected mayor of East Providence will soon be in position to help assist in the oversight of building a new high school after voters Tuesday, Nov. 6, chose Roberto DaSilva as the …

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Voters elect DaSilva as first East Providence mayor, approve new high school bond

Rodericks, Sousa win only other contested city office races

Roberto DaSilva triumphantly responds to the results from the November 6 ballot, which saw him defeat James Russo to become East Providence's first elected mayor.
Roberto DaSilva triumphantly responds to the results from the November 6 ballot, which saw him defeat James Russo to become East Providence's first elected mayor.
Photos by Tyler Maxwell
Posted

(Updated, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.) EAST PROVIDENCE — The first elected mayor in the history of the city will soon be in position to help assist in the oversight of building a new secondary education edifice after voters Tuesday, Nov. 6, chose Roberto DaSilva as the city’s inaugural chief executive officer and also approved ballot Question No. 4, backing construction of a replacement for East Providence High School.

Mr. DaSilva, a former member of the Rhode Island House representing East Providence and Pawtucket, narrowly defeated James Russo, a long-time political operative seeking elected office for the first time, in the race to become the city’s initial mayor by ballot.

“I’m very, very happy for what we were able to do. I thank the people of the City of East Providence,” said Mr. DaSilva later Tuesday night. “Our first step will be to put together a transition team, sit down with them and start preparing for what needs to be done for the city.

"Mr. Russo called me earlier expressing his congratulations and his offer to be part of the progress of the city. We both said no matter who won the race, we were going to support the winner to move the city in the right direction and make sure this new form of government works. And I’m going to take him up on his offer."

The margin of victory stood at just under 800 votes (8,296-7,499) out of over 15,500 cast. Turnout was also slightly more than the recent past average in the city during off-year elections, which has been around 14,000. Percentage-wise, Mr. DaSilva won 52.1-47.1. There were 116 write-in ballots cast for .7% of the total vote.

“The margin was what we expected it to be. The primary was very close and we anticipated the percentages to be just as close this time,” said Mr. DaSilva, who along with Mr. Russo were the top-two vote getters in September's four-way primary with 3,309 and 2,847 ballots for (41.5-35.7%), respectively.

Mr. Russo, who previously worked on campaigns for the likes of former Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand, was philosophical in defeat.

“I thought it was a great campaign,” Mr. Russo said Tuesday evening. “I called Bob to congratulate him and wish him the best. I told my supporters I hope he succeeds and I urged them to support him. I said it during the campaign. We need to get this right being the first time, and we do. Bob is our first elected mayor. We need to support him and hope he succeeds.”

Question No. 4, which asked residents to affirm or deny the city seeking $189.5 million in bond monies to construct a new East Providence High School to replace the existing near seven-decade old structure, passed by an overwhelming 77.6-22.4% majority.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the people of the City of East Providence,” said Nate Cahoon, the councilman-elect from Ward 3 and current member of the School Committee who was is chairman of the high school building sub-committee.

“We worked very hard to put together a proposal to present to them,” he continued. “Give them an opportunity to vote on it and decide the course of their future, and they decided in the right way, which I knew they would. It’s a very exciting opportunity to have as a city.”

Of note as well, voters around Rhode Island also resoundingly approved (81-19%) authorizing the state to seek $250 million in bonds to help assist with school construction, of which East Providence is expected to receive a sizable chunk towards its new high school.

As for the only other contested races, Anna Sousa was returned to City Council from Ward 2 as the one-term incumbent defeated Joshua Pereira, 57.4-41.8% (1,674-1,218) percent.

In addition, Robert Rodericks edged Kalyn Chattelle, 52.5-46.4% (7,426-6,560), in the race for the At-Large council seat being vacated by retiring James Briden.

Two-term incumbent Robert Britto did not have a challenger in his race for council from Ward 1. Neither did Mr. Cahoon in the aforementioned Ward 3 seat, nor did first-time candidate Ricardo Mourato in Ward 4.

All five School Committee members, including its four incumbents (Charles Tsonos, Anthony Ferreira, Jessica Beauchaine and Joel Monteiro), ran without competition, as did Karen Oliveira in her race to replace Mr. Cahoon on the board.

In races for state offices with competition, Democrat incumbent William Conley handily beat Independent Jack Peters by a 72.7-26.8% margin (6,705-2,472) to return to the Senate from District 18. Likewise, Cindy Coyne defeated Republican David Aucoin in Senate 32 (67.5-32.4%) while fellow Dem Liana Cassar beat Republican Rhonda Holmes (63.4-36.4%) in the campaign to replace retiring Joy Hearn in House 66.

Incumbent state reps Gregg Amore and Katherine Kazarian, in Districts 65 and 63 respectively, ran unopposed for fourth terms in the lower chamber as did first-time campaigner Jose Serodio in District 64. Valerie Lawson was also unchallenged in the general in her first pursuit of the District 14 senate seat.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.