Thompson won’t run for re-election to Warren council

Democrat said work demands prevent the time he says the council deserves

By Ted Hayes
Posted 5/14/18

Warren Town Council member Steve Thompson, who has served two terms since his election in 2014, will not run for re-election this November.

Mr. Thompson, who now heads the Warren Democratic Town …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Thompson won’t run for re-election to Warren council

Democrat said work demands prevent the time he says the council deserves

Posted

Warren Town Council member Steve Thompson, who has served two terms since his election in 2014, will not run for re-election this November.

Mr. Thompson, who now heads the Warren Democratic Town Committee that failed to endorse him four years ago, said Monday that work responsibilities will make it difficult for him to find the time needed to do the job properly.

“I don’t feel like I could commit the time that I need,” said Mr. Thompson, who started a job as project manager for the state’s Department of Management and Budget last fall.

“I’ve been at the job since September. I figured I would give it a try and see if I could do it (but) I just don’t feel that I can give it the time it needs.”

Mr. Thompson said he is proud of the council’s accomplishments since he was elected to the five-member council in 2014. Many of his initiatives dealt with council transparency and open government, and he believes Warren is in much better shape than it was several years ago. During his tenure the council worked to make documents more available and accessible to the public, instituted a public comment period at council meetings, and has helped with efforts to revamp the town’s website. The new site should be up and running soon, he said, giving residents a much more efficient portal into their town’s governance.

“That is something that is going to be a huge help for people,” he said.

One of his proudest recent moments, he said, was the passage earlier this month of the town’s medical marijuana ordinance. The ordinance opens the town to the limited commercial growing of medical marijuana in some areas, with a special use permit.

“I’m really proud of the decision we made,” he said. “I think it’s a step forward in getting out in front of an issue that is going to be huge.”

Mr. Thompson, who was elected to the council during a very contentious race four years ago, now serves as president of the Warren Democratic Town Committee. He said he will stay involved in public service here as much as possible.

“I really enjoyed my time on the council and I feel like we accomplished a lot,” he said. “I’m excited about the direction Warren’s heading in.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.