Primary Results Are In!

Did your candidate make it to November? Find out now!

Within 20 minutes of the polls closing, results for the primaries are already up on the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website. (Note: Italics denote that only 99 percent of the precincts have reported.) SOUTH KINGSTOWN NARRAGANSETT In the Narragansett Town Council race, the vote breakdown is as follows, with the top 10 candidates advancing to the November election: STATE ELECTIONS Want to be e-mailed when we have new election articles? Click the “keep me posted!” button below. For our election hub page full of profiles, click here. Looking for even more coverage? The South County Independent has been updating all night on its Facebook page.

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Christine

2:28 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012

Well said. Chris is a man of honor and decency. Foster father to 11 children and has lived in the district for 34 years. Narragansett deserves and will get a new Council. The page is turning for us. Just make sure we hold the new Council to the promise of not raising taxes; it costs $19K to educate a child in Gansett schools; they take enough money from us. I own a small business and am not …   more ›

Wanted: Political Candidates, Pollsters

Unlike Bon Jovi, we mostly want them alive, to be clear.

As part of our 2012 election coverage, Narragansett and South Kingstown Patch is looking for candidates to fill out info sheets about themselves, which will be used to generate profiles. I sent out the first batch of surveys today, but I realized something – There are lots and lots of candidates for office. Like, seriously. I count at least 53 candidates for office, and this includes just the town council, school committee and General Assembly level, not the national races. Whew! I’m positive I missed some of you politicians and potential politicians out there, so if you didn’t get e-mail from me earlier today, feel free to reach out to me! My e-mail is Stephen.greenwell@patch.com, or Narragansett@patch.com. Semi-related to this, Patch is …

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Sheehan: Transparency Needed for Quasi-Public Agencies

Sen. James Sheehan is submitting legislation that will require more transparency and oversight of committees.

Release courtesy of the Rhode Island Legislative Press Bureau. Are Rhode Island’s quasi-public agencies operating effectively and efficiently and in the best interest of the state and its citizens? Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown) says the recent turmoil at the RI Economic Development Corporation with the 38 Studios debacle helps answer this question and “underscores the need for a thorough review of and comprehensive reform of the quasi-public corporations in the state.” Senator Sheehan said he has long had questions and concerns about the efficiency and accountability of the state’s quasi-public agencies, but that those concerns have been greatly heightened by the recent troubles involving EDC and 38 …

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Ted Geisel

8:22 am on Saturday, August 4, 2012

Hi Jason, I did check out his web page. You seem to be quite the Sheehan fanboy. How about just answering a few of my questions. Do you think its a good idea to increase the budget 6 percent in this economy? Do you think expanding the committees budget and staff will help? Has Sheehan actually been on the Government Oversight committee for several years and got his position because his fellow …   more ›

Letters To The Editor

Sheehan Declines Legislator Pay Hike

According to a release from Sen. James Sheehan, he will not be taking a pay raise offered to other legislators.

Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, North Kingstown, Narragansett) today announced that he will decline the 3.2 percent salary increase that took effect on July 1. Under the state constitutional change that downsized the General Assembly in the mid-1990s, Rhode Island legislators were to be compensated at an annual rate of $10,000 beginning in 1995, with annual salary increases at the beginning of each subsequent fiscal year, tied to the Consumer Price Index for the previous year. “Given the state of the economy and the fact that there have been budget cuts, I will not accept the constitutionally guaranteed pay raise,” Sheehan said. “I do not think it is appropriate in principle to accept a pay raise when sacrifices are being made all …

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This Year at the General Assembly

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this year. For more information on any of these items, visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.

This will be the final edition of summaries from the General Assembly this year, as the Assembly has recessed: BUDGET The Fiscal Year 2013 state budget provides $33 million in additional funding for education aid, restores $9.6 million to programs for the developmentally disabled, and restores funding for nursing homes. The budget proposes $209 million in capital investment to be considered on the November ballot, including funding for affordable housing, a new state Veterans’ Home, improvements at Rhode Island College, and clean water and open space projects. Lawmakers rejected the governor’s proposals to increase the meals tax from 8 percent to 10 percent, and his proposal to extend the sales tax to car washes and warehouses. The enacted…

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Governor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

The law goes into effect April 1, 2013.

Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee has signed legislation to decriminalize marijuana, making Rhode Island the 15th state in the nation to sign similar legislation. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick) and Representative John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), eliminates the criminal charge for carrying 1 ounce or less of marijuana and instead impose a civil penalty of a $150 fine, plus forfeiture of the drug. A third offense within 18 months of the previous offense would be treated as a misdemeanor. “I’m very happy the governor has decided to support this legislation,” said Representative Edwards. “I am hopeful that this will allow our law enforcement officials to do what they do best – solve …

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This Week at the General Assembly: May 4, 2012

From the Legislative Press Bureau, here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week.

From the Legislative Press Bureau, here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/  §         Senate OKs legislation to create ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’ The Senate approved legislation (2012-S 2052A) to establish a “Homeless Bill of Rights” in Rhode Island, to guarantee that no person’s rights, privileges or access to public services will be denied or abridged solely because he or she is homeless. If enacted into law, Rhode Island will become the first state in the nation to enact such a measure. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield). An identical …

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State House Pension Reform Debate Will Be Posted Online

The Rhode Island General Assembly announced the creation of a website that will contain legislation, videos, PowerPoints and documents relating to ongoing work on pension reform.

The pension reform debate at the State House will be posted on the Internet for members of the public to view, the Rhode Island General Assembly announced in a release today. The website, www.PensionReformRI.com, will store videos, presentations and information presented during Finance Committee hearings that have already occurred. The Web site will be updated "to include the recordings of all future public hearings and other related information." The site also has a place for the public to send their input to the General Assembly. Providing unedited content and materials from the ongoing hearings gives the public an opportunity to be fully informed. It also enables people to watch the hearings for themselves instead of relying solely on …

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