8 thoughts on “City and Gen. Assembly Candidate Debates in Cranston”

1. Thank you Kiersten for the opportunities to disect the many reasons why those in and some of those running are not the person for the job. This is one example, which was a letter to the Editor of the Projo and Herald (coming out soon):

   Ward 6 Representation– Good Ole’ Big Boys Need Not Apply

   As an active resident in my community, I am very concerned about the upcoming election for Cranston City Council Ward 6. Current Ward 6 Councilman Jeffrey Barone has made public statements in which he has repeatedly shown his disrespect and disdain for my own and other constituents’ pleas for assistance in City matters. On a local website, frequented by Cranston residents, http://www.kmareka.com, Barone told me (for all to read), “I don’t like you and don’t want your support, do you remember me saying that to you. People like you have too much time on their hands, complain about everything and everyone…I must tell you that I will miss not being able to represent Ward 6 but will not miss hearing your complaints or whining. The best thing for you to do is move back to Mass or where ever you came from. (www.Kmareka.com, 8/4/08).�

   Although Councilman Barone is not seeking reelection, what alarms me is that one of the candidates for Ward 6, James Carr, has called him a “dedicated public servant� and has Barone’s support. I question any endorsement by Barone and I am concerned that Mr. Carr may follow in the footsteps of this not so-dedicated public servant whose approach and delivery when dealing with his constituents is reprehensible.
   Constituents should be alarmed when ANY Elected official makes statements that they WILL NOT respond in any way to a constituent. When such arrogance is displayed and folks are told by people like Mr. Barone that “you are playing with the Big Boys”…then you should want any one representative of this immoral behavior to be thankfully OUT. Additionally, you should note that I have taken an active role in my community, with no motive other than making Ward 6 and Cranston a better place for all residents to live. I have no selfish reasons to puff myself up – I just want things to be right and when someone does an exceptional job going beyond the necessary scope of work expectation, I show my gratitude and appreciation.
   In addition to my concerns regarding Mr. Barone’s public treatment of the people he supposedly represents, he has made decisions that have not been in the best interest of the taxpaying citizens of Cranston. Not only did Barone support an overly generous (to say the least) contract for the Cranston firefighters union, he received the maximum campaign donations allowed by state law from them! When Ernest Carlucci, a member of Mayor Napolitano’s staff, got in a car accident using a city-owned vehicle on personal time, Barone supported the taxpayers paying $9,000, rather than Mr. Carlucci, and said “people need to stop nitpicking the stupid stuff (ProJo 4/17/08).â€? I want to know, what else do Mr. Carr and his ardent supporter, Barone, consider “stupid stuff?â€? I have to wonder what Mr. Carr and other Council candidates that haven’t been around at the last year or so at City Council and other meetings have to bring to the table? None of them hold the compass like Rachel McNally’s notable presence at City Council meetings and her proven leadership, along with her involvement with Save Cranston’s Open Space, the Pawtuxet River Authority, and Cranston Citizens for Responsible Zoning and Development to name a few.

   From my perch, we need to vote out and keep out more of “Good Ole’ Big Boys”, and bring a new representation to the City.

2. Well, here we go again. Ms. Arena continues to boast her involvment in City government and continues to slam anyone who tell’s it like it is.

   Again, I will respond to her. Ms Arena, if you are going to continue to slam me, please get your stories straight. You are the only person I refused to represent in Ward 6 simply because of your continued arrogance. You can verify this with any constituent in your neighborhood, I have gone above and beyond the call of duty for them, not you.

   I am very surprised of your comments about Ms. McNally, please remember, she is being supported by a Mayoral candidate that you publicly addressed as one of the men you hate, Laffey, Barone, Fung and Napolitano. This just tells me that you flip flop more than Barak Obama.

   You have a reputation in the city as someone who just makes noise and your concerns have no substance. I can’t wait until 2010 when you run for Rep Palumbo’s seat, as rumor has it. I will be spending every dollar I have to assure your defeat, which won’t take much.

   I look forward to your continued rebuts, again, of no substance.

   Councilman Barone

3. It is beneath most to character assasinate another without just cause. I admire any citizen,albeit overzealous and uninformed to articulate relative concerns. However, one must choose the battle if the war is to be won. The risk of diminishing ones agenda is obvious if baseless innuendo is cast.
   As a candidate, I will keep the focus on the continued positive direction Ward 6 will be heading after I am elected. My message is clear and deliberate. Keeping Ward 6 moving in the enviable position it finds itself (by other Cranston Wards) will be endless.
   I have chosen to take the higher road. I will never character assasinate or allow this election become personal. I will never share with others email exchanges beginning last September between Ms. Arena and I (that I saved ) because they would be far too hurtful, personal and vicious regarding her chosen candidate, Mrs. Mcnally… yet authored by Mrs. Arena.

   The Cranston City Council Ward 6 race will continue to be about positive change along with cooperative efforts between myself and future constituents. The City of Cranston deserves the best representaion from its elected officials. I encourage all of you to vote and prove to neighboring Wards and Cities that Cranston is the community to reside as I have for 45 years.
   Keep the focus, Ms.Arena, on the positive agenda.
   Having written that, I am confident I have captured your vote… and I thank you !

   Enjoy your day everyone !
   My name is JIM CARR and I approve this mesage !

4. Let me start off by saying if this is the only issue (see paragraph below) suzanne seems to have this time then way to go Politian’s and other officials it seems that someone out there is doing their job right!
   As an active resident in my community, I am very concerned about the upcoming election for Cranston City Council Ward 6. Current Ward 6 Councilman Jeffrey Barone has made public statements in which he has repeatedly shown his disrespect and disdain for my own and other constituents’ pleas for assistance in City matters. On a local website, frequented by Cranston residents,
   All I can say is way to go Jeff, I full heartily agree with you on this one!
   Suzanne has an opinion on just about everything that goes on in the city of Cranston and quite frankly I’m sick to death of seeing her name in the papers and online.
   I’m all for giving people a helping hand and being a voice for people when needed but give me a break!! This Circus of drama …is and seems to have a selfish motive behind it. Anyone who knows her or of her will tell you the same thing (except for her loyal followers)
   There have been times when yes I can say her voice has helped some, but give it a rest already.
   Let the people who have been elected do their job.
   Obliviously the majority of people feel and felt these elected officials could handle their positions… after all they were elected.
   This personal attack on Jeff Barone is just that a personal attack.
   There are much bigger problems in this city to deal with and many other voices out there that may want to be heard so maybe you should give it a rest for awhile and give OTHER people a chance to have their own voice heard for a change.
   There have been times when I have not agreed with choices and decisions made by Jeff Barone.
   But this does not mean that I will spend precious time on abusing the man and his career.
   Life’s to damn short …rather than being at home spending time on reading these stupid blogs why not enjoy the time you have with family and friends instead.
   And yes… to answer the comment I know you will have, I do not spend my time on these blogs but this one was brought to my attention and just pissed me off.

5. “There have been times when yes I can say her voice has helped some, but give it a rest already.”(and the logic and reasoning here would be?? This statement is the sort of thing that makes someone go…hummnnn?) Explosive, argumentative and unprofessional and I won’t tolerate these traits. Some people need a voice, need direction, need someone to lean on…and I openly welcome someone who needs help PERIOD!

   First, as a timeline….Kirk McDonough was Ward 6’s previous representative and he was very professional and helpful ~always followed up even when something couldn’t be done. Since day one Mr. Barone has bullied some of my neighbors and has made vicious statements to me which I have naturally attacked back. Listen folks, you don’t do your job then you will hear from me, obviously the lonely Barone is the only one (okay, maybe the other whiner too that he’s best buddies with) because the other councilman/Senators and Reps all have mostly been professional and not made things personal. I have actually made the statement “I hate Baroneâ€? and “I hate Laffeyâ€? and “I can’t stand Fund [this was all cited back to the denial of my water claim at the time]â€? I have never claimed not to be opinionated, as you all have the power too…it’s just a hoot to see that there have been those that HAVE done their job and done an extraordinary job and they have heard from me with a thank you or a letter of recognition. Sadly, Mr. Barone feel’s excluded from not having received any such note from me along with Mr. Mayor whom only received one of these positive notes in the letter to the editor and a thank you from the CCRZD.

   Mr. Carr states:
   “It is beneath most to character assasinate [assassinate] another without just cause. I admire any citizen,albeit overzealous and uninformed to articulate relative concerns.� This is truly baffling to me “without just cause�. I need not, nor will I dissect because I have never been a frivolous daft ~ and unfortunately there is always a reason to pick on poor little Barone. I recall the arrogance after a community meeting where Barone yelled and screamed at the Mayor to get off the table and totally lost composure which many residents said he seemed quite explosive. I recall Barone confidentially saying to me after a meeting that we would be good friends – I told him never….oh yes he said. I have no friends with this type of candor.

   Ms. Gilbert states:
   “and quite frankly I’m sick to death of seeing her name in the papers and online.� For your information, sometimes the name goes in, and sometimes I do things that never get mentioned (hello, because I am not in need of my name to be mentioned everywhere….like on my shirt or a sign – LOL!) I have no control over reports/media and their reasoning to mention my name. You state I have some “This Circus of drama …is and seems to have a selfish motive behind it. Anyone who knows her or of her will tell you the same thing (except for her loyal followers)� Actually, there are some of us unusual folks that have a fire to just “do� without a selfish mode of knowing it’s the right thing to do. There it is, now you know I would rather be doing “stimulating and gratifying work� than watching a reality show, reading people magazine or something other than defines Suzanne. You state it’s okay to have no oversight groups and let the elected officials just “do� as they will, because they were elected. I don’t want to publicly make you see the err of your choice of words here, but perhaps, if you google Ursolo/Plunderdome….Cianci….. you could in a nano second find out why it is important to have watchdog group (and this is time-consuming dedicated work). For now, I prefer to read Dr. Zeus, laugh with my kids and be stimulated by others working in a non-profit group to change our community. Tracy, I am not sure why the shift, but that’s okay….feel free anytime to air your feelings to my e-mail address or pick up the phone and call me – but please, don’t just judge based on dealing with Barone. Your accounting of “me� gives no specific reasoning for justification of what you say.

   The way I see it – there is plenty to do here in Cranston. I pick my knitting projects and try to complete them. There is plenty of yarn with ample patterns to choose from …I suggest everyone find their own pattern and create something

   As far as the reading my name in print….become illiterate or get used to it. See, I do smile.

6. Anyone know what time these debates are?

7. I believe they start at 6:30 pm. I will amend the post to add that.

8. Letter that concerns Mike McManaman from a Board member on the Board’s position regarding the various members Mr. McManaman has approached:

   Mike McManaman, who is running as an Independent for State Representative, has stated to a number of our members that he is on the Committee fighting the Concrete Plant. A check of the Cranston Citizens for Responsible Zoning & Development (CCRZD ) records reveals that there have been no meetings of any committee in nearly a year and that there is no record of Mr. McManaman having ever served on any CCRZD committee. Also, he is not one of the nearly 1,000 members.

   Mr. McManaman can of course state that he is “in theory” supportive of our groups position, but it is unethical to campaign to my neighbors and members that he was active in “fighting” our position to end the concrete plant. While CCRZD does not endorse any political candidates, we feel compelled to set the record straight. Mr. McManaman has not served on any of our committees, nor is he a member of the organization. Any representation by Mr. McManaman that he has served on any of our committees fighting the concrete plant is simply not true.

   Most people think the Cullion Concrete Plant is a done deal and believe that it has long since been settled. The facts are, the City has not yet completed making payments to Mr. Cullion and he has not yet dismantled the half-built concrete plant. Mayor Napolitano announced an agreement in December 2007, and the final payment is due to Mr. Cullion in December of 2008. Will CCRZD need to pick up where they left off last year? We have hundreds of people who have helped to fight the Concrete Plant, but we have no records of Mr. McManaman ever having served on any of our committees.

   Ramsey Davis
   Board Member CCRZD
   END

   Also, it should be noted that I had a conversation with Mr. McManaman whom stated on 10/13 he would be sending over an e-mail addressing these concerns which would be given to our Board members. To date, no such correspondence has been received and the above letter went out on 10/14. ~Suzanne