Arthur Schaper: Avedisian-McKay Drama? Wilkinson Speaks

Arthur Schaper: Avedisian-McKay Drama? Wilkinson Speaks

While US Senator Jack Reed has remained mum about Warwick network and telecommunications administrator Raymond T. McKay’s proposed run for US Senate, other reports are still suggesting that a political play behind the scenes has aggravated this controversy.

Avedisian-Reed alliance?

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian was aware of McKay’s intentions to run in November 2013, according to one source, and is doing everything in his power to prevent McKay's prospective campaign against Jack Reed, who has brought a great deal of federal money to the city.

An undisclosed source further suggested that the city’s resistance to McKay’s run is an active attempt to discourage a viable candidate from challenging Reed because since November 2013, the Warwick city council convened eight times, and in that period of time the sitting council could have repealed the ordinance which bars classified employees from running, Section 48-107. Three meetings would have provided enough time for review and yet Mayor Avedisian and the city council did nothing. Even McKay’s Ward representative, Charles Donovan, offered no help.

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Another source submitted that the Warwick Statute is so arbitrary, often politically motivated in nature, and has assured McKay that he will testify in court against the statute.

The legal ramifications of this municipal disagreement have now reached federal court, where a judge and the attorneys for McKay and the City of Warwick met to discuss the next step on Monday. So far, the judge has decided to uphold the ordinance, but will grant a full hearing on Tuesday (3-25) to determine whether to support McKay’s petition for a temporary restraining order against the city, which will prevent the personnel director from terminating his employment while McKay runs for office.

Following the Tuesday hearing, the federal court sided with the City of Warwick. McKay and supporters are reviewing their next legal options.

In light of these allegations, I contacted the city councilmembers, along with Avedisian’s Chief of Staff Mark Carruolo, who responded in an email that because the matter has gone to court, he could receive questions, but may not be able to answer anything specifically.

Councilmember Wilkinson’s take

However, one Warwick councilmember, Camille Vella-Wilkinson, responded to questions, presenting a different view on this controversy.

“I was not aware of this ordinance,” Wilkinson shared in a telephone interview.

“He [McKay] had mentioned that there was a problem with the city ordinance. He believed he was being discriminated against.”

Wilkinson affirmed: “He spoke to me, I took it on to research it, as I have with other pieces of legislation.”

The councilwoman then remarked that other legislative matters have been taking up her time, as well, including noise ordinances and regulations relating to the city sewer system.

Still, she had concerns about the statute at the outset:

“When I read it [Ordinance Section 48-107) on its face, I thought it was unfair. I was in the process of looking at it, what would be the impact, what would it be. It’s not because of Raymond McKay, mind you. I look at the broader picture.”

Despite one comment which suggested that three council hearings would have decided this issue and mandated repeal, the Warwick Councilmember countered that such is not the case. Taking her role as councilmember with great regard, Wilkinson outlined that any city ordinance changes have long-range implications, and she sought to take into account all questions which residents might press on her and the city.

When asked about her view on the constitutionality of the ordinance, Wilkinson countered:

“I am not a constitutional scholar. I cannot say for sure one way or the other.”

Questions about the ordinance

Ms. Wilkinson’s account serves a reminder that any city legislation, regardless of its origins or impact, requires a democratic solution, one which honors the best interests of all citizens in a municipality, including Warwick, and including telecommunications administrator Raymond McKay.

Still, residents are wondering about the time and consequences of this obscure rule, trying to figure out why the mayor of Warwick and his fellow councilmembers did nothing in response to legislation which restricts a select group’s freedom of petition, i.e. running for office.

Radio hosts and individual residents have already commented that any law which would prevent someone from seeking office needs to be questioned, if not repealed outright. Because the federal court has intervened to review the case, Wilkinson acknowledged that she was not conducting any further research on the law at this time.

Ulterior motives?

Aside from questions about the ordinance, the councilwoman related that she had no friendship or significant relationship with Mayor Avedisian beyond their working association on the city council:

“I don’t socialize with Avedisian. I consider him to be an associate. If I have an event, he will come as a courtesy. I would not venture to say that we have a special relationship. No ‘friendship’.”

Dispelling any ulterior motives or political machinations in Warwick, Wilkinson highlighted that the difficulties in getting city hall, or one’s statehouse, to change anything requires more than a will and a way. Regardless of one’s reactions to the city ordinance which requires McKay’s resignation should he officially announce a US Senate run, critics of the law should take comfort in knowing that city leaders were investigating the city ordinance.

 

Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Follow him on Twitter @ArthurCSchaper, reach him at [email protected], and read more at Schaper's Corner and As He Is, So Are We Ministries.