Magaziner to Announce for Gov; Candidates Emerge in Ward 3 in Prov; Cranston GOP Makes Endorsement

Magaziner to Announce for Gov; Candidates Emerge in Ward 3 in Prov; Cranston GOP Makes Endorsement

With the primaries a year away, the political season is getting busy in Rhode Island

Seth Magaziner is expected to announce his candidacy for Rhode Island Governor on Tuesday at the Henry J. Winters Elementary School, currently under construction.

Magaziner is using it as a backdrop for his role in the efforts to fund massive improvements to Rhode Island's outdated school buildings. Magaziner a Democrat is term-limited from running for reelection as General Treasurer.

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His campaign says Magaziner will present his vision for the economic future of Rhode Island, with a focus on education, innovation, infrastructure, and inclusion.

Democrat RI Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has already announced she is a candidate. Governor Dan McKee is expected to formally announce for reelection.

The growing question mark is the fate of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, who once had all but announced he was running for Governor, but with shootings, murders, ATVs and other issues plaguing the capital city his viability is in question.

 

Providence Council

In Providence, candidates are making announcements for the City Council Ward 3 seat. Presently, Nirva LaFortune holds the seat and she is expected to formally announce her candidacy for mayor of Providence in the next few months.

Jumping into the race are Bradly J. VanDerStad who has filed a Notice of Organization with the R.I. Board of Elections, officially kicking off his campaign for Providence City Council’s Ward 3 seat. 

“Providence deserves engaged, progressive leadership–someone who has been in the community, who understands the complexity of the issues, and has a track record of working hard to get results,” VanDerStad said.

VanDerStad is the owner of the Providence Tour Company, a walking tour company emphasizing specialty tours of Providence. He is also the Vice-President of the Summit Neighborhood Association and the President and Co-Founder of the Downtown Hospitality Group.

Sue AnderBois has already announced her candidacy. She is the former RI Food Czar.

 

Cranston Endorsement

 On Wednesday, the Cranston Republican City Committee voted unanimously to endorse and nominate Vincent Turchetta for the appointment to represent Ward 4 on the Cranston City Council. 

The vacancy was created when Ed Brady resigned.

“Mr. Turchetta is the perfect person to represent the people of Ward 4 and the Cranston GOP on the City Council,” stated Matt Reilly, Chairman of the Cranston Republican Party. 

Turchetta, a former member of the Cranston School Committee representing Ward 4, is a retired United States Marine and former correctional officer. Currently, Turchetta is a special education teacher, adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island, Assistant Football Coach at Cranston West, member of the Juvenile Hearing Board of the City of Cranston, loving father, and dedicated husband. 

“Vincent Turchetta’s resume speaks for itself,” says Reilly. “I am honored to support a person who has given so much of himself for his country and community.” 

Pursuant to the Cranston City Charter a vacancy at this point in time is filled by an individual that (1) resides in the same ward, and (2) who is a member of the same political party as the council member that vacated the seat. The nomination needs a majority vote of the city council in attendance to be confirmed. Historically, regardless of the party in the majority, the party with whom the vacancy needs to be filled chooses the person. 

About the appointment process, Reilly stated, “I look forward to a smooth transition and appointment process for Mr. Turchetta, as has been the case for other appointees in the past. When Councilwoman Aneice Germain was proposed by the Democrat Minority Leader in 2020 to be appointed to a vacancy left by a Democrat, every Republican attended the special meeting to ensure the appointment could be brought to a vote, and overwhelmingly supported the choice of the Democrats, with one abstention. That was the right thing to do then, and it’s the right thing to do now. I look forward to Mr. Turchetta receiving the same mature and respectful treatment from the Cranston Democrats as Ms. Germain received from Cranston Republicans.”