Major Upset in the Making: Picozzi Leading Solomon 60-40 in Warwick Mayoral Battle
GoLocalProv News Team
Major Upset in the Making: Picozzi Leading Solomon 60-40 in Warwick Mayoral Battle
Picozzi has garnered 25,809 votes which for 59.4%. He is a former member of the Warwick School Committee.
Incumbent Joe Solomon has won 17,524 or 40.3% of the vote.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTREAD: Picozzi's Campaign Announcement HERE
But, this may be more of a referendum on Solomon. He has battled with teachers, firefighters and even journalists.
As GoLocal exclusively reported in May of 2019:
Embattled Warwick Mayor Joe Solomon has cut the city’s advertising as well as access to city departments for the Warwick Beacon, according to multiple sources and confirmed by Beacon Publisher John Howell.
The move is believed to be punishment by the Solomon administration for the newspaper's coverage of the mayor and numerous emerging contentious issues.
Howell bought the Beacon in 1969 for $40,000 and now at 77 years old is the dean of the Rhode Island press. He has covered mayors in Warwick for fifty years — Democrats and Republicans, but GoLocal has been told that the paper has only once before faced this type of retribution.
"This [political retribution] has not happened with a Mayor since the 1970s," said Howell.
"My response to the City when officials were blackballed from talking to staff at the Beacon then was to start a column called 'The Way I Heard It,' which gave voice to sources in the city," said Howell.
Howell and the Beacon endorsed Picozzi in the race.
Picozzi Winning at the Polls and Emergency Ballots
Picozzi has won at all three types of voting. At polling places, he won 13,620 to Solomon’s 5,818.
In mail ballots, Picozzi garnered 6,004 votes and Solomon edged him with 7,491.
Emergency ballots were won by Picozzi 6,185 to Solomon's 4,215.