Democrat Anthony Paolino Looking to Unseat Rep. Morgan
GoLocalProv News Team
Democrat Anthony Paolino Looking to Unseat Rep. Morgan
Paolino, who has filed his paperwork with the Board of Elections and launched a Facebook page, is a graduate of West Warwick High School, CCRI and PC, and most recently obtained a masters in policy administration from Brown.
Military Background
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCurrently the head of military and veterans affairs for Electric Boat, Paolino was an Air Force Aviation Specialist from 2002 to 2014, with deployments to Kuwait, Germany, Qatar, and Afghanistan.
He founded two non-profit organizations: the Student Veterans Organization and the RI Military Organization, and helped advocate for passage of several bills at the General Assembly related to veterans in higher education. He recently served as Military & Veterans Affairs Coordinator for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
"I am running for State Representative because I have completed my military service to our country and now I want serve our community," says Paolino on his Facebook page.
District History
Morgan, who was first elected in 2010 in the district that encompasses Warwick, West Warwick, and Coventry, beat Democratic opponent Nicholas Denice in 2014 by a margin of 2104 to 1816, with Moderate Party candidate.
Races to Watch in 2016 - RI Progressive Democrats
1. House District 60
Incumbent: Rep. David Coughlin (D)
Challenger: David Norton (D)
Pawtucket
"[Coughlin] is facing a strong challenger in Norton. I think the [PawSox] stadium issue really resonated with people in Pawtucket, and the problem with the way politics works in RI. Pawtucket has a unique understanding of that, and Coughlin is out of step with the district and vulnerable," said Bell.
2. House District 54
Incumbent: Rep. William O'Brien (D)
Challenger: Bill Deware (D)
North Providence
"Bill's the head of the Rhode Island Radiologist Association, he's been active in UNAP. O'Brien has painted himself as an established politician. He wanted to lower the corporate income tax. On economic issues he's out of step with the middle class in his district," said Bell.
3. House District 67
Incumbent: Rep. Jan Malik (D)
Challenger: Jason Knight (D)
Barrington, Warren
"Malik has been extremely ideologically conservative, with an 'A plus' rating from the NRA. He voted against marriage equality and his district isn't extremely right wing -- it's very liberal on social issues. And Warren is a place where you saw two successful progressive town council primaries last cycle, knocking out established [Democrats]," said Bell.
4. House District 3
Incumbent: Rep. Thomas Palangio (D)
Challenger: Moira Walsh (D)
Providence
Walsh, a Classical High School and Rhode Island College Grad, who has been an organizer for Jobs with Justice, is challenging Pelangio on Smith Hill.
Pelangio served as a State Rep from 1992-2002; he was elected again in 2012 and then again in 2014.
5. House District 69
Incumbent: Open (after Ray Gallison stepped down)
Challenger: Susan Donovan (D)
Bristol
"The machine has still yet to put up someone to replace Gallison. People are really excited about change, especially with what happened there. I'd be surprised if leadership even wants to go in there," said Bell.
6. House District 25
Incumbent: Rep. Jared Nunes (D)
Challenger: Kathleen Decker (D)
Coventry, West Warwick
"There's two races in West Warwick, and Nunes is one of them. Remember, he proposed "tolls everywhere"," said Bell, referencing his assessment of Nunes public-private funding proposal for roads.
7. House District 27
Incumbent: Rep. Pat Serpa (D)
Challenger: Nicholas Delmenico (D)
Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry
"Serpa just canceled the hearings on 38 Studios. West Warwick is a community that's been damaged by machine politics," said Bell.
8. House District 22
Incumbent: Joseph Solomon, Jr. (D)
Challenger: Jennifer Siciliano (D)
Warwick
"She jumped in last minute to run against Solomon again -- and again, he is someone who's endorsed by the NRA. I think he's out of step with the party's core values, and it's a community that knows we need change," said Bell.
9. House District 24
Incumbent: Rep. Joe Trillo (R)
Challenger: Evan Shanley (D)
Warwick
"Yes, Trillo is a Republican, he's Trump's guy here. But he's tied to the political establishment. That's the way the establishment works," said Bell.
10. House District 72
Incumbent: Rep. Dan Reilly (R)
Challenger: Linda Finn (D)
Middletown, Portsmouth
"Finn's running again against Reilly, who it's no secret is dealing with major legal issues with his family. He's vulnerable," said Bell.
11. House District 39
Incumbent: Justin Price (R)
Challenger: Larry Valencia (D)
Hopkinton, Exeter, Richmond
Valencia ran and lost in 2008, won in 2010 and 2012, and was beaten by Price in 2014.
12. Senate District 11
Incumbent: Sen. John Pagliarini, Jr. (R)
Challenger: James Seveney (D)
Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton
"I like this rematch. Especially in a Presidential year, where the Republicans will have to defend Trump," said Bell.
13. Senate District 34
Incumbent: Sen. Elaine Morgan (R)
Challenger: Catherine Cool Rumsey (D)
Charles, Exeter, Hopkington, Richmond, West Greenwich
"Morgan beat Rumsey in 2014, in a year that the state's Democratic candidate, Gina Raimondo, narrowly carried the race. It was uniquely bad for down ballot races (for the Dems). Now with Trump at the top of the ticket for the Rs, it will be hard for Morgan," said Bell.
14. Senate District 21
Incumbent: Sen. Nick Kettle (R)
Challenger: Margaux Morisseau (D)
Coventry
Progressive Morisseau lost to Kettle in 2014 and is making another run at the seat in 2016.
15. Senate District 7
Incumbent: Sen. Frank Ciccone (D)
Challenger: Doris De Los Santos (D)
Providence, North Providence
De Los Santos is making another run at the seat held by Ciccone since 2002; she ran unsuccessfully in 2014.
