Political Profile: Matt LaMountain, Candidate for State Senate in District 31

Political Profile: Matt LaMountain, Candidate for State Senate in District 31

Matt LaMountain is a  Democratic candidate for State Senate in District 31. Here is what he has to say.

 

1.  What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?

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We are experiencing the worst inflation since the 1980s and it is wreaking havoc on families across Rhode Island. With the proposed rising energy costs, more needs to be done with our state surplus to provide relief for working families. We need to expand programs that make it easier to raise a family in Rhode Island, such as paid family leave, access to affordable housing and child care.

For the first time, we are losing Constitutional rights at the federal level. In Rhode Island, the Reproductive Privacy Act of 2019 did enshrine Roe v. Wade in state law. But that access to care presently does not extend to a large portion of our population. As a matter of equity and fairness, we need to pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA). At the state level, we need to continue to protect privacy rights that had long been recognized by the federal courts but are now under attack.

Lastly, supporting public safety and advancing gun safety measures is also critical. As a Special Assistant Attorney General, I prosecuted gun crimes and saw firsthand the horrors of gun violence on our streets. Last session, a series of common-sense measures were passed, we need to continue to work on that issue to ensure our children and communities are safe.

2.  What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?

Narragansett Bay is our greatest resource, and it can power our shift to a green and blue economy and create thousands of high-paying jobs while reducing carbon emissions. We have already led on the issue of offshore wind; we can now innovate and lead the way with other renewable energy sources. This not only advances our environment but also revives our economy. As the Ocean State, we are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and need to combat Climate Change by building on the foundation of the 2021 Act on Climate. This includes protecting our parks and supporting conservation efforts to keep the bay clean and expanding job training to prepare the workforce for green jobs.

 

We also need to do far more to lift up and support working families. We need to extend relief to seniors by looking into ways to eliminate income taxes on pensions and social security. For small businesses, we need to cut the red tape and make it easier for them to thrive.

 

3.  What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?

We need to ensure that we have a public education system that is serving our children and preparing them for the future. Early childhood education is critical to improving student outcomes—we need universal pre-K. We have far too many children attending crumbling and dilapidated school buildings.  I support Warwick’s school construction bond because we need schools that are 21st Century learning environments. The backbone of any community is a strong public education system.

 

4.  Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?  

I am a proud lifelong Rhode Islander and I believe we can accomplish so much more by bringing people together to find tangible, common-sense solutions to our problems. I have spent my entire career in public service. First, as a prosecutor in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for over eight years, and later as a city solicitor in Warwick. In both positions, you have to listen, consider the facts and evidence, and make reasoned decisions. With two young children, I started to consider how best to make a difference for them. I have the skill set and background to bring people together and find common-sense solutions. We need to get away from the rhetoric and rancor and start working together.

 

5.  Who is your inspiration?  

My parents, Joseph and Eileen, my wife, Cassandra, and two children, Desmond and Nora are my greatest inspiration.

My mother, Eileen, began her career as a substitute teacher in West Warwick but gave up her job to stay at home and raise my brother and me. Meanwhile, my father, Joseph, had the responsibility of providing for our family on a single income while working at UPS, a job he worked at for over 30 years. When my brother, Brandon, and I became old enough to enroll in school, my mother re-entered the teaching field and worked as a kindergarten teacher for the Providence public school system for over 20 years. My family greatly benefited from my parents having good, union jobs which supported and provided for us. My parents have instilled the values of hard work, dedication, family and community service throughout my childhood.  All values and traits that I carry with me every day.

My wife, Cassandra, who is a Nurse Practitioner, is the bedrock of our family and a great source of inspiration. She is eternally positive, caring, and supportive of our family and my run for office. We also have two young children at home, Desmond and Nora. I want to provide the best possible future our children and the next generation of Rhode Islanders.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaMountainforSenate
Website: www.mattlamountain.com 

Biography:
Mount Saint Charles Academy 2003
Salve Regina University 2007
Suffolk University Law School 2010
Office of Attorney General 2011-2019
Assistant City Solicitor, City of Warwick 2019-2021
Owner, The Law Office of Matthew L. LaMountain 2019- Present