EP Candidates Starting to Line Up for November 2016 Election

Candidates for the November 8, 2016 election are starting to organize as the City of East Providence continues to pull away from the rule of the former State Budget Commission. Two candidates for the Ward 3 city council seat had emerged, even before Wednesday's special council meeting of February 9, 2016. The meeting on Wednesday was called to discuss two items, "A: The Commission for Human Rights Matter regarding Kathleen T. Waterbury vs City of East Providence, Richard Kirby, Paul Lemont and Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian; and B: City Manager Job Performance Review."

For those who may have been looking for City Manager Richard Kirby to be placed on the hot seat, the opposite seemed to happen. Kirby took the offensive as he decided to exercise his right to have his job performance discussed in public. Kirby then opted to address the council while seated alone, in front of the council dais. Kirby came out swinging as he accused Ward 3 councilman Tom Rose of intimidation and interference with city personnel, in violation of the City Charter. For his part, Tom Rose said that "all I did was ask questions, nothing more." An earlier story relating to this meeting can be seen at ReporterToday.com.

Candy Seel has made it official as she acknowledged, "I will be throwing my hat in the ring for Ward 3 City Council." Seel has run twice against Tom Rose and has attended most City Council meetings since the last election. Seel has run a spirited campaign before and "I hope to do so again," she said. In her last try for the Ward 3 seat Seel lost a tightly contested race as incumbent Tom Rose has turned back her challenge. Rose received 1359 votes while Seel received 1239 votes. Seel has regularly voiced her opinion in letters to the editors of local newspapers and has spoken frequently at Council meetings. Her prior criticisms during the last election have often been based on the "majority’s disregard for the rule of law, primarily the City Charter, and its focus on trivial issue." Seel has previously said that she hears a similar concern from residents that "over and over again they are looking for efficiency and fair play in city governance."

"What Mr. Kirby confirmed at last night's (Wednesday) meeting validated everything that many citizens have suspected since Mr. Rose took office, that he has consistently overstepped his authority by interfering with the administration of city business," said Seel. "This has to stop, and I will work to put an end to it."

Also running for the Ward 3 council seat is former city councilman, Joseph Botelho. Botelho served on the council from 1984 to 1990. He has been an unsuccessful candidate for the State Senate Democratic Primary in 1992 and 2008. He also ran for the District 65 seat in the RI State House in 2012.

"It’s with a great degree of enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for the East Providence City Council, Ward 3 in 2016. Having served there before, I understand the process of how our government works, and what it takes to move East Providence forward, as well as, to address many of the particular challenges the city faces today.

"During my first tenure in office we were able to accomplish a number of improvements within the city including the restoration of Pierce Field and The Carousel, adding three additions to schools along with upgrading our sewage treatment plant, which won a national award for best small waste water facility on the East Coast in 1989," said Botelho. "These were but a few of many improvements we made across the city during my tenure on the council with East Providence gaining national attention as we placed third in All-America City balloting in 1989," he continued.

"I am running because I have faith that the city can be returned to its former greatness and believe that the hard working people who live here deserve better leadership than has been offered to them. I am a 4th generation Townie and still feel the “Townie Pride” deep inside."

Botelho has also organized the Kent Heights Neighborhood Association (KHNA) to deal with neighborhood issues. In particular, he and his neighborhood group have gathered petitions and have lobbied the current council in support of the recent Cumberland Farms expansion proposal at the corner of Pawtucket Avenue and Wampanoag trail.

In addressing the council in November of 2015, Botelho said that his group's mission is to improve the conditions within Kent Heights. We formed before this problem (Cumberland Farms) as we pushed to get a rusty water tower painted, curbing fixed and empty lots cleaned up," said Botelho. Botelho's web site lists his party affiliation as "Democratic."

Previously, former school committeewoman and councilwoman Chrissy Rossi has announced for the At-Large School Committee seat in November 2016. Her announcement can be seen at ReporterToday.com.