Gene Saveory Announces for School Committee

Former East Providence Planning and Zoning Board official Gene Saveory has announced his candidacy for the open ward 4 school committee seat. This seat is now held by Chrissy Rossi who will leave the school board to mount a challenge to city councilman Michael DiGioia. DiGioia is running for re-election to the council from ward 4.

“All things start from the bottom and go up. We need to return to basics, to get rid of the municipal mentality and move to the private sector mentality,” said Saveory. This quote would be repeated by Saveory throughout his interview with the ReporterToday.com. “Our infrastructure is a problem and has been for a long time. If our city is to prosper and improve, we’re going to need a better school system. I can bring my years of experience on the city planning and zoning boards to our school committee,” he maintained. Saveory was critical of the school system quoting a report from schooldigger.com which lists East Providence as ranked 36th in Rhode Island. “I’m sure this will influence economic growth in the city, sad,” said a facebook entry by Saveory. “We must implement more private sector thinking. The school budget is the largest part of the city budget and let’s treat it more like a business,” he repeated.

Saveory wants more action from the state and federal lawmakers. “The local officials get blamed for budgets but where are our state house people? I want our state Representatives and Senators to lobby officials in Washington to return more federal funds to the cities. Sometimes our state officials seem to hide from us,” Saveory said. “Let’s get out of some of these foreign wars and bring that money back home,” he suggested.

Saveory was also critical of the school administration offices moving to the third floor of city hall. “Too much activity for one area, what about parking for the public and other concerns. The building is handicapped accessible but are all the work stations and is there enough room?” he added.

“I’ve been around a long time, some 22 years on the Democratic City Committee. I’ve been a Democrat all my life, but I will probably run as an independent this time,” he said.