Luisa Abatecola Not Running for Re-Election

Four year at-large East Providence school committee member, Luisa Abatecola announced today that she will not seek election for another term. “Basically I am not seeking re-election because I need time to care for my Mom who became ill a couple of years ago,” Abatecola told the Reporter today. “Two days before my last election my Mom became ill. “As an only child I take care of her and my Dad. This is very important to me,” she added. Abatecola was a very active PTA parent at Kent Heights School where her children attended and she sought the school committee at-large seat four years ago. She won overwhelmingly with 60% of the vote and was again re-elected two years ago with 54% of those voting. Abatecola has remained relatively non-controversial and continued her PTA activities while on the school board. She is currently PTA president at Kent Heights School and will also leave that post after this school year. Her four children have attended Kent Heights, Martin Middle and East Providence High School.

Abatecola did express a little frustration with the role of the state budget commission versus her role as a school committee member: “We really have very little say over anything. It’s a bittersweet relationship. The budget commission has done some good work here but I wish Chairman O’Keefe was more in tune with the needs of East Providence,” she said. “With the budget commission it’s either black or white with no flexibility,” she added. But Abatecola insisted that her reason to not run again was pretty much just about the need to spend more time caring for her ailing Mom and her Dad, both in their seventies. “It’s time for me to step aside after two terms and I do so with no regrets at all. I totally enjoyed visiting all the schools and supporting the many positive award ceremonies. I loved to help recognize people for doing a good job on behalf of our kids. Unfortunately the school committee gets more bogged down with budget issues and loses focus on the kids,” said Abatecola.

Abatecola described her very first vote some four years ago as her most difficult. “I voted with the committee against the teacher association on a major issue. Today, I don’t support that action. It wasn’t the right thing to do after all,” she said. She said her easiest vote was the vote to implement all day kindergarten in all schools. “That is a wonderful thing to provide our families with and I’m very supportive of that.” Abatecola also joined committee member Chrissy Rossi in voting against the move to oust former Superintendent Mario Cirillo. “I’m not sure of that action (to fire Cirillo) but I don’t want to comment too much because of pending litigation,” she said. Abatecola left the door open for a return to politics some day. “I’m not going away. I may come back, politically, after my kids are older and if my family responsibilities ease…I’ll be back.” In the meantime she has recommended a successor to her constituents. “I want to thank all those who have voted for me and everyone in the city for all the support I’ve received. It has been an honor to serve our community.” Abatecola said she wants to endorse parent and community volunteer Joel Monteiro. “Joel is a good candidate with a similar thought process. He is a good person who will represent our city well,” she said. Read about Joel Monteiro’s declaration for office in The Reporter.