Endorsed slate sweeps primary

DelFino, Manzi win council races; Garzone, Mele, Bianco get nod for school committee; Archambault, Fellela top Democratic challengers

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The endorsed slate of local Democratic candidates swept to victory in Tuesday’s primary election.

Richard DelFino III and Stephanie Manzi won the party’s nomination for Town Council in Districts 1 and 5, respectively, while Lauren Garzone, Janice Mele and Gena Bianco received the party’s nod for seats on the School Committee.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Deborah Fellela topped her primary challenger in House District 43, and state Sen. Stephen Archambault bested his challenger in Johnston and District 22 as a whole.

“This is a well-oiled machine,” Mayor Joseph Polisena, who faced no primary challenger but will take on independent candidate Ernest Pitochelli in November’s election, said during an election night gathering at the local Democratic headquarters on Atwood Avenue. “All of our endorsed candidates won. They all had help from the greatest volunteers around ... this was a great, great victory for our team.”

The victors in the town council races each won by a wide margin. In District 1, DelFino had received 693 votes (73 percent) to two-term incumbent Councilwoman Eileen Fuoco’s 256 (27 percent), based on unofficial tallies with all precincts reporting. In District 5, five-term Councilwoman Stephanie Manzi received 839 votes (64.7 percent) to challenger Jeanette Scarcella’s 458 (35.3 percent).

“This would not have been possible without a great team of volunteers,” said DelFino. “This has been a roller coast ride that started last summer … There’s something to be said about our entire team. The numbers Johnston people put up tonight tells the story of how people feel about our teams. I’m looking forward to serving you as your councilman in District 1.”

“Thank you to all the people who helped me,” Manzi said, adding that she and Bianco campaigned heavily in District 5. “We started this campaign the Fourth of July weekend and never stopped once. Gena and I worked hard and walked together to get our message out.”

The races for school committee were closer. In District 2 – a seat being vacated by incumbent Lorraine Iafrate – endorsed candidate Lauren Garzone received 572 votes (60.5 percent) to Benjamin Mesiti’s 374 votes (39.5 percent). Janice Mele, an eight-year incumbent and current chair of the committee, received 508 votes (54.9 percent) to challenger Jennifer Armstrong-Souza’s 418 votes (45.1 percent) in the District 3 race. In the tightest contest, endorsed candidate Gena Bianco received 665 votes (52.3 percent) to defeat District 5 incumbent Susan Mansolillo, who receives 607 votes (47.7 percent).

“I’m feeling wonderful,” Mele said after the results were announced. “I love my work, I love this job. I’m absolutely ecstatic … This is a great win for all of us tonight.”

“I’m very excited,” Garzone said. “All my hard work pounding the pavement paid off. The wheels are already turning and I can’t wait to get to work.”

“I want to do whatever I can to make the education of our children the best it can be,” Bianco said.

The primary vote effectively decided the winners of the town council and school committee seats, as no Republicans or independents are running in the Nov. 4 general election.

On the legislative side, Fellela received 1,324 votes (56.4 percent) to top Democratic challenger Edward Doyle, who receives 1,022 votes (43.6 percent). She will face a pair of independents Karin N. Gorman and Daniel Hawkins in November.

Archambault bested Democratic challenger David Fasteson by a 40-28 margin in Johnston, and across the district took 2,210 votes (62.3 percent) to his opponent’s 1,338 (37.7 percent). He will face Republican Hasan Alsawaf is the general election.

“You win championships when you have good players and good leaders,” said state Rep. John Carnevale (D-13), who is seeking a new term without opposition. “We have a great leader in Mayor Joseph Polisena, great players who were all endorsed this time and that makes for our championship team.”

In the race for governor, Johnston voters sided with the eventual winners on both sides of the aisle. General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, the Democratic nominee, received 2,088 votes (40.4 percent) in town, topping Clay Pell (1,704 votes, 33 percent), Providence Mayor Angel Taveras (1,225 votes, 23.7 percent) and Todd Giroux (147 votes, 2.8 percent).

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, the Republican nominee, received 311 votes (51.3 percent) in Johnston, narrowly edging Ken Block (295 votes, 48.7 percent).

Johnston voters went with the winners in other statewide primaries as well. Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee (1,905 votes, 38.2 percent) topped Secretary of State Ralph Mollis (1,778 votes, 35.7 percent) and state Rep. Frank Ferri (1,302 votes, 26.1 percent) to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, while Catherine Taylor (315 votes, 63.6 percent) defeated Kara Young (180 votes, 36.4 percent) on the Republican side of that race.

Nellie Gorbea (2,322 50.2 percent) pulled an upset win over Guillaume de Ramel (2,308, 49.8 percent) in the Democratic race for secretary of state. State Rep. John Carlevale is running unopposed on the Republican side.

The town also sided with winner Seth Magaziner (2,807 votes, 55.8 percent) over Frank Caprio (2,233, 44.2 percent) in the Democratic race for general treasurer. Ernie Almonte is running for the position as an independent.

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  • RIPolistinks

    Hmmmmmm,

    Richard Delfino JR is Chairman of the Johnston Democratic Committee.

    Richard Delfino III is Candidate for Johnston Town Council.

    Johnston Democratic Committee endorses Richard Delfino III over sitting democratic candidate.

    Delfino III wins.

    Big surprise! And the author of this article doesn't even think to mention it.

    Am I the only one who sees a conflict of interest here? Oh wait, I forgot, this is Rhode Island...

    Friday, September 12, 2014 Report this