Red wave swallows Johnston

Johnston turned red on Election Night.

The town’s voters resoundingly backed former U.S. President Donald J. Trump for another four years in office. Johnston voters delivered 9,140 votes for Trump (58.7%); Vice President Kamala D. Harris earned just 6,123 votes (39.4%) in town (according to early, unofficial results provided Wednesday morning by the Rhode Island Board of Elections).

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won 126 votes in Johnston.

In the race to represent Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate, Republican challenger Patricia Morgan beat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in Johnston; she earned 7,643 votes (51.1%) to Whitehouse’s 7,270 votes (48.6%) — though Whitehouse handily won reelection statewide.

U.S. Rep Seth Magaziner was one of the few legislators to win Johnston’s vote (he easily won the state to again represent the Ocean State’s Second Congressional District — Magaziner’s 7,400 votes, or 50.2%, narrowly topped Republican Steven Corvi’s 7,306 votes in Johnston, or 49.5%).

District 42 Rep Race

The race to succeed Democratic incumbent state Rep. Ed Cardillo in District 42 was taken by Republican Richard R. Fascia, a member of the Johnston Zoning Board and former Providence Police officer. Fascia earned 2,987 votes in Johnston (55.2%); and his Democratic opponent Kelsey K. Coletta, won just 2,410 votes in town (44.6%). That district is split between Johnston and Cranston. District-wide, Fascia won the race, 3,869 votes (54.7%) to Coletta’s 3,188 votes (45.1%).

On Wednesday morning, Fascia said one of his top priorities will be to champion the creation of an Office of Inspector General for Rhode Island.

“I think this is a historic win for the people of Johnston and Cranston,” Fascia said. “It’s been 80 years since a Republican has held this seat, I’ve been told. And it’s been since 1984 since a Republican has been elected in Johnston.”

Fascia said he’d like “to see more and more people get involved with the Johnston Republican Town Committee (JRTC).”

Coletta begrudgingly wished her opponent luck and success at the State House.

“While the outcome of the election was not what I had hoped, I'm proud of the campaign I ran and the hard work I put into it,” Coletta said Wednesday morning. “I ran a genuine and transparent campaign, despite the lack of support from the Democratic party at both the state and town level. I can't thank all those who supported and helped me enough.”

Coletta emerged victorious from a competitive primary field. She toppled Rep. Cardillo as well as his nephew Dennis Cardillo, who is quickly becoming a perennial candidate for the seat (he also ran against his uncle and Coletta two years earlier).

“I could not have done as much as I did without the support of my friends and family, the dedication of my team and campaign manager, every elected official that spent the time and energy to help, the support of everyone who contributed to my campaign, the hard work of each volunteer, every organization and agency that supported my campaign, and every voter who opened their doors and their homes to me. I am forever appreciative of the kindness of every one of the hundreds of voters I spoke with and had genuine conversations with,” Coletta said. “I could not have done any of this without you all.”

The race between Fascia and Coletta turned ugly in the final days of the campaign. They argued over a local police endorsement. Outgoing Rep. Cardillo, a Democrat, even started campaigning against Coletta, a member of his own party.

“While I am disappointed in the campaign my opponent chose to run, I applaud any individual who dedicates the time and energy to running for public office,” Coletta said. “I hope that moving forward, the representative-elect will be more respectful and honest with his peers and the people who have chosen him to represent them. Congratulations to Mr. Fascia; I wish him luck.”

Sandra Taylor, Chairwoman of Johnston’s Republican Town Committee (JRTC), released a statement declaring that the organization “is proud and excited to be part of Richard Fascia’s historic win for House District 42 Johnston/Cranston on clearly an historic Republican night!”

“This shows that the Johnston/Cranston voters are for conservative values,” Taylor said Wednesday morning. “This also shows that Republicans can get elected and will open the doors for future Republican candidates to run.”

The State House

Following a tough primary fight for Senator in General Assembly District 25, Democrat Andrew R. Dimitri trounced Republican opponent Karin N. Gorman (Dimitri won 8,055 votes, or 58.0%; Gorman, 5,785 votes, or 41.7%).

Dimitri and Gorman did not reply to requests for comment Wednesday morning.

The race for District 43 Representative, the Johnston seat currently held by Democrat Deborah A. Fellela was close, but the incumbent successfully held onto her seat. Fellela won 3,822 votes in town (or 53.3%), compared to her opponent, Republican Nicola A. Grasso who won 3,322        (or 46.3%).

“I am deeply honored to have earned the trust and support of District 43 voters for another term,” Fellela said Wednesday. “This victory is a testament to the hard work of our campaign team and the belief we share in a brighter future for our community. I also want to take a moment to recognize my opponent Nick Grasso, and wish him the best in their continued efforts to serve and contribute. Moving forward, I remain committed to working for all, and I look forward to continuing the progress we've started together.”

The incumbent held on in the race for District 44 Representative. State Rep. Gregory J. Costantino, a Democrat, won      603 votes (or 51.9%) in Johnston. His opponent, Republican Peter Trementozzi won 555 votes in town (or 47.8%). District-wide, Constantino easily held onto his seat (he earned 4,771 votes in all, or 53.7%; while Trementozzi won 4,094 votes, or 46.1%).

Town Council Status Quo

All five incumbent town councilors — Linda L. Folcarelli, Lauren A. Garzone, Alfred T. Carnevale, Robert V. Russo and Robert J. Civetti — held onto their seats. They’re all Democrats.

Only one of those councilors had a race. Carnevale held off independent challenger Karen Ann Paquin (he won 1,674 votes, or 59.8% of the vote; to Paquin’s 1,096 votes, or 39.2%).

Following a host of town ballot questions, all five town councilors’ terms will soon double. Voters overwhelmingly approved Ballot Question 8, which set Town Council members’ terms at four years — 8,115 (or 58.7%) voted to Approve, and 5,711 (or 41.3%) voted to Reject.

Town Charter Revised via Ballot Question

Perhaps the heaviest measure on Tuesday’s ballot was Ballot Question 7, “Town representation on the School Committee.”

That question was narrowly approved: 7,252 (or 52.5%) voted to Approve; 6,556               (or 47.5%) voted to Reject.

The Town Council and Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Jr. will each now have two appointments on the Johnston School Committee. The committee will expand from its current five-member board, to a committee of nine (two new members appointed by the mayor, and two by town council).

“The people have spoken,” Fascia said. “They have decided that yes they do support the addition of four appointees; although everybody has been divided on this … this is what the majority has chosen. We need to find the best middle ground for achieving the best results for the people of Johnston.”

Fascia said there has been too much “divisiveness” on “this question, between the existing school committee” and proponents of the measure.

“We can’t have that and have progress,” Fascia said Wednesday. “They will have to reach across the aisle and make it work for the children. I had numerous conversations with the mayor. I consider him to be very qualified and very focused … a very qualified chief executive. I do believe the mayor has the best interests of Johnston in his heart. I think he wants what’s best for the people and what’s best for the town. I don’t think it’s a power thing for him.”

Fascia hopes the new measure will help to “keep the budget in check, keep the quality of education high and keep the education level in Johnston the best possible.”

Polisena provided a brief statement on the passage of Ballot Question 7 and the rest of the evening’s election victories.

“I am very pleased with the results of the election,” Polisena said Wednesday morning. “Congratulations to Al Carnevale, Andrew DiMitri, Deb Felella and Richard Fascia. A big thank you to the voters of Johnston for approving Question 7. It’s time to revitalize and reform our school department.”

Johnston Charter Review Commission member Arnie Vecchione also praised the voters’ approval of Ballot Question 7.

The Charter Review Commission did their homework and presented the Town residents with a list of Article changes that would improve our current Town Charter,” Vecchione said Wednesday morning. “Johnston residents did their research and approved all recommended changes. I look forward to seeing what the results of these Article changes bring to this great Town. Thank you, Johnston residents I am so very proud of your diligence and support. This is a very special community.”

Returning Town Councilman Civetti opposed Ballot Question 7 (and several others).

“The proposed revisions to the town Charter were presented to the taxpayers to approve or disapprove,” Civetti said Wednesday. “The taxpayers voted and as a result the Town Charter will be updated to include the revisions which the taxpayers approved. I have no problem with the taxpayers approving the questions as we live in a Democratic Society and the majority of the taxpayers voted to approve the proposed changes.”

Voters also overwhelmingly passed a $40 million bond to fight flooding.

“I look forward to learning more about the Stormwater and Sewer Facilities upgrade plan and the impact on the tax rate for residential property owners,” Civetti said. “I am also looking forward to learn the names of the individuals who the mayor will be appointing to the school committee and those who will be nominated by the Town Council to serve on the school committee. My colleagues and the Mayor have indicated that these four additional positions were being created to help with the diversity on the Board and get representation from this population in our community. I'm very interested to know who will be appointed and hope that the Mayor and Council stand by their earlier statements and appoint people from the community that represent this population which they claimed to be underserved by our current elected School Committee Members.”