In East Providence their GOP group played host to a number of local and federal candidates for office. All in all a gathering of over 75 people were in attendance to support the E. Prov GOP and the invited candidates. Candidates featured along with my self were including but not limited to John Scott, Will Grapentine, and Christine Spaziano. Among the former and current elected officials who spoke were Mayor Steve Laffey, Representative Carol Mumford and Representative Sue Story. It was a great event! They had a silent auction and a door prize raffle. I must say I was severely disappointed with my loss of the History of the GOP book during the silent raffle. I had a strategy set up that proved to be completely filled with flaw, and eventually cost me the auction piece! All in all though, it was a good chance to practice a brief (unknown) stump speech, make some good friends, and catch up with some old friends.
Announcements were turned in to the boards of canvassers and this week, the nomination papers were picked up! We (state rep candidates) have the task of obtaining at least 50 qualified signatures in order to be placed on the ballot. While it SOUNDS like an easy task it can be not only difficult but also intimidating. Lucky for me the intimidating part has long past since I have gathered signatures on a few occasions for a number of candidates, it just becomes difficult to organize and try and pick out the perfect location to obtain the signatures. We hit our 50 mark the day we picked up the paperwork, but as always you want to make sure that you have enough qualified signatures so you gather well over the minimum number. You can find me and my supporters up and down Main street Warren, and in the shopping plaza in Barrington all throughout the week!
Tuesday afternoon/evening we attended the Warren GOP meeting. It is a small group of close knit friends from town and I must say I am glad to be a part of it! They are lead by their chairman Chris Stanley (who is running for a town office) and meet weekly on Tuesday nights to discuss the happenings in the town and state. All are encouraged to attend and get involved! I was able to introduce my self, give some of my background and then field a wide range of questions from the group. All in all I think we were all happy about it. I was pleased to see the questions and the level of involvement they wanted to take in eliminating my opposition from his seat, and likewise I was pleased to be among friends and have the chance to field the questions they had. I think (I hope) I answered everything to their liking and look forward to the next meeting I am able to make. Unfortunately I can not make it this Tuesday due to my work schedule this week, but I hope to be there next week! Its unfortunate, but along with the busy campaign schedule i still have to work...the bills REFUSE to pay them selves... I have begged and pleaded but...it just never happens. So unfortunately I have to miss some things, and make others, but all in all I hope to make every
thing I can.The Bristol 4th of July Parade was like no other! I have been told year after year about it, and how much fun it is, but all the stories in the world can do no justice until you are there in person and experiencing it. It is our nations oldest and longest running 4th of July Parade and it brings bands and performers from all over the world to Hope Street in Bristol to celebrate our nations Birth! We had 2 ralleys set up...1 at Bob Hamels house on the 800 Block of Hope street and one at my Landlord (and friend) Jon Ferreira's house. We got to Jons at about 645 and he was still asleep! With a phone call and some harassment he was up and out to start the day off. He had about 5 of his close friends and family there early in the morning and introduced them to me. They had some questions to field, but all in all its a day of celebration rather politicing. Throughout the day the numbers grew, and the questions and conversations grew. The overwelming sentimate was that of most people I have spoken to along the trail...They are sick and tired of the incumbents doing what they want and running the House as if it were their own personal frat party! They spend and spend and have no regard for those they serve!
We wandered down the parade route to Bob's only to find Bob hosting his own parade! He was the director and was followed by his band of about 20 playing kazoo's and singing patriotic songs. It was an excellent display of comratery among neighbors, and love for our country as Bob does what he has always done best....brought smiles to the children in his band and along the parade route as they laughed and clapped at his show! Take a look at the picture! We hung out at Bobs for about a half hour 45 minutes as Bob brought us to all his friends and family who reside in Warren and Barrington. As Bob is a Warren native you can imagine the numbers who came out from his hometown to enjoy the 4th with him. The day was great! We had a lot of fun with our friends and new supporters! Last but not least... I was also able to fit some quality time in with my fiance Mary. We took the 3rd off from both of our jobs and campaigning to take a road trip to New York City to see our favorite baseball teams play each other. The Yankees and Red Sox took to the field during a rainy night of Baseball. It truely is America's past time. "Take me out to the ball game" is still sung every game during the 7th inning stretch by the crowd! And no matter how well (or bad) your team may be doing at one year, you still come out and argue to the days end that they will make a spectacular come back and win it during the fall classic! Now...I know what your saying... "he better be there to see the Sox or hes not getting my vote". I must tell you...I am not a Sox fan... in fact I have been guilty of saying that any team who plays the Sox is my favorite team! I was born and raised in CT...we had NO guidance in choosing our baseball teams! I assure you though...I celebrated the Celtics 17th title in Boston a few weeks ago, and I shed a tear with you all during the last Super Bowl over the Patriots devastating loss. So while I may not fit your bill for baseball, please except my apologies and allow me to make up for it with hockey, football and basket ball! I am with the rest of the Hub in all other sports!
It was a great week and a half, and our support continues to grow daily! I hope that if this is your first visit to the blog that you will consider coming out to an event and meeting me or even stopping me along the street to express your concerns for the region and pledge your support in November! Take care, see you in a few short days!
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