Like father, like son

District 3 Town Councilman Joseph Polisena Jr.’s political involvement began with pretzels and soda.

He was only 5 years old when his father, then-state Sen. Joseph Polisena, would take him up to the State House for sessions. It kickstarted a life around politics for both men – one who is now a few months into his first term on the council, while the other is in his fourth and final term as mayor.

“He used to come to the State House with me,” Polisena said during an interview at Town Hall on Monday morning. “He used to like coming because he got to drink soda and eat pretzels. He grew up with it, and he’s got a very good background. He knows a lot about politics. He follows politics closely.”

Polisena Jr. told the Sun Rise over the phone on Tuesday that while his father’s political career was not determinative in his desire to eventually enter the government arena, it was a “pretty big influence.”

“It was definitely different. He was always busy because he was down at the State House and a professor and being down at the State House, they’re in session Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurdsay, and then additional time not in session,” Polisena Jr. said. “It was definitely different, but it was something that I enjoyed and something I was proud of.”

When Polisena Jr. originally approached his father about running for the District 3 seat, Polisena was apprehensive. He said then-Councilman David Santilli Sr. is a friend of his and advised against a run, but changed his tune once Santilli announced he was not running for reelection.

Polisena said that it was a proud moment when he got to swear in his son last year. He said Polisena Jr. has had a desire to give back through public service, and his place as vice president of the council has allowed him to do so.

“It’s funny because the night I swore him in, I was very proud,” Polisena said. “I was proud the night he was born. I was proud the day he graduated law school. I’m proud of him all the time, because he’s never given me any issues growing up. He wasn’t a youth that got in trouble. It’s something that he decided on.”

Polisena said he believes his son has a promising political career ahead of him, especially given that he is a lawyer by trade. When asked what advice he would give his son as he embarks on that future, Polisena said honesty is the best policy when dealing with oneself and constituents.

“The most important thing I told him, too, is answer your constituents’ phone calls, because they obviously want you to do something,” Polisena said. “If you're honest with them and tell them you can do it, you do it. If you are honest and tell them you can’t do it, at least you respond back to them. And that’s the most important thing. You work for the people who voted you in.”

Polisena Jr. said he has enjoyed the past several months. He echoed his father’s words, saying that being at the council level is about “listening to constituents and solving problems for them.”

“I know I’m going to make mistakes, but I always say if you learn from your mistakes and you don’t repeat them. I think that counts toward an awful lot,” Polisena Jr. said. “Try to make everything a learning experience. There’s some things you can’t control, some things you can control. Nobody’s perfect. Learn from those mistakes and don’t repeat them, and you have something to be proud of.”

Polisena reflected on several moments of fatherly pride. Last week at Johnston High School’s graduation, for example, a few people approached Polisena to laud his son’s speech at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School Honors Night.

He said he has also been approached at restaurants by constituents saying Polisena Jr. has taken care of issues for them. Polisena joked that he responded to one such comment by adding, “Well, that’s what he’s supposed to do.”

The two don't see eye-to-eye on everything, though. While they agree on pro-business and green energy stances, they recognized a generational gap on some issues.

“He and I differ on a lot of issues, but he’s more that millennial type,” Polisena said.

“I think that boils down to the generation,” Polisena Jr. said. “Things that I’ve gown up with are totally different than what he was growing up with.”

Polisena said he also advises his son that work can take away time from his family. He noted that he missed plenty of his son’s baseball and football games growing up. Now, though, they work on the same playing field.

“I missed a lot of his stuff. My wife obviously filled in a lot for me,” Polisena said. “I think the lesson is just be honest with people, return their calls, be responsible to them, know that they may not like what you’re going to tell them, which is no. Everybody wants instant gratification, sometimes things take time. He gets it. He seems to get it.”