Polisena, Democratic Town Committee open campaign headquarters

“It’s always exciting when we kick off the political season in Johnston,” U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse told an applauding audience that totaled upwards of 200 people Saturday morning.

Moments later, U.S. Congressman James Langevin declared: “Johnston is without question Democratic Central in Rhode Island.”

The kudos didn’t stop there. They came from Gov. Gina Raimondo, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, State Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and Robert McNamara, chairman of RI’s Democratic Party, who heaped words of praise upon the town and its leader Mayor Joseph Polisena.

Polisena toasted Richard J. DelFino Jr., saying “When our chairman calls us into action, the (55) members get right to work immediately.”

To which Mattiello said, “You gals and guys in Johnston do it right. You know how to elect a good mayor. I love Joe Polisena; he continues to get results just like your great group here.”

Mattiello, like other elected officials from the national, state and local levels, echoed those sentiments time and again Saturday morning during what was the official opening of the Mayor Joseph Polisena-Johnston Democratic Town Committee headquarters that DPW Director Arnie Vecchione noted “is absolutely the best space we’ve ever had for the election season.”

The Polisena-JDTC has set up shop for the 2018 campaign, one Raimondo, McKee and others emphasized “is one of the most important elections we’ve faced in years and there’s a lot at stake here so we all have to work hard to get our Democratic team re-elected,” inside a storefronts at 10 Commerce Way off Hartford Avenue in Johnston.

Saturday’s Polisena-JDTC Headquarters opening resembled an old-fashioned football-like pep rally with every speaker toasting Johnston’s many projects in the Mayor’s one-billion, 300 million dollars in new economic development, including the Citizens Bank Campus and fact that “those cranes in the sky will continue to be a special scene across the town and state.”

The Mayor also toasted his Super Bowl Team – Town Council members Richard III, David Santilli, Robert Russo and Robert Civetti – while sternly stating “our mission and goal is to get Democrats on a local, state and national level re-elected and elected.”

“They’re also part of my team that has put Johnston way ahead of the curve,” Polisena said. “This year will be third, that’s right third, year in a row there will be no tax increase in Johnston.”

Polisena then added, “We have stabilized our financial future; we have fixed our fire, police pensions; put millions in or Open Trust Fund, built state-of-the-art sports facilities, we have the best fire and rescue apparatus, we will be paving and repairing our town roads this year and investing $5-miilliion in our 175 miles of roads.”

The Mayor then highlighted the Green Energy Program that features new lighting in public buildings and how he and the Town Council works closely with the School Committee about investing in labs for music and art curriculums.

“And the best goes on,” Polisena said. “Oh, by the way; I am running for re-election along with my team!”

Perhaps the message McKee sent along during his brief remarks and those from Warwick’s interim Mayor Joseph Solomon best described of what the Polisena and JDTC has meant to other Democrats in Rhode Island.

“If it’s not for the Democrats in Johnston, I’m not the Lt. Governor,” McKee wanted it widely known. “The (JDTC) is a model for others to follow – here and around the country as well.”

Solomon, who was formerly President of the Warwick City Council, added, “I’ve always admired Joe Polisena. I remember Johnston as it used to be before he was voted into office. Look around, you don’t, or won’t, see any empty storefronts in this town. I like his business motto: “You submit, we permit.”

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@C_Cutline:SPECIAL SIGNATURE: The Mayor Joseph Polisena-Johnston Democratic Town Committee Headquarters officially opening Saturday inside a 100-feet by 30-feet plus storefront in the nearly full Carpianato Complex at 10 Commerce Way. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

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POLISENA’S PITCH: “Oh, by the way,” Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena mused during Saturday’s fun-filled opening of the Democratic Headquarters, “I am running for re-election along with my team.”

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LINKED LEADERS: National, state and local elected Democrats were included in the standing room only crowd that helped user in the 2018 election season and kick off of the Johnston Democratic Town Committee headquarters at 10 Commerce Way.

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SPECIAL SUPPORTERS: Robert V. Russo, Esq., veteran Johnston Town Councilman for District 4, is all smiles while welcoming colleagues Ed Ladouceur, Warwick Ward 5 Councilman; Peter Neronha, candidate for Attorney General; Warwick Acting Mayor Joseph Solomon; and Citizens Bank Mike Knipper to Saturday’s JDTC headquarters.