I think that by virtue of the fact that (Mr. Ascencao) got 63 percent of the vote, it’s an indication that people supported his policy positions. I share many of those positions, (but) I’ve got honesty and integrity too.”

June Speakman

I talk with a lot of older people, and a lot of them are concerned with housing that’s affordable to them. They don’t want to leave the town that they’ve lived in their whole life.”

Richard Ruggiero

June Speakman and Richard Ruggiero will present voters with two distinct choices when they head to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the Democratic primary for the House of Representatives District 68 seat.

Though Ms. Speakman and Mr. Ruggiero share some of the same political views and both see the need to improve schools, keep taxes down and keep housing affordable here, the candidates each said this week that their overall political philosophies are clearly different:

As an old-school Democrat, Mr. Ruggiero, of Bristol, said he is “more traditionally conservative.”

“I’m for traditional East Bay family values,” he said, and is interested in “the things that I grew up with and that I thought were important in my years on the town council” in Bristol. Ms. Speakman and the progressive wing of the party represent interests “way beyond what the mainstream wants and needs,” he added.

Ms. Speakman, from Warren, considers herself further to the left end of the spectrum, sharing much of the so-called progressive agenda that has been championed in this state recently by many candidates, including Laufton Ascencao, who left his incoming seat in disgrace after being caught lying to Ms. Speakman and other members of the Warren Democratic Town Committee last month.

“We’re all Democrats, but some of us are more conservative than others,” she said during a talk with a reporter this week. “ ‘Progressive’ is a word you used. I would not quarrel with that.”

Long history of service
Few could have foreseen how the upcoming primary would come to be. Prior to Mr. Ascencao’s fall from grace, Mr. Ruggiero was deeply ensconced in private life with little thought of returning to the political realm. Ms. Speakman, a former Barrington resident who moved to Warren several years ago, was getting back into private life as well after an unsuccessful run for Warren Town Council.

The political turmoil that accompanied Mr. Ascencao’s departure convinced both that it was time to run for state office.

Ms. Speakman, a 23-year Roger Williams University professor who served on the Barrington Town Council from 2002 to 2016, realized this was an opportunity for her to bring experience and integrity to public service.

Though she had been heavily invested in Mr. Ascencao’s campaign and was as surprised as anyone at his deceit, she said she felt a need to carry on the same agenda that he represented:

“I think that by virtue of the fact that (Mr. Ascencao) got 63 percent of the vote, it’s an indication that people supported his policy positions. I share many of those positions, (but) I’ve got honesty and integrity too.”

For Mr. Ruggiero, a former school teacher who served on the Bristol Town Council from 1988 to 2006, the decision was easy:

“I’ve always wanted to get back in” to politics, said Mr. Ruggiero, who now works as a realtor. “When this guy (Mr. Ascencao) had to resign, I said, ‘You know what? I’m an honest person. I didn’t know (who else would be running), but I knew I was honest and could represent the town well.”

‘Traditional’ vs. ‘Progressive’
As a “traditional conservative” from the John Kennedy School, Mr. Ruggiero suggested his political stances may be more aligned with his constituents’ than Ms. Speakman’s. He said that if he wins the primary and goes on to defeat two Independents and a Libertarian in the March Special Election, he will try to champion those “traditional” concerns:

“I talk with a lot of older people, and a lot of them are concerned with housing that’s affordable to them. They don’t want to leave the town that they’ve lived in their whole life,” he said.

In his years in town, he said he has seen many residents forced to leave Rhode Island as they struggle to pay taxes here. One thing he will do is to fight the taxing of Social Security pensions:

“There are only 13 states that (tax it),” he said. “I don’t understand why Rhode Island has to be one of them.”

Ms. Speakman said she agrees that housing issues are of great import here. As a member of the board of RI HousingWorks, she said she is “interested in the state having a more robust housing policy that meets the needs of people from those of lower income to elderly folks who can’t afford taxes.”

“I would be a freshman legislator, so I can’t set agendas, but I can certainly” advocate and fight for fair housing policy that helps people stay here, she said.

Both also see a need for quality education and an end to the ‘us vs. them’ theme that has permeated the two towns since Bristol and Warren regionalized their school systems back in the 1990s.

“The fact that after 25 years folks are still uncomfortable with the relationship is probably something that needs to be addressed and resolved,” Ms. Speakman said.

“There needs to be more cooperation (and while it hasn’t always been there) you have to keep striving for that because it’s a worthwhile goal,” Mr. Ruggiero said.

Other agenda items
Apart from schools, taxes and housing, the candidates also have the following views, among others:

On gun reform: “I am for gun reform and (further) legislation, including a ban on military style weapons, high capacity magazines and no guns in schools,” Ms. Speakman said.

On infrastructure: Both say the need to do more for the state’s infrastructure is a pressing need. “I talk with a lot of people who want the roads and the state’s infrastructure improved,” Mr. Ruggiero said.

On climate change and the environment: Ms. Speakman said she supports policies that will recognize and combat the clear impacts of climate change, and will work on keeping low-lying areas safe. She also supports renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind power, and wants to reduce pressure on the Central Landfill by reducing the amount of plastics being used.

On affordable health care: “Everyone worries about affordable health care,” Mr. Ruggiero said. “I don’t know whether that’s even possible, but it’s something that we in government should strive for. I look at the budget and deficit, both in Rhode Island and federally … it’s going to be a very difficult thing to do, but you have to try.”

On governmental spending and waste, Mr. Ruggiero referred to a statement he wrote last week, in which he said, “we must begin to reduce spending, while still providing necessary services, and not place a financial burden on generations to come. Government must make better choices when it comes to spending. All too often politicians like to spend other people’s money, but there is not a bottomless pit.”

On social issues, including LGBT rights and reproductive health: “If elected, I will vote for the Reproductive Healthcare Act,” said Ms. Speakman, a supporter of LGBT rights.

The district
While 70 percent of District 68’s voters live in Bristol, Ms. Speakman does not believe the vote will necessarily follow town lines.

“There’s not a hard wall between the two communities,” she said. “They share the same coastline, they share roads, the school system. To me, the commonalities are greater than the differences. I’ve talked to a lot of people in Bristol, knocking on doors, going to house parties. I’ve sent out letters to about 1,000 homes in Bristol and I’ve received very positive feedback (so) I feel that there are people in Bristol who support me and are willing to listen. Given that, and given the reception that I’ve gotten, I’m delighted to have their support.”
Mr. Ruggiero, too, is reaching out as much as he can, and has also been heartened by the response he’s received from his fellow residents:

“I’m hoping that people will remember that (when I was on the council) I was very accessible, I always made sure I got back to people and listened to them. I can’t say I solved all their problems, but I certainly looked into them and tried to do my best.”

“If you’re looking for traditional, more conservative values, you have to vote for me. If you’re looking for that progressive viewpoint, you have to vote for June.”

“I think it’s pretty simple.”