Saying he wants to end high tolls and taxes, and establish a more friendly business climate, a Bristol resident has announced his intention to run for the state House seat former Rep. Ray Gallison resigned amidst controversy last month.
He is just one of the local candidates who filed paperwork to run for local office by the 4 p.m. deadline Wednesday. See below for a full list of Bristol candidates.
Antonio “Tony” Avila, a photographer by trade, joins fellow Bristol resident Susan Donovan in running for the District 69 seat that opened up when Mr. Gallison, the former House Finance Committee chairman, resigned May 3. Reports have surfaced of state and federal investigations of Mr. Gallison, and House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has ordered an audit of funds Mr. Gallison directed to Alternative Education Programming, which Mr. Gallison ran and which received millions in community service grants.
“After years of seeing government serve special interests and not the people, it’s time someone with fresh ideas and a common-sense approach speak for them,” said Mr. Avila, who lists the Fourth of July Committee and St. Elizabeth Church among the organizations for which he volunteers. “I am excited to share my ideas with the people of District 69 on how to make that happen.”
The full slate of Bristol races includes:

Town Administrator

• Antonio A. Teixeira
• Steven Contente

Town Clerk

• Louis P. Cirillo

Town Council

• Mary A. Parella
• Andrew T. Tyska
• Ann S. Gardner
• Aaron J. Ley
• Timothy Edward Sweeney
• Roxanne Giusti-lavoie
• Marco Capaldi
• Patrick M. McCarthy
• Nathan Colouro
• Edward P. Stuart Jr.

Bristol Warren Regional School Committee

• Brian Reid Bradshaw
• Marjorie J. McBride
• Dessie L. Wainwright
• William S. Childress
• Adam M. Ramos 
• R. Andrew Benn
• Lisa Labollita

House District 69

• Susan Donovan
• Antonio Avila
• Todd Giroux
• Eric Hall
• Analee A. Berretto

House District 68

• Kenneth Marshall
• William J. Hunt Jr.

Senate District 11

• Ethan M. Tucker

Senate District 10

• Walter Felag
• Jarrod Hazard