With the deadline to file papers for those intending to run for elected office in East Providence coming and going yesterday afternoon, the dust has settled over a city ripe with fresh political intrigue.

Locally, every single non-General Assembly seat, aside from Ward 1 on the East Providence School Committee, has multiple people filed as intending to run. Whether or not they will all obtain the required signatures to actually be placed on the ballot come November (each local office is a non-partisan position) remains to be seen. They have until July 10 to do so.

The Post will diligently attempt to write introductory features on all candidates in contested races throughout the coming months. (Feel free to reach out to me directly at ehartley@eastbaymediagroup.com if you are a candidate to set up an interview.)

Just browsing the filings, there are multiple races to keep an eye out for already.

Former superintendent running for school committee

One of the biggest surprises to come out of the filings was Dr. Sandra Forand, who just announced her retirement from the district after 26 years rising through the ranks all the way to becoming superintendent in 2022, appearing on the list as running for school committee in Ward 3.

If all candidates acquire their signatures, it will be a crowded field for the seat currently held by David Luiz (more on him later). Three other people — Renee Ignacio, Elizabeth Merrill, and Steven Souza — are vying for the seat.

Forand said in a text message that she was heading out on a vacation for the next couple of weeks, but would talk more about her decision to run when she returned.

Luiz pivots from council aspirations

Current School Committee Chair David Luiz had, all the way back in February, announced his intention to run for Frank Fogarty’s Ward 3 seat on the East Providence City Council. Part of that math was due to Fogarty indicating he wasn’t intending to run for re-election. In late May, Luiz even held a fundraiser towards that effort.

It raised an eyebrow, then, to see his name appear not as a candidate for city council, but as a candidate running against incumbent Anthony Ferreira for the citywide, at-large seat on the East Providence School Committee.

Luiz did not immediately respond to a text message inquiring about the situation.

Fogarty, meanwhile, filed to run for re-election for the Ward 3 seat on the city council after all.

Reached on the phone Thursday afternoon, Fogarty said that he had a conversation with Luiz a couple weeks ago where Luiz indicated he had changed his mind about running for city council, to which Fogarty gave his blessing.

“Our conversation went pretty simple,” Fogarty said. “I’m going to continue to serve and do the best I can, if I win.” He did not know Luiz intended to run for the at-large seat until seeing the filings yesterday, he said.

Fogarty faces one opponent, Christopher Teixeira.

DaSilva has a challenger

Mayor Bob DaSilva, who announced his bid to run for re-election during a wind-swept day in late April, officially put that intent into writing on Wednesday. He may have to do a little campaigning to secure that desire, however, as one challenger to the non-partisan mayor’s position was noted.

The challenger, Patricio Pinto, could not immediately be reached for a comment. Rhode Island Secretary of State documents show that Pinto is listed as a Rumford resident, and is on file as the president of Vally Auto Service, Inc., located at 517 Warren Ave. in the city.

Dawson has dual challengers

The only race among those representing Townies in the General Assembly with any actual intrigue in the way of opposition resides in District 65, currently held by Rep. Matthew Dawson.

Dawson faces two challengers. One, Dr. Cameron St. Germain, is described in their campaign announcement press release as an RI Reads Instructional Coach for the middle grades at The Learning Community who has been recognized as District Teacher of the Year by the Rhode Island Department of Education. He holds a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Urban Leadership from Johns Hopkins University.

The other challenger, Grant Webber Wosencroft, is listed in the state’s election filings database as a Riverside resident, and the Post will be reaching out for more information in the coming weeks.

All declared candidates

EAST PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL

Ward 1
Frank Rego (incumbent)
Jonathan Jacobs
Richard Stanley
Bethany White

Ward 2
Matthew Gunnip
Kevin Pereira
Anna Sousa (incumbent)

Ward 3
Frank Fogarty (incumbent)
Christopher Teixeira

Ward 4
Jason Botelho
Michael Spremulli

Citywide
Jason Medeiros
Bob Rodericks (incumbent)

MAYOR

Roberto DaSilva (incumbent)
Patricio Pinto

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Ward 1
Ryan Queenan (incumbent)

Ward 2
Antonio DeSimas (incumbent)
John Medeiros

Ward 3
Sandra Forand
Renee Ignacio
Elizabeth Merrill
Steven Souza

Ward 4
Jessica Beauchaine (incumbent)
Anthony Pedulla
Chrissy Rossi

Citywide (at-large)
Anthony Ferreira (incumbent)
David Luiz

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

District 63
Katherine Kazarian (D - incumbent)

District 64
Jenni Furtado (D - incumbent)

District 65
Matthew Dawson (D - incumbent)
Cameron St. Germain (D)
Grant Webber Wosencroft (D)

District 66
Jennifer Boylan (D - incumbent)

STATE SENATE

District 14
Valarie Lawson (D - incumbent)

District 18
Robert Britto (D - incumbent)

District 32
Pam Lauria (D - incumbent)