WARREN — The Warren Town Hall Chambers, fittingly, was the location for two town-centric forums held Monday night, Oct. 7, including the opener between candidates running in State Senate District 10, the seat occupied for decades by a Warren resident who also spent considerable time on the same dais as a councilor.

The aforementioned legendary town political figure, 13-term incumbent State Senator Walter Felag, and his opposition, Tiverton resident Allyn Meyers, began the evening's two question-and-answer sessions, later followed by another with the three candidates aspiring to fill two vacant Council positions. (District 10 also includes part of Bristol.)

Democrat Felag, who was on the Warren Town Council for 20 years previous to being elected to the General Assembly in 1998, is being challenged for a second-consecutive cycle by Republican Meyers, who used both local and national issues to criticize his opponent.

The candidates were asked about a number of issues previously addressed in local media, including in profiles featured in recent issues of The Warren Times-Gazette about the Senate 10 race, along with others not broached prior though still pertinent to their campaigns.

Some matters meted out in both theaters included Meyers' repeated call for the installation of an inspector general for the state. He said Rhode Island was now one of just 16 states that does not have the position and the lone one in New England.

Meyers claimed the benefits of creating the office far outweigh the costs, saying "they always pay for themselves." He added the return on expense is usually "$21-$1."

Felag found no fault with his opponent's answer and pointed to his own support of the position, saying, "If Mr. Meyers looked up my record he would see I was a cosponsor of the inspector general bill."

Felag was referring to his legislation, RI S2348, which did not get out of committee in 2024, "An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government - Inspector General...Establishes office of inspector general which would be charged with preventing fraud and mismanagement of public funds, regardless of their source and would oversee all state programs and operations."

On the subject of gun control legislation, Felag said he has long supported "common sense gun laws," such as the package of bills approved in recent General Assembly sessions like safe storage, red flag, ghost gun and magazine size.

Felag said if there was one more to be implemented would be a ban on assault-style weapons like those already on the books in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

"I don't see much of a problem with it except what is definition of an assault weapon," said Felag.

Meyers struck on that last comment, saying no one knows what exactly an assault weapon is. He continued, "To violate our civil rights, a very strong civil right that goes all the way back to the beginning, over something you can't even define is problematic."

Meyers also said since the group of laws was passed two years ago, gun deaths rose in Rhode Island from 19 to 28.

The candidates disagreed when asked if the state is properly managing its near $14 billion budget.

Felag, who has long sat on the Senate Finance Committee which overseas the annual outlay, said it is allocated properly. He explained how so: 45 percent human services and healthcare; 25 percent is on education; and 25 percent environment and general governance. Felag added, "It is critically important that we increase revenues."

Meyers said the state has a "problem with revenue," that it "can't keep taxing people to make up for shortfalls." He said Rhode Island has "highest sales tax in the region," which he said for border communities like Warren and Tiverton is problematic for small businesses. "You can't just keep taxing people to death," he concluded.

On the virtue of charter schools, Felag said he supported their use on a limited basis, but more so in urban areas rather than in places like the municipalities of Senate 10 where they tend to take away needed monies from local districts.

Meyers expressed his support for charter schools, saying they "are a great idea" and provide choice to parents, especially those in faltering districts.

When asked about climate change, Meyers at first lauded the state's efforts, but also worried about how offshore wind farms and solar farms could be affected by natural disasters like hurricanes. For example, he said with coal, gas or oil, power outages only last for just for a few days. He expressed concerns of how the reliance on certain "green" energies would impact loss of power supply in an emergency.

Felag noted, "The East Bay is ripe for climate change, and I'm glad to see that this is going to be a joint issue that requires attention from the municipality, the state, and the federal government." He pointed to his record of getting environmental legislation passed, such as the PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly called "forever chemicals" because of their lingering effects.

When asked about the shortages in healthcare providers, Felag said, "It is a big concern from bottom worker to the physicians."

He referred to programs implemented by the Assembly like providing tax credits for student loans of primary care providers and creating training sites for primary care providers. The Assembly has also initiated a study group, led by another local State Senator Pam Lauria (D-Dist. 32, East Providence, Barrington, Bristol) on the feasibility of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island. He also referred to the dearth of CNAs at the veterans home, "a shame."

Meyers deemed the situation with the lack of practitioners as being a financial one because Rhode Island's rate of reimbursement is far less than neighboring states. He said even if the state created more physicians, they would simply more move out of state where they could make money. Meyers also agreed with the use of tax credits and other motivating factors to lure doctors to stay, but he "is not sold" on med school at URI.

In closing, Felag cited the famous Theodore Roosevelt quote about the "man in the arena," saying "It's easy to throw darts from the outside." It's much more difficult to be one of 113 legislators in the Assembly (38 senators and 75 representatives), but it is an opportunity "to do what you can for your community."

Felag claimed to be accessible and responsive, saying he had recently answered some 600 emails alone from constituents. He also mentioned his vast contacts in state government, and his experience working on budgets.

Said Felag, "More importantly, I have connections with the Rhode Island DOT, DEM, DLT, Commerce, and DMV to help our constituents when they run into an issue. I don't just pass it on. I call up those individuals and ask for their assistance and they usually respond to me.

"My opponent, on the other hand, is more of a gloom and doom type of individual who doesn't have solutions, and he's going to be one of 113 and I don't think he's going to have the effect that he thinks he's going to have," Felag added.

Meyers started his closing statement by asking a rhetorically question, "My opponent asked that you vote for him because of his experience, but what has your experience been with Walter Felag as your senator? "

He then proceeded to ask about a litany of his perceived ills at the moment, like what has been a voter's experience at the supermarket checkout, paying utility bills or getting at the gas pump? All of which he said have risen significantly the last two years.

Saying he doesn't often do so with this particular person, Meyers also quoted a famous former president, Bill Clinton, actually his campaign manager at the time of the 1992 election James Carville, who is credited with saying "It's the economy, stupid," when discussing the central issue in most campaigns.

"People are hurting in Rhode Island. We need leaders with real-world experience to fix the problems, with their neighbors, they face every day," Meyers added. "I will work with our town councils, neighborhood groups, and advocacy groups to identify the needs and concerns of District 10, not the schemes of big money in Providence."