Louis Rego

Derrik Trombley

Tim White

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WARREN — The candidates in the three-for-two race to become members of the Town Council seemingly all have something in common, a real and continued commitment to everyday life in Warren as they seek to replace departing members Brandt Heckert and Steve Calenda. Calenda, the current body vice president, and Heckert opted not to run for another four-year term.

In their stead steps former Town Council Louis Rego, who served on the body for 12 years between 1996 and 2008 and who still sits on local municipal boards, Tim White, a newcomer to elected office who is deeply engrained in the town's day-to-day activities, and even newer newcomer to politics in 28-year-old Derrik Trombley, like White an extremely active participant in current town affairs.

Each of the candidates brings a different level of experience, both in politics and in life, to their respective candidacies as well as distinct views on some of the town's more pressing topics. They're profiled, as follows, in alphabetical order.

Louis Rego
Warrenites of a certain vintage know well Louis Rego, who previously served on the Town Council from 1996-2008, including as body vice president, as well as his other long-standing service via other means.

He continues to sit on the Warren Housing Authority, being a member of which for nearly 10 years and currently the vice chair. He's been on the Historic Warren Armory board since 2010. And had a seat on the Warren Barrington Rotary Club for 25 years in his professional role as a realtor and mortgage loan officer until he recently retired.

Rego said, however, he hasn't stop paying attention to meaningful matters in the town, which is why he is attempting to return to electoral politics.

"I'm running because I like fiscal responsibility. For instance, when I was there for 12 years we were able to make so many infrastructure upgrades. Now there's no one there to maintain it," Rego explained.

He continued, "I'm concerned about the new school bond issues. That needs to be monitored...We're also consolidating some schools, so there should be some savings from that as well."

As part of the $200 million school construction referendum the Bristol-Warren Regional School District is closing down Guiterras Elementary in Bristol, decreasing the number of buildings at that level from five to four. The Hugh Cole Elementary School in Warren is currently earmarked to receive over $8 million in renovations as part of the plan. Likewise, Kickemuit Middle School is set to get nearly $9 million in upgrades.

Of the town's finances in general, Rego said, "The budget is a really big thing for me, and I just don't think it's being managed properly. There are things in the town that need to be done, that can be easily done. They just need the right direction."

Rego also expressed some hesitation about the housing developments expected to be constructed in town over the next few years at the old Bettencourt Farm, Penny Lane and the Liberty Street School.

"Depending on the project, I think they have a negative impact on the town. There's a lot of different factors for each," Rego said. "About the one at the farm, it's near the old reservoir, and I don't think it has the proper infrastructure for traffic or utilities."

On a corresponding topic, the new Comprehensive Plan for the town last updated some two decades ago when he previously served on the Council, Rego said one of his biggest concerns is with the proposed revised historical designations, which most alarmingly to him would change requirements from voluntary to mandatory.

Rego said because much of the historical structures are located in moderate income areas, it could have a negative impact on the area both financially and aesthetically.

"We don't want to stop people from fixing their property," Rego explained. "We don't want someone not to fix the steps in front of their house because they have to do it a certain way or use certain materials or because it costs too much money."

After so long away from elected office, Rego was asked, flatly, why he should be one of the two councilors chosen to serve?

His response, "I think I've been dedicated to the town for many years. I have the experience. One of the things that's bringing me back is I see what's going on and I want to be able to help fix things. I don't think you'll fine a more experienced candidate than I."

Derrik Trombley
Though only 29, Derrik Trombley is known to many in the town extensively for his active service in various capacities. He currently sits on the town’s Parks and Recreation Board, the Economic Development Board, the Tax Assessor’s Review Board and the George Hail Library Board of Trustees.

Trombley is both a graduate of Rhode Island College and Suffolk University Law, who also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. A bar certified lawyer in Rhode Island since 2022, he is currently a policy analyst for the State House of Representatives.

"I've always been fascinated by government, its ability to use its authority to encourage good behavior and help people out," Trombley said when asked why decided to run for public office. "Right now, Warren is going through a tough time with the financial crisis. I think it would good to have someone with the legal background that I have to keep an eye on things and to help put as back on the right track."

Financial matters are at the crux of his decision to enter electoral politics, Trombley saying the town has been imprudently in recent times.

"The Warren Town Council has remained unchanged for the last six years and the town in the last five fiscal years has run structural deficits in four of those five years," he said. "There's been a lot of unnecessary spending. I think we need folks on the Council who hold folks accountable. To manage the town with transparency and to live within its means."

On the messy topic of housing, Trombley used his legal background to point out projects like those at Bettencourt Farm and Penny Lane are out of the jurisdiction of the Council based on the 1991 state comprehensive permitting law, which allows developers to bypass direct oversight by the body and move it to the Planning Board if they agree to make at least 25 percent of the units available to the defined low and moderate income buyers/renters.

"The Town Council has nothing to do with them," Trombley said. "But what I can promise to do if elected is to appoint people to the Planning Board who are knowledgable, who have professional experience in the field and who will abide by the law."

Trombley said on the topic of housing in general he supports the increased utilization to a greater extent the state's accessible dwelling units law saying he believes it is a means of "increasing our stock of affordable housing without burdening our neighborhoods." He also sees it as a way of allowing older residents to remain in their homes longer.

Trombley explained it is the tact he would take on a whole host of matters, adding he would "address issues with humility, compassion and a degree of common sense."

As for the ongoing revamp of the town's Comprehensive Plan, Trombley had actual input on the draft now under consideration in his positions on the Economic Development Board and Parks and Rec.

"I think, obviously, housing gets a lot of attention, but there's so much more to it," he continued. "A lot of people have worked on it for many years and a lot of money has been spent on it, so I'm dedicated to seeing it get finalized and approved by the state."

On why a resident should vote for him, Trombley concluded, "I, being as I am a life-long Warren resident, I've seen how the town has changed and evolved over the last 29 years. I've seen us go through some really tough times with the final crisis in the late Aughts and how we've recovered and built an identity around the arts and culture, our restaurants and small businesses.

"We're a very welcoming, a little weird, but a very welcoming place to live work and play. I want to continue that. We've hit a bit of a rough patch, but with the right leadership and intimate knowledge of the town, which I believe I can bring to the Council, I think we can do great things."

Tim White
Tim White likes to refer to himself as the "working class candidate for a working class town, who keeps his hands busy every day."

The Salt Lake City, Utah resident who moved with his family to the Touisset section town some six years ago, White is an active member out of the Warren Volunteer Fire Department's Station 6, an EMT with Warren Rescue and part of the WFD's marine unit.

He's running for Town Council to bring what he believes is his common-sense approach to matters rooted in being a part of Warren's day-to-day activities.

"The first thing that jumps out at me is the lack of ability to focus on the big issues and to make hard decisions," White elaborated on why he's running. "I don't feel like there's a lot of public input. The few council meetings I've been able to attend it feels more like an airing of grievances, of pet peeves rather than a substantive discussion on issues."

White said his focus will be on repairing roads, funding the Department of Public Works and finding "alternative revenue streams" to bolster the seemingly stretched town coffers.

He's also eager to see Warren's Comprehensive Plan updated sooner rather than later so the town can avoid some of the difficulties it faces in an attempt manage residential developments.

"How can you go so long without a new comprehensive plan?" White asked rhetorically, adding, "It hasn't been updated since what 2002 or 2005? That's why in this situation with things like 'Settlers Green,' Bettencourt Farm, it's ridiculous...There's no vision for the future. You don't get to make it up as you go."

White cited, as well, the planned housing developments at Penny Lane and the old Liberty Street School as likely having a negative impact on the town's infrastructure, or lack thereof, and it's traffic while also dispersing and displacing native wildlife.

"It's time to have someone who understands the population better, who understands their needs," White added. "I'm a working class guy for working class town. I'm one of the people. I work in their homes. I serve the people in Warren. I don't live where I do because of anything but sound investments, working hard and financial responsibility."

White contrasted his professional background with his two opponents, saying, "I think the town has had enough of lawyers and accountants and professional politicians running things. Look where where we are."

— Editor's Note: Mike Rego, the new editor of the Warren Times-Gazette, is in no way related to any of the candidates, nor anyone directly with the same surname in the towns of Warren and Bristol.