A look back at 2014

Posted 12/23/14

For the Ocean State, 2014 will go down as a year to remember.

Politics dominated much of the discussion in the last 12 months. From races for school board seats to the contest for governor, the …

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A look back at 2014

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For the Ocean State, 2014 will go down as a year to remember.

Politics dominated much of the discussion in the last 12 months. From races for school board seats to the contest for governor, the campaign saw tens of millions of dollars spent, dozens of televised debates and several nationally renowned figures – including a pair of presidents – make their presence felt.

On the state level, it was the race for governor that drew the most attention. General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, the Democratic nominee, edged out Republican Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the November vote after both survived spirited primary races.

Either Raimondo or Fung would have made history, the former as the first woman to win the state’s top office and the latter as the first Asian American to do so. Rhode Islanders should be proud of this fact.

The race also saw Robert Healey – the founder of the Cool Moose Party and a late entry into the gubernatorial fray under the Moderate Party banner – draw more than 20 percent of votes cast, a figure far larger than anyone predicted. Clearly, many Ocean State voters are seeking, or are at least open to, a new voice in government. Those taking office following the arrival of the new year would be wise to take notice.

On the local level, incumbents largely carried the day. After a spirited primary challenge from Stacia Petri, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian went on to overwhelmingly win a new term. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena similarly cruised to victory over his challenger, Ernest Pitochelli.

The campaign was just part of the story this year. On Smith Hill, there were continuing developments in the 38 Studios saga, and stunning mid-day raids on the home and office of former House Speaker Gordon Fox. Days after those raids, Cranston’s Nicholas Mattiello was elected speaker, widely considered the most powerful public office in the state.

The issue of pension reform also made headlines this year, and will continue to do so in 2015.

Raimondo in February unveiled a proposed settlement with unions that would have preserved approximately 95 percent of the savings realized through the landmark 2011 law she championed. That deal, however, fell short during the approval process established as part of negotiations. Legal challenges to the pension reform are, for now, set to proceed in court, and the stakes are enormously high. Given the potential implications – for individuals, for communities and for the state as a whole – this issue more than any other bears close watching.

There were also developments of consequence on the local level. Warwick saw another chapter in the ongoing debate over school consolidation. In Cranston, controversy and major changes surrounded the Police Department following the emergence of the so-called “Ticketgate” incident late last year. Johnston celebrated the opening of a new multi-million dollar athletic complex at its high school, a project funded through legal settlements related to the Central Landfill.

All of this, of course, is just part of the picture. Beyond the major headlines are the everyday tales of compassion and community, entrepreneurship and innovation, learning and achievement. We are proud to tell and share those stories on our pages, and look forward to continuing to do so in 2015.

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