A box of Portuguese pastries is seen outside the Senate chamber on the last night of the legislative session on June 13, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Democratic Sen. Roger Picard opted not to run for election after 16 years in the Rhode Island Senate, and a combined 30 years on Smith Hill. Now, three Democrats are vying for the open seat in Senate District 20, which straddles Cumberland and Woonsocket, in Tuesday’s primary.

Rhode Island Current reached out to all three candidates with a questionnaire.

Candidate Marian Juskuv declined to provide answers.

Key Events

2 days ago

Woonsocket City Councilor Brian Thompson eyes seat in Rhode Island Senate

2 days ago

Denis Collins thinks R.I. should look to Mass. on bolstering state pension fund

2 days ago

Woonsocket City Councilor Brian Thompson eyes seat in Rhode Island Senate

By: Nancy Lavin – Friday September 6, 2024 5:18 pm

Name: Brian Thompson

Party: Democrat

Race: Senate District 20

Age: 43

Job: General foreman

Years lived in Rhode Island: 22

Residence: Woonsocket

Political bio: Woonsocket City Council since 2022

What are your top three legislative priorities if elected?

Working to address the education funding formula to make it more equitable. Making our state more affordable for working families. Addressing environmental issues related to climate change that are harming our communities.

Should Rhode Island have an assault weapons ban? Why, or why not?

As a father of six children, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about their safety — especially from the scourge of gun violence. It has become too normal to see news about school shootings in our country and it needs to end. Honestly, I used to think that banning certain guns wouldn’t make an impact on the shootings, but it is very clear to me that when you have too many assault weapons on the market, they can easily fall into the wrong hands. We need to make sure that we are in line with our neighbors in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It would be terrible if something bad happens in our neighboring states that can be tracked back to Rhode Island.

Should the state offer more to state pensioners beyond the COLA restoration approved in the FY25 budget? If so, what would you propose?

Yes. This year saw the first meaningful changes to the pension system in decades, and I supported that very much. We need to work to restore COLAs for those who didn’t get the new COLA and expedite the timeline for the pension fund to be funded adequately. The bottom line is people will continue to not choose jobs that rely on the pension system if they can’t plan for retirement — and it will be all of us who suffer for it.

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Last updated: 6:20 pm

2 days ago

Denis Collins thinks R.I. should look to Mass. on bolstering state pension fund

By: Nancy Lavin – 5:18 pm

Name: Denis Collins

Party: Democrat

Race: Senate District 20

Age: 46 

Job: U.S. history teacher at Taunton High School

Years lived in Rhode Island: 16

Residence: Cumberland

Political bio: Cumberland School Committee since 2019

What are your top 3 legislative priorities if elected?

Full funding for public education and child care (including making state universities more affordable), tackling the mental health crisis in the state (which is also rooted in crime and addiction), and passing the assault weapons ban.

Should Rhode Island have an assault weapons ban? Why, or why not?

I do support an assault weapons ban, and I believe I am the only candidate in the Senate District 20 race who does. I agree that mental health is the underlying cause of these mass shootings, but it is also the underlying cause of the opioid epidemic. You do not see any organizations arguing that the solution to the opioid crisis is to put more opiates on the street. High-capacity assault weapons are the weapons of choice in mass shootings. We have a moral obligation as elected officials to protect society, and an assault weapons ban is a step forward in keeping innocent people and school children safe. Thoughts and prayers after the fact have done nothing to stymie the plague of gun violence. 

Should the state offer more to state pensioners beyond the COLA restoration approved in the FY25 budget? If so, what would you propose?

It is terrible that pensioners did not get what they were promised. They did their part, and the politicians let them down. I am currently relying on my own pension when I retire one day, so this issue is personal for me as a teacher. We need to do right by those we made promises to. We fund what we value, but, at the same time, I cannot give a definitive answer on HOW it will be funded without sitting down with all stakeholders and financial personnel. One thing I think the state should consider is what we have done in Massachusetts, which is allow a pathway for those nearing retirement to pay extra into the pension system in their next three years, with the promise that they can retire early. This would provide necessary budget relief for local municipalities by replacing top-step employees with people early in their career.

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Last updated: 6:20 pm