RACE enters the race for one Providence office

Saying in a Facebook post last night that he doesn’t think anyone should “discourage or shame anyone who wants to run for office from doing so” – Providence Councilman Nicholas Narducci bows out of a potential challenge to Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, who represents District 5 in Providence.

His decision followed a statement by Vassell yesterday on Twitter that said, in part, “Word on the street is that I will have a primary by a white guy who is determined to replace me with the sole intention of keeping the status quo in place and silencing my voice”.

The issue was discussed on talk radio throughout the day, as the Vassell tweet was posted early in the day. By the end of the day, Narducci who said he had been “considering” a run, posted his decision not to run.

Later in the day, Ranglin-Vassell posted on Twitter…

“At a time when we need more Black Voices, he wants to use his privilege to displace me. He, and his friends see no value in me being in the State House.”

“Big Up to everyone who leaned in and supported me yesterday with your counter posts, your comments and your donations. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the people who really know and love you will stand with you in battle.”

Narducci did not post on social media until his statement not to run last night.

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From their respective information pages:

About Councilman Nicholas Narducci

Councilman Nicholas Narducci has been a member of City Council since 2006. He currently serves as the Senior Deputy Majority Leader and represents the North End of Providence. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits.

Throughout his tenure on the Council, Councilman Narducci has continuously worked to improve the quality of life and recreational opportunities for families in Providence. As Councilman, he supported the development of two new playgrounds at Prete Metcalf Field and Ascham Park, and the re-opening of the swimming pool at the Providence Boys & Girls Club.  Through his efforts, funding was provided for two new water parks, basketball court renovations and security lighting at the Chad Brown housing complex.  He is the Council designee on the Board of the Park Commissioners.

Throughout his Council career, Councilman Narducci has worked to make neighborhoods safety and improvements and advocated for policy issues related to education, taxes, housing and government accessibility.

The Councilman worked with the North End Housing Authority, the DaVinci Center, and SWAP to leverage funds to build and redevelop abandoned properties on Greeley Street. He has worked to secure CDBG funding for many community programs at the DaVinci Center and ReFocus.

The Councilman is a life-long resident of Providence and comes from a large Italian-American family dedicated to public service.  He was born and raised in the North End and still lives there with his wife, Valerie.  He is committed to his constituents and his community, where he is active in numerous civic and volunteer activities.  He has coached the North Providence Jets and has been the President of the North End Wanskuck Little League, where he also was a coach. With support from the North End Community Action Committee, Councilman Narducci hosts events each year to serve Providence’s neediest families, delivering Christmas toys and gifts, food baskets at Thanksgiving, and Easter baskets in the spring. Each year, the Councilman hosts an annual food and toy drive to benefit 60 families in Chad Brown.

A dedicated family man, Councilman Narducci is a parishioner at St. Agnes Church and he is a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Councilman Narducci is the Chairman of the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits. He is also a member of the Committee on Public Works, the Committee on City Property, the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning, the Committee on Ordinances and the Special Committee on Public Safety.

About Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell

Member, House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare; Member, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, a Democrat, represents District 5 in Providence. She was first elected in November 2016.

Much of Representative Ranglin-Vassell’s legislative and community work centers on addressing poverty, curbing gun violence and helping children. In 2017, she launched an initiative, A Community Response to Joblessness and Gun Violence, to address those issues in Providence. She has sponsored bills aimed at instituting a $15 living wage, extending services to young people in DCYF care to age 21, providing universal free lunch to school children, studying the effects of trauma on children exposed to violence and making doula services eligible for reimbursement through private insurance and Medicaid programs. In her first term in office, she sponsored a successful bill directing the Climate Change Coordinating Council to study carbon pricing.

Representative Ranglin-Vassell works as an educator in Providence public schools, currently teaching at E-Cubed Academy. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College in 1986 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College in 2003 and a Master of Education in special education from Providence College in 2012.

Representative Ranglin-Vassell was born in Jamaica. She is married to Van Vassell and they have four children, Van Jr., Eric, Terrence and Alethe.