Vincent Turchetta in line for Cranston City Council seat – endorsed by Cranston GOP, Mayor, past mayors, Ed Brady (updated)

The Cranston Republican City Committee unanimously endorsed the nomination of Vincent Turchetta to represent Ward 4 on the Cranston City Council, in the vacated seat of Ed Brady, who resigned earlier this month. Turchetta’s nomination was also endorsed by Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins and past Republican Mayors Fung and Traficante.

“Mr. Turchetta is the perfect person to represent the people of Ward 4 and the Cranston GOP on the City Council,” stated Matt Reilly, Chairman of the Cranston Republican Party. “Vincent Turchetta’s resume speaks for itself,” says Reilly. “I am honored to support a person who has given so much of himself for his country and community.”

Turchetta, a former member of the Cranston School Committee representing Ward 4, is a retired United States Marine and former correctional officer. Currently, Turchetta is a special education teacher, adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island, Assistant Football Coach at Cranston West, member of the Juvenile Hearing Board of the City of Cranston, loving father, and dedicated husband. Turchetta, a former Ward 4 School Committee member, has expressed interest in succeeding Brady who stepped down from the City Council several weeks ago. Turchetta made his interest in serving known in a letter to the remaining eight members of the Council.

Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins said, “Ed Brady will be missed by all of us in city government.” “Vin Turchetta is the best qualified candidate to succeed Ed and I am urging the Republicans and Democrats on the City Council to support him”. “He has been a productive member of the School Committee for over four- and one-half years. He brings a strong background as an educator with proven experience of working effectively with his colleagues.” Hopkins said over the past eighteen months Turchetta was a voice of reasonableness and a steady hand as the school committee negotiated through the extreme circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Hopkins emphasized Turchetta’s budget experience with reviewing and approving school department budgets which account for approximately half of the citywide operational budget. “He has been at the negotiating table with school unions and understands how to balance the interests of taxpayers.” “Vin Turchetta will hit the ground running when elected to the City Council.

Former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung also endorsed Turchetta for the vacant city council seat. “I worked with Vin Turchetta when I was Mayor and I know he will be an effective representative for the residents of Ward 4”. Fung noted under the unusual circumstances of Brady’s resignation “it is important to elect a qualified person who understands the various aspects of local government and has experience working with constituent needs.”

Fung noted that while Turchetta had been a Democrat in the past “he never brought partisan politics into school affairs.” “Vin Turchetta will work across the political aisle with his colleagues to do what is right for his ward and the city.” “My fellow Republicans and the entire council should seriously consider him as Ed Brady’s successor.”

Present city-wide school committee member and former Mayor Michael A. Traficante offered a ringing endorsement of Turchetta to serve on the city council. “I have worked in close partnership with Vin Turchetta on a broad range of school issues.” “He has the intelligence and temperament to be an excellent city councilman” said Traficante. “Vin was always promoting the interests of his schools and students in Ward 4 at our meetings”.

Traficante stated he was disappointed to hear that some people were discounting Turchetta because he was formerly a Democrat. “This time in our city needs a collective “city first” approach to our challenges.” “Many former Democrats have joined the Republican ranks and made valuable contributions to our city.” He said, “Vin Turchetta wants to be a Republican councilman an like Ed Brady he will always put the city first before politics”.

Traficante said “Vin will bring the public service attitude of a former Marine and the compassion of a teacher and coach to the City Council.” “He should be supported by all council members.”

The three mayors emphasized “Politics should not and cannot be the driving force in selecting Ed Brady’s successor”. “Our support is based on our belief that Vin Turchetta is the best qualified person to continue Ed’s good work and effective representation on the City Council”.

UPDATED: Ed Brady, former Ward 4 councilperson in Cranston has endorsed Vincent L. Turchetta as his successor on the City Council. The former councilman is urging his council colleagues to elect Turchetta to complete his unexpired term. “I have worked closely with Vin Turchetta when he was a member of the School Committee.” “I think Vin is well qualified to represent the ward and would be a wonderful choice for the residents of Ward 4”.

Brady stated “Vin Turchetta served on the School Committee and did a great job for our families and students”. “He can draw upon that experience and knowledge of our neighborhoods in serving constituent needs.”
“I always found Vin to be cooperative and mild tempered. His approach to public office will work well with the city council”. Brady noted that at one point in time, Turchetta had been affiliated with the Democratic Party.
“In all my dealings with Vin on city or school business he never brought politics into the discussion.” Brady said.

“Vin Turchetta worked to solve many challenges in a non-partisan way, particularly during the Covid pandemic.” “I am confident he will work effectively with both Republicans and Democrats when serving on the Council.”
Turchetta has been endorsed by Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins and former Mayors Allan Fung and Michael A. Traficante. The Cranston Republican City Committee also supports Turchetta for the vacant Ward 4 seat.
Brady concluded by emphasizing that Turchetta has the governmental experience, knowledge of the budget process and a deep interest in preserving Cranston’s quality of life to be an excellent council member. “I urge my friends and colleagues on the City Council to put ‘People over Politics’ and support his candidacy on a bi-partisan basis”.

Pursuant to the Cranston City Charter a vacancy at this point in time is filled by an individual that (1) resides in the same ward, and (2) who is a member of the same political party as the council member that vacated the seat. The nomination needs a majority vote of the city council in attendance to be confirmed. Historically, regardless of the party in the majority, the party with whom the vacancy needs to be filled chooses the person.

About the appointment process, Reilly stated, “I look forward to a smooth transition and appointment process for Mr. Turchetta, as has been the case for other appointees in the past. When Councilwoman Aneice Germain was proposed by the Democrat Minority Leader in 2020 to be appointed to a vacancy left by a Democrat, every Republican attended the special meeting to ensure the appointment could be brought to a vote, and overwhelmingly supported the choice of the Democrats, with one abstention. That was the right thing to do then, and it’s the right thing to do now. I look forward to Mr. Turchetta receiving the same mature and respectful treatment from the Cranston Democrats as Ms. Germain received from Cranston Republicans.”