A Blog Called Hope

Mike Marcello officially announced his candidacy for State Representative of Cranston and Scituate last Tuesday night at the North Scituate Community House. Citing the state’s high unemployment rate, high tax burdens, corruption, and inefficiency in drafting laws, Marcello pledged to tackle the most pressing issues for the residents of Cranston and North Scituate:

“I am here to tell you that we can and must change, and it begins with the help of all of you tonight. In these time of crises, I have hope for the future because I have confidence that our citizens can meet any challenge, overcome any obstacle, and make the tough choices if they are just given all of the facts and told the truth.”

In addition to challenging the legislature to spend more time drafting clear and concise laws and denouncing legislative grants used to reward political friends, Marcello vowed to support a law mandating the state legislators to pay the same health care co-pay as the highest paid by any state worker. He also stressed the importance of Rhode Island joining the other 49 sates in adopting a school aid funding formula geared towards supporting teachers and staff, music, art and sports programs, and all other “extras” that benefit students. Marcello believes in fully funding our schools as a means of nurturing a better educated and more enthusiastic and creative generation to fuel economic development and job growth further down the road. Finally, he voiced the need to adopt a comprehensive economic plan to stimulate the economy and attract the high paying jobs Rhode Island “desperately needs.”

Marcello, an attorney at Morrison Mahoney LLP, ran against 3 time incumbent Carol Mumford in 2006 coming within 6 percentage points of defeating her. He is poised in the 2008 election cycle for a big win to take back the seat for the Democratic Party.