Politics & Government

Mike Smith Announces Senate District 13 Candidacy

Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed has a challenger in Mike Smith, a Newport resident and self-described family man who said Paiva-Weed's "status quo politics is enough."

Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed has a challenger in Mike Smith, a Newport resident and self-described family man who said Paiva-Weed's "status quo politics is enough."

As he announced his candidacy, Smith said the following:

“Senator Weed has been in office for 21 years. After two generations, what do Newport and Jamestown have to show for her leadership? Her talk about jobs and the economy is just that-all talk, no action.  Too many of our neighbors simply can't find a good full time job. Our school system like too many in the state continues to struggle to meet our children's needs. And the state is hemorrhaging money and successful citizens. In the past session, she chose to pay the 38 Studios bonds without empowering an independent prosecutor, raised the gas tax and vehicle costs on all of us to pay for that corrupt deal, gave $4.8mm tax dollars to Central Falls, voted to crush the will of the people in Coventry and didn't find it sensible to pass a bill that said EBT cards couldn't be used for alcohol, tobacco, tattoos and cruises. At the same time she has approved budgets that soared to $1B more over the last two years. We have been the victims of Paiva-Weed's poor leadership for too long as she continues to support special interests over taxpayers’ interests. It is time for a change!”

“You’ll never see me duck behind closed doors to avoid taxpayers when they arrive in the State House,” continued Smith. “Under Paiva-Weed, our representation has been all about cronyism and political favorites.  I will work hard to enact policies that foster a business friendly environment so that Newport residents can thrive after our tourists are long gone. I’ll be the vote in the General Assembly that is for the taxpayers and working families each and every time. Paiva –Weed can’t point to her track record and say the same.”

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