District 1 Town Council hopefuls make case

Fuoco eyes return to continue service

Johnston Sun Rise ·

Independent candidate Eileen Fuoco is looking for a second chance to make a first impression as she campaigns to reclaim the District 1 Town Council seat she lost two years ago.

“The moment I lost my last race, I knew I would run again,” she said. “My old saying is, it’s my turn now, I want to put my foot forward and run again to help my constituents in District 1. With this council, and I’ve worked with all of the other members, I think we did a great job. With my campaign, it’s Fuoco fighting for your future.”

Fuoco moved to Johnston in 1968, and worked as a jeweler since the age of 16 before transitioning to work with her husband in his construction business, A&K Construction, doing bookkeeping and other necessary jobs. She has an adult daughter and enjoys spending time with her grandson.

She first won her seat as District 1 councilwoman in 2010, and was re-elected in 2012. Believing two-year terms are too short to accomplish much before re-election, she would consider changing the length of council terms.

In 2011, while in Florida, she fell and broke her back, which has caused her pain since. Now disabled, she’s focused her time on pertinent district issues. She’s campaigned door to door as much as she can, along with calling constituents and mailing flyers to spread her message.

She highlights that she’s worked with nearly every elected official in town, and believes she can continue working where she left off.

Fuoco spoke of the work she said she completed in her last term, including helping to bring businesses such as Tractor Surplus, Pick-n-Pull, Northwood, PriceRite, and Washington Trust to town. She also noted improvements made with the Recreation Department and her involvement with the town’s indoor sports complex.

Fuoco also touts her work with Mill Street bridge improvements, fencing at Walgreens to protect nearby neighbors, and installations of numerous street signs and speed bumps to enhance neighborhood safety.

A source of continued contention with Fuoco, however, revolves around an August 2013 incident with the town’s administration, indicating that her relationship with Mayor Joseph Polisena soured and that a disagreement over road paving priorities appears to have played a role.

“I worked with him and his administration for four years, diehard, tooth and nail,” she said, stating she was unsure why there may have been an effort in the past to discredit her. “But, for the residents, I will bite my tongue and work with him.”

Fuoco underscored that she only missed two meetings during her four years on the council, one due to illness and another due to a family member’s passing.

“I want to do the same thing I did before. I want to bring more businesses into town,” she said. “I think Johnston is the center of Rhode Island, with access to Route 95 via Routes 295 and 6. I want to help my constituents.”

Fuoco also questioned recent business agreements in town, saying if she was still on the council the process may have been handled differently.

“The Citizens [Bank corporate campus] deal, I thought was a terrific deal, but … it’s not my district so I listened to it. But, I’m told it was a done deal before residents could even talk about it,” she said. “Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. If you want to bring that into the town, like the landfill, like Pick-n-Pull and others, I shouldn’t have to pay as high of a tax rate because of it, it should be lowered.”

Fuoco also stated that, while not in her district, she would have wanted Oak Swamp to remain open to all residents, and that she and would work to achieve that goal again. She also said agreements with the town and Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation should be reexamined.

“I think every resident should have a chance to speak out about it,” she said. “I fought against that since 1995, and it will always be there, so something should be done to benefit residents more.”

Fuoco also believes legacy pension costs are an issue that should have been addressed long ago.

“As far as what I’ve seen, Johnston has the number one police and fire department, the best I’ve ever seen,” she said. “I would be willing to get my fingers into that to address future issues with pensions.”

Fuoco also sees the Johnston Public Schools working within its budget as a bright spot financially.

“I’m very grateful and happy about that. I think they’ve done great. I’m in awe because they’ve been level funded and they’re still going great,” she said. “Why aren’t the rest of the departments level funded?”

Fuoco reiterated that she wanted Johnstonians to know that she was again on the ballot and was available to speak with voters any hour of the day.

“I like to talk to people, I like to meet people, I like to help people, that is my goal in life, she said. “When I win, I’m going to try to do the best I can for my constituents in Johnston, in District 1 and for the betterment of the town as best as I can do.”