2012 Bristol Town Council Race

Hello residents of Bristol,

I'm running as an independent for a seat on the Bristol Town Council. This is my first try at elected office though I have served on the Bristol Harbor Comm. Advisory Board and the Bristol Planning Board since 2001.

I'd like to thank Marina Peterson for hosting the candidate forum last Thursday at the courthouse. I must admit that I was nervous as heck, but by the time it was over I realized what a great learning experience it was and I was glad I was able to participate.

This coming week the Bristol Phoenix will have info about each council candidate and also asks a question relating to the town.

I have been a commercial shell-fisherman(aka quahogger) for 31 years. I attended my 1st Town Council meeting back in 1998 mainly out of fear. Fear of the rumors being spread by the old timers of certain town officials wanting to turn the State Street Dock into a public parking lot to satisfy the parking required by zoning for the redevelopment of the former Gilbert's Seafood and J.T's property. The State St. Dock was our(shell-fishermen) main access to Bristol Harbor and Narragansett Bay and I felt our livelihood was being threatened and I was determined to not let this happen. So, from that first meeting in 1998 I began to attend every council meeting from start to finish for the next eight years monitoring all council actions not only about the State St. Dock but all of the downtown/waterfront district to be sure that Bristol residents would not be cut off from accessing the harbor and losing our resident parking areas. Development was happening fast and furious during this time and mistakes could have been made but I think we did very well. To me at that time the State St. Dock became the battleground, the line in the sand which would determine whether Bristol would become a little Newport or we would still be Bristol, only better. And so we are!

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I'll be posting more soon and at anytime either through this blog, by phone 401-253-3049 or email molluskman@cox.net you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks, Anthony Murgo