Cranston Election Profile: Michael Farina

CRANSTON, RI — Michael Farina is running for mayor in Cranston. The 42-year-old Republican has served in various roles on the City Council for a decade.

Farina was first elected to the Cranston City Council in 2010 and served as vice president from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, he became president, a role he has held ever since. He holds a degree in economics and finance from Nichols College and works as the director of store brand sourcing for CVS, and has "20 years of experience in increasing levels of responsibility in finance, financial management, budgeting, forecasting, leadership and building high performing teams."

Farina and his wife, Ruthanne, have two children, Michael, 11, and Isabella, 9.

Campaign website

Why are you seeking elective office?

I was raised in Cranston, graduated from Cranston West and married my high school sweetheart Ruthanne, and we currently live in Cranston with our two children, both of whom attend Cranston Public Schools. I have served on Cranston City Council for the last eight years, four of which I was the City Council President. I have always loved Cranston and I am ready to take my experience on the City Council to the next level – becoming Mayor of our great City. I have developed a solid and clear vision and plan for addressing Cranston’s most important topics; Education, Small Business, Diversity, Infrastructure and Seniors, among others. My background in leadership and financial management is unmatched and is clearly what is required to manage a 300M plus municipal budget.

What do you believe should be done to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do to lessen its economic impacts?

I believe that we should all continue to follow the guidelines and reopening phases set forth by the Governor. Although I understand it can feel burdensome and frustrating at times, RI has seen a significant decrease in our numbers and we are on the right track. It is important that we not only protect ourselves but also our medically vulnerable and older residents. It appears that as of today (July 15th) we are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 amongst Rhode Island residents. If this continues, I advocate for stronger enforcement of mask wearing and social distancing when in public.
Fully closing down again is not a viable option for our economy, as it has already taken a big hit. To help businesses and individuals who have been furloughed or are now unemployed because of the pandemic, we need to start by helping Small Businesses by providing the following support:

• More access to funding by increasing the Revolving Loan Fund
• Improve efforts to connect Small businesses with Employees by expanding workforce development programs to better connect unemployed residents with local and statewide businesses.
• Increase tax stabilization programs to help increase economic growth and lead to healthy employment levels
• Give preference to local business in purchasing to stimulate economic development with a percentage going specifically to minority-owned businesses

Lastly it will be important that all the information that I have outlined above is easily accessible to all residents in order to gain access to funding, legal services, consulting services, and employment providers by expanding on the City’s website accordingly.

Do you believe systemic racism is a problem in America generally and Rhode Island specifically, and if so, what would you do to combat it?

Most definitely. I believe that systemic racism can be found in every City and Town, with varying degrees, across the United States. From a Municipal Administrative standpoint, I have plans to create an Office of Diversity as well as continue and strengthen the Diversity Commission I formed last year. As Cranston sees tremendous growth in its minority population, it is incumbent upon the City’s Administration to become more culturally competent so that all of our residents are served equally. Between 2000 and 2015, the percentage of minority residents increased exponentially in every Cranston neighborhood. Currently, 23% out of 81,000 Cranston residents represent a minority group, which consists of Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and mixed races. My plan during the course of my administration is as follows:

• Eliminate barriers in employment by incorporating diversity in hiring practices and promote and hire minorities within all levels of my Administration
• Support racial and social equity training for all City employees
• Create administrative standards that promote sensitivity towards addressing multicultural concerns
• Establish a zero-tolerance policy for employees who violate diversity policies
• The City’s website will be translated into Spanish. It is important to note that only 76% of Cranston’s population speaks English and that the majority that don’t are Spanish-speaking
• Hire bilingual English/Spanish speaking staff to support residents seeking assistance starting with the Office of Economic Development and the Clerk’s office
• When necessary, provide interpreter services for non-English speaking residents
• Solicit feedback and input from residents, stakeholders, and policymakers across the City to create and implement solutions

In response to the question, "Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?" please read my full answer. Considering our country’s raised awareness of issues that devastate so many individuals and their loved ones, it is no longer acceptable to sit back and use phrases that are potentially harmful and offensive. The inclusion of “Plantations” in the official name of our State does not seem appropriate to me because of its negative connotation in America’s history. I support a ballot question so that the voters can decide on changing the official name of our State.

Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?

Yes

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The Economic Impact of Covid-19 on our City necessitates the people of Cranston elect a Mayor who has substantial leadership and financial management experience. Not ONE of the candidates running for Mayor of Cranston on either side of the aisle other than myself has ANY experience in these areas. I graduated with a degree in Economics and Finance, and have worked for large companies building and managing budgets in excess of $1B.

With the City’s over 300 million dollar budget, it is essential that the next Mayor has the knowledge and confidence to understand the intricacies of a municipal budget including the tax implications, how to reduce expenses, and most importantly the experience finding innovative ways to reduce costs by negotiating contracts and eliminating wasteful spending.

I have been the President of the City Council for the last 4 years and have built a foundation of trust with its current members. The City of Cranston needs unparalleled senior leadership. I have a proven track record of performing at the highest level both in my current role as City Council President as well as my private sector experience as a highly successful Senior Executive at CVS.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Small businesses are suffering and will need additional help as I have outlined above.

The State of Rhode Island is facing a $200 million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year and an additional $600 million dollar deficit for 2021. Based on the current financial crisis and the potential for significant cuts in state aid to education, I did not vote for the current budget and I did not support a tax increase. After candid testimony from several of the City’s Department Directors, several City employees, the Chief Judge of the Municipal Court, and the latest financial reports from the Statehouse, it is evident the projected revenues cited in the 2020-2021 budget were inaccurate. In good conscience, I could not vote for a budget that contained several million dollars in structural deficit. Specifically, the Meal’s Tax, Traffic Court Fines and total revenue, Inspection Fees, and the Tax Collection rate were all incorrect. The combination of utilizing financial estimates created before the onset of the Covid-19 Virus pandemic and slashing funding for our schools during this time showed a lack of vision and a blatant disregard for the needs of our citizens. The bottom line is the budget set forth by the current Administration contains a lot of financial risk for our City that is going to need strong and decisive financial leadership to overcome these challenges as we try to navigate our way out of the economic slump caused by the pandemic.

Cranston has a significant need for improvements in our infrastructure such as our roads and sidewalks, and especially our school buildings. As a father of two children in the Cranston Schools I am fully committed to continuing my work with the School Department, future City Council Members, Parents, and Teachers. I will drive more impactful spending to make sure our children and educators are provided with a healthy and safe environment to learn, have access to the technology and equipment they need, improve school buildings, and modernize classrooms to create a 21st-century learning environment. I will always push to improve the infrastructure of our schools, support learning pathways for success, and contribute increased funding for education. I will always advocate for education initiatives so that we can give our youth the greatest opportunities for future success. We are embarking on uncharted territory and we need innovative leadership now more than ever. I am excited to work with the educators of Cranston to facilitate this critical work.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

My Vision for Cranston:

• Education: Create the 21st Century Classroom Increase funding to improve access to technology in our schools for students, teachers, and administrators; support learning pathways for success, and establish diverse hiring practices
• Small Business: Expand Economic Development Expand Workforce Development Programs, establish tax incentive programs, increase access to funding, preference to local businesses in administration purchasing, improve the website by supplying more information and specific links
• Infrastructure: Improve Transportation & Public Building Upgrades, Expand the Cranston Transvan to include a cross-city route, upgrade specific public buildings including schools and upgrade the Cranston Ice Rink
• Public Safety: Hire More Diverse Public Employees, Hire and retain more public employees focusing on minorities in the fire and police departments, and provide more educational and training opportunities to all public service employees

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

• Over the last four years we have worked to save companies I support $400 million by reducing costs and eliminating wasteful spending
• I have built and managed budgets in excess of $1B, driving efficiencies and ensuring financial solvency
• I have worked to hire and build high performing teams that focus on diversity including the creation of the Diversity Commission here in Cranston
• As an elected official I have always put Cranston first, driving additional funding for education, seniors and public safety
• As a Councilman I was chosen by my fellow Council members to lead and became the Cranston City Council President

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Be true to yourself, be true to others, be passionate in your beliefs, understand your strengths, recognize your opportunities, always defend those in need and work to be the best version of yourself. If you follow this path then the results will come.”

Note: this is a compilation of the best advice I have received from multiple leaders I have had the great honor of learning from during the course of my life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have been the President of the City Council for the last 4 years and have built a foundation of trust with its current members. The City of Cranston needs unparalleled senior leadership. I have a proven track record of performing at the highest level both in my current role as City Council President as well as my private sector experience as a highly successful Senior Executive at CVS.

As a lifelong Cranston resident, I love this City and see a bright future for all of its residents. We are seeing a glimmer of hope as we phase out of the pandemic and step into the light but we have a lot of challenges to overcome. I am the only candidate for Mayor who has the experience and practical knowledge to navigate and lead the City of Cranston to a brighter future.

To learn more about my platform, please visit my website at www.mikefarinaforcranston.com/ and follow me on Facebook for continuing updates on my vision for Cranston.