Narragansett Election Profile: Laurie Kelly

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Laurie A Kelly is running for the Narragansett Town Council. The 62-year-old currently chairs the town's library board.

Kelly holds a bachelor's degree in political economy and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies. She and her husband, Michael, have three adult children.

Occupation

I currently have a position at a small financial advisory firm. I started on Wall St in 1980, working my way up in positions related to derivatives trading. Ultimately, I was VP in charge of the government securities OTC derivatives desk, trading and managing risk on positions of hundreds of millions. In that capacity, I also worked closely with major bond investors, such as the California State Teachers Retirement System, to help them minimize risk in their portfolio, and increase their returns.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have seen the destructiveness of the current Council makeup, and wish to help the Town return to the previous era of civility and respect in the chamber. I believe the council should be accountable to the people, and the ordinances and the Town Charter should be followed. I believe a good town council can unite the town and move us forward to a better future.

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 Rhode Island has pursued a course that has benefited us by slowing the spread of this disease. I believe the continuation of opening in phases has allowed some businesses to open, while others still reluctant to fully open can open with modifications that work for them. And I strongly believe the Town needs to reestablish the Economic Development Council -now more than ever we need to listen to all small business owners and craft a plan to help them going forward.

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?

Racism is a real problem, and we still have a lot of work to do there. For many reasons, people locally and nationally are now aware of this pervasiveness in our society, and this has become a major teaching moment. I am heartened by the local participation in the “Black Lives Matter” events, and am sure in the future we will see a meaningful move towards equality.

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?

I am currently a member of the MLM Library Board of Trustees, and as such have been attending and participating in town council meetings for years. I feel my long involvement in public affairs gives the public an accurate view of my outlook and grasp of local issues. I am also thrilled so many good people have decided to run for office- I think this points to the general dissatisfaction of the current 3 town council majority.

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

The current majority of the town council have ignored the will of the people, removed the public’s right to speak on issues, held innumerable executive session meetings to arrange secret deals, and blatantly ignored the Narragansett Home Rule Charter — in all things they have placed themselves above the people of the town. I believe the number one issue in this election is democracy — and hope that whoever is elected in November will return us to the core values of our community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I believe the government should collect taxes and provide services to the citizens.
We should be proud of, and fully fund, our educational institutions of schools and libraries. We should have policies that allow everyone to enjoy the ocean that borders our town. We should finish the bike path and encourage alternative transportation. We should have meaningful workshops, where substantive ideas by stakeholders are valued, and a way forward is reached. I do not believe the Town should be competing with local business, nor selling off land for housing developments. I believe the right Town Council can unify the town with a coherent vision of the future, and stop the petty and divisive squabbling.

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

My position on the library board has given me the experience to work collaboratively with a diverse group. I have the ability to dig in on a project; studying and getting expert input. As a library board member, I gathered expertise from architects, engineers and professional construction experts for the library project. I coordinated with the State of Rhode Island to ensure the 50% reimbursement for library construction would be forthcoming. My involvement on the future council would stress working together, and sharing a true vision for the Town, not continuing on the path of tearing down and destroying our institutions.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Know what you don’t know
(There is nothing more dangerous than thinking you know the answer to everything)

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

While the reinstatement of the library budget and the resolution of the library building issue is an important issue to me; I feel even more strongly about the lack of proper public meetings by some on this current council. I believe the public budget workshops that did not allow department heads to present their budgets were a travesty. It is time for the Town to present financial documents in a form that the people can understand and comment on. This Council has argued in a court case they do not have a fiduciary responsibility — denying that elected officials should be watching the Town money as if it is their own. Just as you wouldn’t sell your house to a neighbor without an appraisal, the Town Council should not have secret deals to sell major buildings! I believe the council should set clear priorities early in the term, and move forward towards the stated goals. I believe the professional staff should be respected, and allowed to run their departments without interference. I believe in equal pay and compensation for all town employees, and have seen first hand the inequities that currently exist and will work to address them.