Narragansett Town Council: Winters B. Hames III

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Winters B. Hames III is running for the Narragansett Town Council. The 76-year-old Democrat has previously served as the chair of Narragansett Democratic Town Committee, the president of Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs, the Recreation Advisory Board for four years and the steering committee for Love Your Library.

Hames owns a small specialty food distributorship. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children and six grandchildren.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Chair of Narragansett Democratic Town Committee, President of Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs, Recreation Advisory Board for 4 years. Steering Committee for Love Your Library.

Why are you seeking elective office?

To bring civility to the Town Council and to make sure that the projects that the voters approve, such as the library, be completed. If elected I would, at the first meeting make a motion to turn the library over to the Board of Trustees and let them finish the project. But then the work after the library is to address issues such as the Hunting in the Chafee Preserve, Global warming as to how it effects our beaches and coastline. To try and reign in the runaway building that is going on in Town. To improve the recreation choices for the youth as well as seniors in the Town. To pay attention to our Beach and try to find a way to protect it while letting all townspeople enjoy it. To address and preserve the history of the Town. To make sure that the bike path gets finished. To find a way to attract young families to move here. There is a lot to be done

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

Follow the Governor's directives. If everyone had done so, we would be in much better shape now.

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?

Yes — I have witnessed it first-hand over many years. We should make sure that every job listed by the Town reaches the minority communities. We should open the school enrollment and actively recruit minorities. A housing effort to recruit minority families to move here should be developed. People who live together in small communities get to know each other and a level of trust can be built upon. Offensive statues and symbols of racism should be removed and destroyed.

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 have lived and worked in Town for over 65 years. I have been involved with the Town and it's efforts to keep the tax rate the lowest of any Town in the State that has a full time fire department and a school system. I have been a supporter of the Library move to Belmont and have attended most Town Council Meetings. I have spoken numerous times at the meetings in support and filed a voter initiative to prevent the Town Council from selling the building. It is in Court right now and will be decided by the election. I am on the steering committee for Love Your Library.
There are candidates running that have never been to a Town Council meeting or a library meeting, yet they say they want to make the library the center of their campaign. A question that should be asked is if they have ever attended a Council Meeting or a Library Meeting and the answer for five of them would be NO.

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

They have not followed the will of the people. They have been insulting to residents who try to speak at the Council meetings. They move the open forum to the end of the meeting to make it harder for residents to come and speak to them. Of all the Town Councils that I have worked with over the years, this is the rudest, most self-centered Council I have ever seen. There is no comprise, it is either their way or the highway.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

See Above

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

I have been involved with the Town for many years. I have managed over 200 employees for many years and have experience in budgets as well as handling personnel. I served on the Rec Board for four years, the little league board for 18 years, the SCYS board for 18 years. I have founded several youth sport leagues in Town. I have attended at least 60 per cent of Town Council Meetings over the years. I have filed several voter initiatives, one to add voter recall to the Town Charter and the other to prevent the sale of property(Belmont Building) to anyone without voter approval

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't depend on some else to get the job done.