Candidate Profile: Kimberly Ripoli

NEWPORT, RI — Kimberly A. Ripoli, a U.S. Navy veteran, is one of the seven candidates seeking the District 13 state Senate seat. Ripoli, 54, was in the military for 26 years. She also worked as associate director at the state's Department of Veterans Affairs. Born in Marlton, N.J., the youngest of four children, she was graduated from Rhode Island College and has lived in the district for a total of 15 years, starting in 1989 (to 1995) and then from 2008 to the present. She holds graduate degrees from Salve Regina University and from Roger Williams University. She is currently studying law at Roger Williams and teaching in the Salve Regina University Circle of Scholars Program.

"I am the only candidate with 30 years of actual government service experience," she said. "My leadership experience was earned in the military, at The Pentagon working with federal agencies and during my tenure as Associate Director for the State of Rhode Island. I know what it means to be accountable to constituents, and I have a successful history of being responsive to their concerns and questions."

Patch asked all the candidates the same questions. Asked about the biggest problems facing District 13 residents, she focused on jobs and the shrinking population.

"The biggest problem facing people in District 13 is to create sustained economic diversity and address the decreasing population issue. I would work with the Navy, Defense contractors and Congressional Delegation to increase opportunities for Jamestown and Newport residents. We are losing retired military that work on the navy base, Quonset etc., but reside in Massachusetts, because they do not tax military retirement. I would leverage our maritime industries, promote our historic tourism nationally and not be afraid to look at how other states, cities and towns around the country have effectively addressed similar issues.

Among her accomplishments in state government, she mentioned her efforts to "secure the $60 million dollar Veteran Home Construction Grant" and a successful and swift conviction, of "an RI state employee who was stealing headstones from the Veterans Cemetery."

Ripoli retired from the U.S. Navy as Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. She logged more than 20 years "in positions of leadership and management with 10 of those at executive level (The Pentagon)." She was deployed on combat and humanitarian missions in Operation Desert Shield/Storm 1991; Operation New Horizon (Guatemala 2000); Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003; and Operation African Lion 2005.

"During my last tour of duty I was on special assignment to Newport, RI as the Wounded Warrior Advocate for the Navy and Coast Guard covering all the New England and North East States," she said.

She lives with spouse Tammy. They were "officially married," she wrote, "on our 25th anniversary (Aug. 2016). We have a 13 year-old cat, Taylor, rescued from a car accident when she was a 6 or 7 month old kitten, and a 4 year-old black Labrador veteran service dog, Cash, from South Eastern Guide Dogs (Dec. 2016).

For hobbies, Ripoli likes golf, reading and swimming. She also likes to watch rugby.

"I am a former rugby player (#7) who enjoys going to the pitch at Fort Adams to watch the Newport Rugby Club games and the annual Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth," she said.

Ripoli volunteers with the USOC Military Paralympics, RI Special Olympics and Sail to Prevail. She belongs to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association; Redwood Library and Athenaeum; B.P.O.E. Newport Lodge #104; and Wanumetonomy Golf &C.C.

As for why she's running, Ripoli said she wants to make a difference in people's lives.

"Public service has never faced as demanding a test as it does today," she wrote. "Civic engagement by the citizenry is vital at all levels, not just political office but in activism. We are all witnessing why understanding government is important, why real FACTS matter, and why the importance of a free press is essential to our freedoms. It is about making a difference in peoples’ lives. We deserve to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people regardless of political party. Ethics is the most important issue to ensure we have a responsive state government."

Kimberly Ripoli