Candidates discuss Senate District races and important issues at WBNA forum

Candidates seeking the Rhode Island Senate District 5 and 6 seats attended the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) forum on Wednesday night, held via Zoom. In Senate District 5, Providence City Councilmember (Ward 14) and state house lobbyist for the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS, David Salvatore, is challenging incumbent Senator Samuel Bell and in Senate District 6, former State Representative Joseph Almeida is challenging incumbent Senator Tiara Mack in the Democratic Primary on September 13. Bell, Mack and Salvatore attended the forum. Almeida did not participate.

My opponent didn’t even show up for our debate 🥴
— Tiara Mack (@MackDistrict6) September 8, 2022

“Our community can be so effective when we work as a team together with neighbors, organizations like ours, city and state departments and elected officials working with some common goals and interests. But to do that, the candidates really need to know where the community stands,” said WBNA Board President Rebecca Atwood.

WBNA Board Vice President Alozie Nwosu moderated the forum. This was one of two forums conducted by the WBNA, the other featured Enrique Sanchez and State Representative Anastasia Williams.

Following the Uprise RI format, the question is written out as asked by the moderator, followed by video of each respondent’s answer.

Each candidate provided an opening statement:

Senator Sam Bell:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Question 1: Would you vote for Dominick Ruggerio (Democrat, District 4, Providence) as Senate President in the next term if he is elected next fall? Please explain why.

Senator Sam Bell:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Sam Bell:

Question 2: What are your thoughts on the proposed plan for the Superman Building and in general the need for more affordable housing in Rhode Island?

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Sam Bell:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Question 3: We just witnessed severe flooding across Providence and in the face of climate change, what immediate steps should the state take to improve our infrastructure and increase our resilience in these matters?

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Sam Bell:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Question 4: Would you support a version of the Green New Deal in Rhode Island?

Senator Tiara Mack:

Senator Sam Bell:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Question 5: With Roe v Wade overturned, how should Rhode Island further protect reproductive rights? Are you committed to supporting the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) if you are [re]elected into office?

Senator Sam Bell:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Question 6: What is your position on the death with dignity legislation, allowing terminally ill individuals to voluntarily end their lives? Can you perceive this legislation becoming law in Rhode Island?

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Senator Sam Bell:

Question 7: What are your thoughts on the state takeover of the Providence Public School District (PPSD)? What specific steps need to happen to improve the quality of our public schools?

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Sam Bell:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Question 8: Do you support the repeal of the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights (LEOBoR)? How else should Rhode Island address mass incarceration and policing?

Senator Sam Bell:

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Question 9: Do you have any ideas or proposals for the future of Kennedy Plaza as a public space and a transit hub?

Senator Tiara Mack:

Councilmember David Salvatore:

Senator Sam Bell:

Question 10: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing your district and how, specifically, do you want to address them? If elected, what would your number one legislative priority be, and why?

Senator Sam Bell: