Larry Warner Announces Candidacy for City Council in Ward 5
Larry Warner announced Tuesday that he will run as a Democratic candidate for the Ward 5 council seat in the upcoming election. Warner is currently the Chief Impact and Equity Officer with United Way of Rhode Island. Prior to United Way, he worked at the Rhode Island Foundation where he led the organization’s health grant making. He also previously served on the Providence Fire Department for 15 years where he held several roles, including that of Firefighter/EMT and Training Officer.
“I am committed to serving my neighbors to help keep Cranston a city where people not only want to live, but where they can actually afford to live and be healthy,” said Warner. “My campaign will focus on bringing members of the community and other stakeholders together to find solutions for challenges facing our city such as affordable housing, economic development, and opportunities for our youth. I plan to work alongside other Council members from any party, and use my experiences, expertise, and resident input to prioritize policies that build a healthy, safe, and affordable Cranston.”
Maria Bucci, Chair of the Cranston Democratic Committee, shared her support.
“I am very excited that Larry is running for City Council in Ward 5,” said Bucci. “As we all know, our city is facing tremendous challenges – especially now that the mayor has announced we are facing a massive budget crisis that will likely lead to tax increases, cuts to city services and the layoffs of city and school department employees. Given his history of public service as a firefighter, his volunteer service in Cranston and his public health background, I believe Larry has the qualifications and dedication needed to help put our city back on the right track.”
“I love Cranston, but I don’t love the fiscal mismanagement that we are witnessing,” Warner said. “I am running for City Council because we need better accountability and smarter use of taxpayer dollars. Council President Chris Paplauskas, who currently represents Ward 5, recently voted for a budget that increases our taxes by almost the maximum amount allowed by our Charter. This tax increase, along with a $12 million structural deficit in the city’s budget, puts Cranston and its residents in bad financial shape.”
Citywide councilwoman Jessica Marino added her support.
“I am thrilled that Larry is looking to serve the residents of Ward 5 to promote a local government that is responsive to the needs of its community. I know that Larry will work to improve city government in a fiscally responsible manner. He will promote a transparent government and policies resulting in a better community that is affordable, healthy and safe,” said Marino.
Warner and his wife, Dr. Tammy Vargas Warner, have lived in Cranston for the past 14 years and have three sons – one of whom is a graduate of Cranston High School West and two of whom currently attend Cranston Public Schools.
Warner is also the first in his family to attend college. He earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University.
“As a longtime resident of Cranston, I am excited that Larry is running for City Council and I know that he will bring new ideas to the Council,” said Lori Carlino, chair of the Cranston Ward 5 Democratic Committee. “Larry understands the importance of fiscal responsibility and thriving communities as a parent of children in Cranston Public Schools and as a member of the Cranston Public Library board of trustees.”
Warner said he is proud of his current volunteer roles as a member of the Cranston Public Library board of trustees, co-chair of the Rhode Island Commission for Health Advocacy and Equity, and as a member of the Planning Committee at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. He is also an alum of the Ten Men initiative of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a volunteer with Pilots N Paws, which is a network of volunteers that help rescued animals become adopted.
