Election season is upon us – and it starts before you know it. Early voting begins August 20, with primary election day scheduled for Wednesday, September 9. The Democratic primary pits first-term incumbent Providence Mayor Brett Smiley against State Representative David Morales, and the results could go a long way toward deciding who the next mayor will be. The primary winner faces Independent candidate Allen Waters in the November 3 general election. We asked the candidates about their vision for the capital city – both Democrats faced the same set of questions.
David Morales: My vision is a Providence that all our neighbors can afford and where everyone feels safe and cared for. Providence is too expensive, and many residents are getting priced out. My first priority is to work with the city council to pass and enforce rent stabilization so our neighbors don’t have to worry about their rent skyrocketing. We’re also going to transform vacant lots and buildings across Smith Hill, North Main Street, Downtown, and Elmwood into affordable homes. We’re also going to maximize local and state aid to improve staffing levels across Providence Public Schools, adding more social workers, multilingual educators, and support staff, so that all students will feel supported inside and outside of the classroom.
Brett Smiley: Providence is – and must always be – a city that welcomes everyone. That means protecting our community from ICE. It means making it easier for families to afford childcare. It means sending our kids to schools that prepare them for college and careers. It means ensuring our streets are safe from violent crime. And it means providing people of every background and in every neighborhood the opportunities they need to get ahead. This has been our focus over the past four years, and it will continue to guide our work in the years ahead.
Morales: The plan calls for working with the City Council to pass and sign an ordinance capping annual rent increases at four percent. It also focuses on making Providence Public Schools more supportive by increasing staffing for social workers and multilingual educators, improving accountability in city government so services work better, and raising sustainable revenue through an industrial facility tax, enforcement of the vacancy tax, and amending the city’s agreements with private colleges and universities.
Smiley: Over the last four years, we achieved universal access to pre-K in Providence, brought violent crime to its lowest level in more than 30 years, and built new schools and homes at a record pace, all while standing up to opposition and intimidation from the Trump administration at every turn. I plan to build on this progress in my second term, continue lowering costs for families, and transition our school system back to local control in a way that prioritizes student opportunities and outcomes.
Morales: Our plan includes working with the School Board and Providence Public School District to identify staffing gaps in schools and seek additional university contributions to support frontline PPSD positions. It also calls for signing and enforcing rent stabilization, restoring confidence in city government with qualified department leadership, creating a fairer commercial tax system that protects small businesses while asking more from industrial facilities near the port, and turning vacant lots and buildings into affordable housing.
Smiley: In my first term, we released detailed and actionable plans to provide a seat for every Providence student in a new or like-new school building by 2030; to fully decarbonize all city buildings by 2040; to make it easier than ever to build new apartments and homes at all price points to address our housing crisis; and to ensure a smooth transition of our school system back to local control. We have worked hard to advance each of these plans, and with steady and experienced leadership, we can achieve all these objectives and more over the coming years.
Morales: Third spaces! There is always something fun to experience in Providence, from live music to art shows spotlighting local creators, and exciting programs hosted by our community libraries.
Smiley: Providence has some of the best arts, culture, and food in the country. Combine that with world-class universities and hospitals, thriving small businesses, diverse neighborhoods, and a compassionate community that consistently shows up, and you get a city that is truly special.
Big Feeling or Gregg’s? The candidates weigh in on city favorites.
Favorite restaurant: Capitol Hill Diner Taqueria
Favorite dessert spot: Big Feeling Ice Cream
Favorite arts/culture exhibit/space/institution: Teatro Ecas
Best way to spend a day off: My ideal Providence day off would bounce from Providence Barbell Club, Small Format Café, Knight Memorial Library, local thrift shops, La Gran Parada, Dusty Planet, Varsity Lounge, AS220, with a nightcap at Gilligan’s Pub.
Favorite Rhody Gem: Angell Street Galleries
Favorite restaurant: Nicks on Broadway – where Jim and I got engaged!
Favorite dessert spot: Gregg’s (I’m a pie guy)
Favorite PVD arts/culture exhibit/space/institution: Trinity Rep
Best way to spend a day off: A run with my husband in India Point Park, dinner at Angelo’s, and a movie at the Avon.
Favorite Rhody Gem: Saint’s Café in the West End
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