EAST PROVIDENCE — Thomas A. Rose Jr. was selected by his city council peers as its president and ceremonial mayor during an inauguration ceremony for the latest crop of East Providence’s elected and appointed officials held Monday evening, Dec. 1, at City Hall.
Mr. Rose, entering his third term as the Ward 3 representative on the council and the sitting assistant mayor/vice president, was chosen by a unanimous 5-0 vote. Ward 2 Councilor Helder Cunha put Mr. Rose’s name forward for nomination. At-Large Councilor Tracy Capobianco seconded the motion. Council newcomers Tim Conley, of Ward 4, and Robert Britto, of Ward 1, joined the three holdovers on the body in voting for the new president.
“I would like to thank the voters of Ward 3 for returning me to the council and I feel honored that the council members elected me as mayor,” Mr. Rose said in his remarks following his swearing in by city native and Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice William P. Robinson Jr. “I understand it’s a ceremonial position. I am just one vote of five. However, I consider this to be a great honor and privilege to serve on this council.”
Mr. Rose continued, saying he took inspiration for public service from his family, who business and political ties in the city run deep, as well as his love for his hometown.
“I promise to use everyday I’m here to make you proud of the city and me,” he added.
Later in the evening, Mr. Rose again acknowledged his counterparts on the council, thanking them for selecting him to take the lead chair on the body.
“It’s truly an honor for all of the other council members to pick me as mayor. Like I said in my speech, I’m just one of five votes. Together I think we’re going to work well moving this city forward,” Mr. Rose said. “We have a ton of expertise on this council. Everyone comes with knowledge in specific areas. I’m looking forward to the next two years and the continued expansion of this city.”
The city council is sworn in by supreme court justice William Robinson during the ceremony.
Of note as well, the entire law department was reseated by the council. Tim Chapman remains for another two-year term as City Solicitor while Greg Dias and Bob Craven were reappointed as his assistants. Also, Kim Casci-Palangio was re-appointed as City Clerk.
On the School Committee side, pre-inauguration conjecture became reality as the new board voted to replace sitting chairman Joel Monteiro, the At-Large representative, with Charlie Tsonos, who served in the same position from 2010-12. Mr. Tsonos, after opting to run for state representative rather than a return to the committee in 2012, ran unopposed this cycle in Ward 1.
Mr. Monteiro’s name was put up for nomination to the chair by Nate Cahoon, the newly elected member from Ward 3.
“My hat’s off to the out-going school committee and what they did the last two years,” said Mr. Cahoon, who ran unopposed and who actually took over the Ward 3 seat in August following the untimely death of Richard Pimentel. “I’m pretty much a life-long resident of East Providence, and I feel it was one of the most productive school committees I’ve seen in my time here…I think it was (Franklin) Roosevelt who said, ‘Don’t change course in the middle of the river,” and that’s what I’m supporting Mr. Monteiro.”
Ward 2 representative Tony Ferreira, like Mr. Monteiro first elected to the body in 2012, did exactly as he said he would recently when he indicated he would put Mr. Tsonos’ name up for chairman. He did so without any comment.
The roll call vote followed, Mr. Monteiro’s nomination falling short, with just he and Mr. Cahoon voting in support. Messrs. Tsonos and Ferreira along with newcomer to the committee, Ward 4 representative Jessica Beauchaine, voted against. The vote for Mr. Tsonos as chair followed the same formula, with he, Mr. Ferreira and Mrs. Beauchaine voting for while Messrs. Monteiro and Cahoon voted against.
The committee opted not to vote on any other positions related to it Monday, instead forwarding all pertaining business to its first full-fledged meeting as a group scheduled for Tuesday evening, Dec. 9, at City Hall. The council will hold its first meeting of the new session the following evening, Dec. 10, also at City Hall.
