2023 www.providencejournal.com. Mayor Frank J. Picozzi font-weight: bold; background-color: grey; It was the latest in a series of financial problems for Picozzi and his wife Kimberly that include lawsuits and default judgments dating back decades. So what has surprised each municipal leader about their city since taking office? } WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) - On the steps of Warwick City Hall on Tuesday, a new mayor was sworn in. Rhode Island has been riveted on the state legislative race in which Republican Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung toppled Democratic House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. He has worked in the offices of Senator Jack Reed, Lt Governor Dan McKee, and Ambassador Jorge Heine. click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Frank_J._Picozzi_(Mayor_of_Warwick,_Rhode_Island,_candidate_2022)&oldid=8977883, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Meet with the superintendent regularly, I am going to know everything that is going on in the schools. They put their faith in me and Im gonna do the right thing, Im gonna do the job as hard as I can. I was buying materials for jobs with credit cards. div.oneoff-scrollbox.short { height:250px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Picozziinsisted during our interview that he had disclosed his debt during the campaign. [Composite Photo by WarwickPost] From left, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzis staff: Michael Ursillo, City Solicitor; Susan Nahabedian Ayrassian, Esquire, chief of staff; Elizabeth Tufts, Media Coordinator; Arron OBrien Mackisey, Office Manager. height: 50px; } 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Harvard Universitys Hasty Pudding Theatricals has namedViola Davisits 2021 woman of the year. I did much of it on social media.. font-size: .9em; .race_header.republican { The state announced four more deaths, bringing the total to 2,651. background-color: grey; Heres what MayorsFrank Picozzi,Ken Hopkins, andMaria Riverahad to say. .votebox-scroll-container { .indicate_scroll { Read more. font-size: 20px; N/A. Watch LIVE & Recorded City Council Meetings. width: 100%; He defeated Solomon, a Democrat and longtime City Council member who had replaced Mayor Scott Avedisian in 2018. Frank Picozzi, former contractor known for elaborate Christmas lights } position: relative; Now Picozzi, who was sworn in last year as mayor of a city that has a $330-million budget, is the subject of a complaint filed by a Warwick resident with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. Video of the program, posted on WPRIs website,shows that it didnt come up until the very end, when each candidate gave a one-minute closing statement. } Warwick Post is an online news and information source covering Warwick, Rhode Island. background-color: #f9f9f9; A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. People are tired of the politics.. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} I ended up defaulting and some creditors got judgments against me. Another example: signing a lease for a building to gather municipaloffices scattered in largely rent-free space across the city under one roof, at a cost of $500,000 annually. } The liens were later discharged from the property, in two separate actions by the IRS over the next decade, according to city records. One problem: Picozzi lacked the money needed to wage a high-profile mayoral race. text-align: center; But the credit-card defaults piled up from 2014 to 2020, after the economy had rebounded. vertical-align: top; Picozzi was on the ballot in the general election on November 8, 2022. Education: Former Massachusetts education secretary Paul Reville writes thatthe field of education should seize on the sense of urgency that we need to do more and better for our students in this moment of crisis. .widget-row.Republican { Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. N/A. I didnt like the job my predecessor was doing. Picozzi, a former vinyl siding contractor who is best known for his elaborate Christmas light display, decided to run for office after the pandemic hit Rhode Island. Contact our sales team. Read more. U.S. Congress | } .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, There is a saying in The Art of War that says fight em where they aint and thats what I did.. She had previously served in the role of Constituent Liaison for six years. } Elizabeth Tufts will be the citys media coordinator. .race_header.democratic { It reminded me of the importance of physical and mental health, and Ive taken up boxing classes and asked residents to walk with me throughout the city. They put a lot of faith in me, it just gives me the drive to succeed, and I will., Horses safe after running onto busy Massachusetts highway, After retiring as Providence's bishop, Tobin's gone from Twitter, Atlantic Shark Institute's charity license 'shatters' record, Part of 'Good Burger 2' to be filmed at old Friendly's restaurant in North Providence, Police: Uncle stabs 8-year-old nephew multiple times in Providence, Man killed in fiery Connecticut accident remembered as loving, caring father, New Bedford man accused of using his business to distribute drugs sentenced to prison, Massachusetts state police investigating deadly crash, Live Weather Cams - Providence, Rhode Island. vertical-align: middle; Picozzi: The school department is not what it should be, and Warwick the culture and history is a contentious relationship between the school department and city government, and I am going to bridge that. margin: auto; } }; WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) On the steps of Warwick City Hall on Tuesday, a new mayor was sworn in. Frank Picozzi was sworn in at City Hall on Tuesday. City records show that two years ago the Internal Revenue Service filed a lien with the city onthe propertythe Picozzis own on Grist Mill Road. background-color: #db0000; Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi in front of his famous Christmas display. font-weight: bold; } He announced his choice of Eric Earls, a former public works director in Pawtucket, to lead public works in Warwick. font-size: 0.9em; max-width: 75px; } padding-left: 10px; top: 2px; , NBA Playoffs: A star-studded Round 2 is here, Panthers oust record-setting Bruins 4-3 in OT, Newsmakers 4/28/2023: RWU Law Dean Gregory Bowman, Diverse Discussions: How Gen Z is changing RI, Newsmakers 4/14/2023: Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Newsmakers 4/7/2023: Lt. Gov. Chief of staff leaves City Hall, Keiser named interim How to vote | display: block; Hes a Providence firefighter, he didnt get it from work though. In all this, and more, I promise advanced engagement with every resident of Warwick. With 40 years of municipal law experience including representation of twelve Rhode Island cities and towns, Mike and his firm have helped municipalities navigate issues including labor contract negotiations and grievances; open meeting laws and public records requests; tax revaluations and appeals; code violations, litigation, and other vital municipal issues. line-height: 1.5em; Mayor-elect lights up Warwick with surprise victory But Flaherty was absent after testing positive for COVID-19. text-align: center; I owe no one, when I get elected, I have no debts, no political debts whatsoever. WARWICK The city's next mayor, Frank Picozzi, has shingles. Mayor Frank J. Picozzi Meet the Staff Contact Info Phone: (401) 738-2004 Address: Warwick City Hall 3275 Post Road Warwick, RI 02886 United States See map: Google Maps $('.pastResponses').show(); z-index:1; Aaron will bring a fresh and youthful perspective to my administration Picozzi said. More: Primary documents detailing Picozzi's default judgments. Picozzi, in our interview,said his challenges began during the recession 14 years ago. WARWICK Three months before Frank Picozzi launched his 2020 campaign to become mayor, the Internal Revenue Service puta lien on his house in Conimicut for four years of missed federal tax payments, totaling more than $33,000, according to city records. She will also focus on sharing stories on social media. display: inline-block; background-color: #003388; display: none; Your subscription is what makes it possible. color: white; .clearfix { clearInterval(nTimer); Ballotpedia features 408,503 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. But he decided to jump into the race because he thought Solomon did a poor job of communicating and leading while imposing a curfew following a night of looting in Providence. Email or phone: Password: Forgot account? } Surrounded by his family, Mayor Frank Picozzi took the Oath of Office Tuesday afternoon on the front steps of Warwick City Hall. font-size: .9em; Warwick Mayor-Elect Frank Picozzi begins mayoral transition process Do you RhodeMap? .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Picozzi said he won because Warwick residents are disenchanted with city government. .widget-img { Picozzi said right now, their future is uncertain since it is. There was a flurry of activity involving the Picozzis in District, Superior and small claims Court beginning in 2014 as the credit-card debt mounted. background-color: #003388; Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, says that states may soon drop their outdoor mask-wearing mandates and it makes sense. He expanded on those points in his inaugural address Tuesday evening. } } But does Picozzi have the experience required to be mayor of Rhode Islands third largest city? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Besides serving as the chief spokesperson for the Mayor, Elizabeth will tell stories about the community and keep Warwick informed daily through audio and video. I wasnt a politician. Candidates from 36 states completed the survey. @Picozzi-for-mayor . But on Wednesday afternoon, Solomon issued a statement conceding the race. .votebox_bp_logo { #ada-button-frame { Rhode Island Department of State .votebox { padding:7px 8px 8px; Add in the IRS judgment and the total at one point was more than $100,000, according to city and court records. background-color: #dac113; But if you can't take care of your own personal finances, I ask: How can you take care of a $300-million budget city?" Picozzi, an independent candidate, took 59 percent of the vote, scoring a convincing victory in Tuesdays election over Solomon, a Democrat who received 40 percent, according to results from the state Board of Elections. Smith Goes to Washington and of a Warwick native, Nathanael Greene, a major general in the Revolutionary War. } In my first 100 days in office, I was surprised to see how bad of shape the city of Warwick was in, all of the work that needs to be done, and how low morale was among the residents and city employees. Forgot account? Earlier Tuesday, Picozzi had said that support from residents, rather than from employee unions, had propelled him to victory in November. He said it was damaged by water years ago and cannot be fixed. Jump to Sections of this page Accessibility Help Press alt+ /to open this menu Facebook Email or Phone Password Forgot account? overflow-x: auto; They had expressed a willingness "to put politics aside and work together with me for the betterment of our city," he said. Right after his victory, he wrote on his Facebook page: My administration will have absolute transparency and be completely void of political games., More:Warwick mayor plans skating rink in new plaza at City Hall, More:Warwick's mayor seeks $386,000 'reimbursement' of sick pay from firefighters. .widget-row.Democratic { font-size: 12px; ICYMI:RhodeIsland was up to 144,966confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday, after adding 758 new cases since April 16. Court documents say the judgment is unsatisfied. Seven claims against Frank Picozzi total more than $26,000. The allegation: that the mayor did not properly list his debts on his financial disclosure form for 2020. I went through savings, I lived on credit cards, I tried to work. The citys fleet of public works vehicles hasnt been maintained, he said. }) They havent done their budget yet, so we didnt know what the reimbursement for the tax bills would be., There are other things, DPW (Department of Public Works), we had difficulty plowing the snowstorm sanitation. I used my own tools, ladder and vehicle. color: white; })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. font-weight: bold; I wanted to bring some red,white and - Mayor Frank Picozzi - Facebook color:white; I didnt like the response to COVID, people were left largely on their own.. letter-spacing: .04em; Frank J. Picozzi (Independent) Incumbency information for this election was not available. As you can see I have a very large agenda.. or. font-weight: 300; Additionally, the Mayor develops and implements policies, procedures, and programs, and is responsible for crafting the annual municipal budget. On the report for the year 2020, which he filed on April 21, 2021, the mayor listed four entities: Ford Motor Credit in Michigan,TD Auto Finance in South Carolina,the IRS in Kentucky and Prosper Loans in California. Frank J. Picozzi. At noon on Tuesday,Picozzi, who had attended Hopkins swearing-in, stood with his wife, Kim, at his side. or. I said I have had tremendous debt. Mayor Frank J. Picozzi Meet the Staff Contact Info Phone: (401) 738-2004 Address: Warwick City Hall 3275 Post Road Warwick, RI 02886 United States See map: Google Maps One of the many campaign signs for independent Warwick mayoral candidate Frank J. Picozzi. word-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 1px; The Mayor says, "My display is complete. width: 35px !important; He is in the middle of setting up his computerized Christmas light show at his home. width: 100%; Over the past year, Solomon has reported more than $177,000 in campaign expenses, while Picozzi has reported just $25,579. Records also show the Picozzis had financial issues long before the recession. "They are passionate, he said, they are generous and are always standing by and ready to take action when one of them needs help. background-color: green; The mayor, whose salary is $100,000, said he is on an installment plan to pay off the $33,000 he owes the IRS, but would not disclose details. Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi debt problems go back decades max-width: 600px; All rights reserved. } .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Since then, we have been pleased to administer over 4,000 vaccines to our seniors and school staff. } margin: 8px auto; State executives | $('.showResponses').show(); It offered no details. Well Known Warwick Resident Frank Picozzi Running for Mayor WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) The city of Warwick has elected a new mayor. Betty-Ann currently in the citys Senior Services department. The. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } If you have friends or relatives who would like their own free copy of this daily briefing about Rhode Island, tell them they cansign up here. @media (max-width:600px) { .inner_percentage.Republican { .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} } } margin-bottom: .75em; .non_result_row div { The new mayors of Warwick, Cranston and Central Falls have all made it through their first 100 days in office and they arent running for the hills yet. Im very well known in the community, the moral in Warwick is very very low and people want change, and I offered them that change. $('.showResponses').hide();
   .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Picozzi said he wasnt sure how much debt he and his wife had accumulated, but didnt think it was as high as $100,000. Send Ballotpedia contact information for this person, .infobox { 		width: 100%; His executive staff is tasked with addressing requests and concerns from City residents and the business community while also assisting in a number of special projects. Candidates from all 50 states completed the survey. Eleven claims against her total more than $54,000. 		color: #0645ad; The mayor, in a telephone interview with TheHummelReport on Wednesday, acknowledged the federal tax lien and credit-card debt, saying he was a bad businessman. 		margin-bottom:16px; Warwick Mayor Picozzi Addresses Political "Rumors" RI House Speaker Shekarchi a lawyer; GOP says housing push a conflict 	.votebox-results-metadata-p { In 2008 when the Great Recession hit, materials went up, the price of fuel went up. 		height: 22px; 

He sat down for a (virtual) interview with me about his plans while in office. It had a great effect. {p}{/p} The siblings not giving up freedom easily, running away scared for hours,. $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { font-weight: bold; Picozzi said the dogs are possibly a "wolf hybrid" and that the owner has been found. Picozzi said he has not heard from Solomon since the polls closed. }) Do you RhodeMap? font-style: italic; color: #6db24f; color: #888; } Picozzi: COVID has made things difficult to campaign, to have meetings. "The Solomon name is a big name in Warwick. . max-height: 580px; As an independent, the fact that Picozzi took down the mayor is pretty impressive because these days people tend to vote by party, even in local races.. Because of my Christmas display and other things Ive done., Im very active on social media, thats how I campaigned mostly, because I didnt have the money to compete against a quarter million dollar campaign chest. } } Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Rhode Island Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis X. Flaherty had been tapped to administer Picozzis oath. .race_footer { font-weight: 300; School districts | background-color: #db0000; Read more. See more of Mayor Frank Picozzi on Facebook. Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey? He posted on his Facebook page Monday that . That leads to my last surprise: its very difficult to run a city through Zoom meetings and Im trying to limit them,to the extent that safety permits. width: 90%; background-color: #f9f9f9; In Warwick, contractor takes on incumbent Solomon for mayoral seat WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) If there is one person excited for 2021, it's Warwick Mayor-elect Frank Picozzi who is scheduled to get sworn into office Tuesday. You dont know how many people told me 'I went through the same thing.. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan. float: right;

. He said he stopped asking people to put them up after the second person he asked said no. The biggest issues on his docket as mayor include school buildings and the conditions of city facilities. .widget-row.value-only.white { It is now assessed at $197,100. } But there are still thousands of shots available. vertical-align: top; ABC6 News. Mayor Picozzi has announced several new appointments including Chief of Police, Director of the Department of Public Works, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Director of the Planning Department. margin-bottom: 0px; "I have lived in Warwick for more than 52 years. She not only has experience as an anchor and reporter but as a writer and producer as well as vast knowledge of the necessary equipment, Picozzi said. Frank Picozzi just sworn in as Mayor of Warwick. They added up to tens of thousands of dollars that the Picozzis owed to creditors, including The Home Depot. } .hideResponses { display: none;} It grounds you. margin-bottom: 4px; .votebox-results-metadata { It includes taxes for $7,947.18 in 2015; $10.763.85 for 2016; $8,113.71 for 2017 and $6,395.53 in 2018. You can also use our Venmo account. .widget-row.heading { Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. But there are still thousands of shots available. Central Falls Mayor Maria Riverahas taken a hands-on approach to her new job, riding with the citys snowplow trucks or dashing to get supplies for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. The recreation facilities are horrible, and the schools are nowhere near where they should be, he said. Warwick's Frank Picozzi announces bid for mayor Upcoming Events Apr 6 April 6 @ 12:00 pm - April 8 @ 7:00 pm. overflow-x: scroll; font-weight: bold; Mayor-elect Frank Picozzi has shingles, which could delay his light show The Mayors Office is the Citys executive office, where the Mayor, along with his staff, works closely with municipal departments throughout the City to address a wide range of issues on a day-to-day basis. He said he didnt seek endorsements and doesnt owe anyone political favors. Support Frank Picozzi for Mayor of Warwick .percentage_number { Birth Date. I disclosed it when I ran. margin-bottom:0px; Frank J. Picozzi did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. font-size: 1.2em; I was surprised, Providence College political science Professor Adam Myers said. I didnt want to come here to be mayor. E-mail us atRInews@globe.com. Before you comment on this site, you need an account. BUILDING OFFICIAL, Alfred T. DeCorte, Jr. FIRE CHIEF/EMA DIRECTOR, Peter K. McMichael, SEWER AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BettyAnne Rogers, DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS, Kerry A Nardolillo, Warwick Police Department, 99 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Warwick, RI, 02886, City of Warwick Police Department, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, RI, 02886, City of Warwick-Lower Level Conference Room, 3275 Post Road, Warwick, RI, 02886, City of Warwick Police Department, Community Room, Warwick, RI, 02886, City of Warwick Police Department Community Room, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, RI, 02886, City of Warwick Police Department-Community Room, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, RI, 02886, Warwick Police Department Community Room, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, RI, 02886.