Chris Fierro for State Representative

WOONSOCKET – On the night of his primary election victory, Chris Fierro told a crowd of supporters that he was humbled by the support of Woonsocket voters and that, “tonight you proved that the politics of cynicism does not have to be the politics of Woonsocket. We can work together. We can take on small goals and achieve big results. We can take our positive message of change to the State House and see it resonate.”

Fierro said that he is committed to fulfilling the legacy that Sen. Roger Picard set before him: “I believe in open and honest government and I am going to be open and accessible to the people of District 51. I will be responsive to my constituents’ concerns and I will be ethical and transparent in all of my actions. I am also going to be a fighter for our great city. I will fight to bring good-paying manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket and I will fight to keep Landmark Medical Center open and successful.”

Fierro also expressed his gratitude to everyone who came together to work on his campaign. “Together, we were able to build a grass-roots coalition of people that want to see our state headed in a different direction. Together, we knocked on over 3,400 doors, made thousands of phone calls and wrote hundreds of letters. From my grandparents on Campeau St., to my wife and kids, to the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action, to the Woonsocket Firefighters, to the Landmark nurses, to my co-workers, friends, and family, our campaign showed that when ordinary people come together with a common purpose, they can accomplish extraordinary things. Thank you to everyone.”

Fierro is celebrating his primary victory by vacationing with his family next week and, upon his return, will resume campaigning for the general election. “If I didn’t see you on the campaign trail over the last few months, I hope that I’ll be able to knock on your door between now and November.” In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at 767-5541 or fierroforwoonsocket@gmail.com.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone. We ran a clean and smart campaign. We worked ourselves to the bone. And here is the best part; we won! I am thrilled. The impact is still just sinking in.

In no particular order, I would like to thank: The Lebrun Family, The Carey Family, Chris Chianese, The Derouin Family, Reverend and Mrs. Vaughn, The Lamberts, The Tupper Family, The George Family, The Chattman Family, Nina Rotatori, John Alvarez and Family, Chris Oakland, Janet Santiago, Margie Ortiz, Jesenia Alvarado, Tasia Ojeda, The Dutile Family, Bonnie and Fred Larson, Leslie Talamini, The Archambeault family, Gregory and Gloria Comastra, Rep. Edwin Pacheco, Rep. Ray Church, Justin Cormier, Rep. Arthur Handy, Rep. Gordon Fox, The Woonsocket Firefighters, The United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Shannon Lussier, Vivian Dussault, Armand Lusi, Jack McConnell, The Woonsocket Teachers Guild, Mary Foley, and so many others! Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for believing in me.

No set of thank yous would be complete without mentioning my wife and best friend, Kristina Lambert. Thanks for holding down the fort and tucking in the kids for the last five months. My kids, Hannah, Annabelle and Vincenzo—thanks for taking it all in stride—for having an entire summer without Daddy, you guys did great. My Grandpa Ed and Grandma Muriel Lambert—thank you for believing in me. My in-laws Linda and Jim Ouimette, thanks so much. My Mom and Dad came all the way down from Maine and worked the entire Election Day—thank you. I hope to keep making you proud. And last but not least, Alex Moore, my campaign manager, who believed in me enough to give up most of his summer to work for change.

I didn’t make big campaign promises. I simply promised to do my best, to work hard, and to be open and ethical. That is my goal as the next State Representative from District 51. Thanks to my friends, family, supporters, and anyone that I may have accidentally omitted.

Thank you all for helping me!

-Chris Fierro

Here is the post-victory news coverage:

Wednesday, 09/10/2008,  Woonsocket Call “We built a grassroots team of different progressive organizations, we put people in the streets and we worked our butts off,” said Fierro when asked how he pulled off the victory.  Fierro, 28, of 137 Ridge St., is employed as a research specialist for the New England Carpenters Labor Management Program and had campaigned on themes of improving the living standards of working people.

Thursday, 09/11/2008, Valley Breeze Political newcomer Christopher Fierro, at just 28 years old, was the upstart winner in the District 51 state representative primary race on Tuesday.

Chris Fierro to Opponents — “Comply with the Law”

Four opponents for House District 51 are not in compliance with RI Ethics Commission.

WOONSOCKET – Chris Fierro, of 137 Ridge Street, announced his disappointment that four of his opponents for State Representative in District 51 have not complied with Rhode Island’s constitutionally mandated ethics disclosure laws. The law requires that all candidates for public office disclose personal financial information, such as sources of income, properties owned, as well as private loans and debt.*

“Actions speak louder than words,” Fierro stated.  “And, in the case of my opponents, it appears that their rhetoric about upholding the highest standards of ethics was mere words.   If they are not filing their ethics forms now, can we expect them to follow the law when they are legislators?”

“I believe Woonsocket voters want real change at the State House,” Fierro continued.  “Families like mine are fed up with story after story of corruption and insider dealing.  That’s why I am the only candidate in this race who has pledged to support the Attorney General’s legislation to make public corruption in Rhode Island a felony.  And that’s why filing ethics disclosures is a top priority for me.  When I am State Representative, Woonsocket will have a champion at the State House for clean and open government.”

“But, change doesn’t stop there,” Fierro concluded.  “Woonsocket families want an honest voice at the State House.  But they also want a voice that will fight to bring manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket.  And I have the experience and a plan to attract renewable energy companies to Woonsocket to build solar panels and wind turbines.  Our city and our state are in economic crisis and I will fight for good paying jobs for the people of Woonsocket.”

Fierro, a first-time candidate for office, has won the endorsement from business, community, labor and environmental groups because of his bold ideas for change, including the following groups: the RI Association of General Contractors, Woonsocket Firefighters Local 732, the Sierra Club of RI and the United Nurses & Allied Professionals.  In addition, respected Northern Rhode Island legislators Rep. Ed Pacheco (D-47) and Rep. Ray Church, (D-48) have endorsed Fierro.

*http://www.ethics.ri.gov/Financial_Disclosure/Financial_Disclosure.htm

** All opponents but Bob Phillips were not in compliance as of 9/04/2008. The forms were due shortly after the election filing period, which was in late June.

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We’re proud to announce that the Providence Phoenix has endorsed Chris:

In House District 51, CHRISTOPHER FIERRO of Woonsocket is the progressive favorite among a busy field of six Democrats — and with good reason. Fierro has a close focus on trying to attract good-paying jobs to northern Rhode Island. More than his competitors, he has the energy and sensibility to make a positive impact in the General Assembly.

Click here for the full list of endorsements.

From today’s ProJo:

WOONSOCKET — Finding ways to combat a faltering economy and fighting to keep Landmark Medical Center open are among the issues on the minds of six candidates vying in the Democratic primary race for House District 51.

Christopher Fierro, 28, a research specialist for New England Carpenters Labor Management Program, says his family enjoys a rare tradition in Woonsocket. His family is the fourth generation to live in the same neighborhood. His three children can cross over from their parents’ yard to their great uncle’s yard to their great grandparents’ house. But a family’s ability to stay in the same neighborhood has been fading as jobs have steadily left the state, he says.

As a representative for House 51, Fierro, of 137 Ridge Rd., said he wants to work on a plan to bring manufacturing jobs to Rhode Island. “It is a tall order. I’m not telling anyone I can flip a switch and make the Rhode Island economy better,” he said. But it would be one way to begin to bring economic structure to the state.

Fierro is part of a group, The Green Jobs Alliance, that has been meeting to explore the possibility of making Rhode Island a distribution hub for solar panels and wind turbines. “Somewhere in each of the regions these things will be made in the next 10 to 15 years. If Rhode Island is able to do it we would be able to provide this throughout New England. We need to make Rhode Island strategically placed. We are centrally located. We just need to make it happen,” said Fierro, who received his master’s degree in labor relations from UMass Amherst in 2004.

The Green Jobs Alliance is a group made up of representatives from the labor movement, environmental movements, industry and labor — groups that traditionally do not see eye to eye historically, he said, but “we all stand to benefit.”

Fierro calls for legislation to make public corruption a felony offense.

The time for rhetoric and fast-talk about public corruption has passed,

Fierro announces support of strict anti-public corruption bill.

WOONSOCKET – Chris Fierro, of 137 Ridge Street, feels that all too often our public officials merely talk about ending corruption. The time for talk has come and gone, what we need is action in order to restore the public trust.

Early in the last legislative session, the attorney general’s office proposed a bill that would allow the State to charge public officials accused of corruption with a felony offense rather than the current system which only allows for misdemeanor charges. The reality is that our public servants need to be held to a higher standard. As a candidate and potential legislator, I am eager to adhere to and push for higher standards. Strict penalties are in order, both as a deterrent to and punishment for acts that violate the public trust.

While the bill did not pass into law, Fierro is eager to take up the call and push for this legislation in the next session. “My legislative priorities, which include bringing high-paying manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket and fixing our state’s education funding formula, cannot be achieved without public participation and a strong public trust in government. In order to restore that trust, we need to quickly usher in strong anti-corruption legislation, such as that offered by AG Lynch in the 2008 session” stated Fierro.

Fierro is proud to be raising his three children as the fourth generation of his family to live in his neighborhood—“Restoring the public trust is a fundamental step towards achieving my goals. Having deep Woonsocket roots and a young family, I want to ensure the prosperity of our future generations.”

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Chris’s father & son; both named Vincenzo!

Chris with nurses from the United Nurses & Allied Professionals

Chris with Representatives Ed Pacheco & Ray Church

Business Group, Firefighters Back Fierro for State Representative

Endorsements from the Woonsocket Firefighters and the Association of General Contractors grow the momentum for the Chris Fierro campaign.

WOONSOCKET – Chris Fierro, of 137 Ridge Street, has a plan to bring manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket and it involves investing in renewable energy as well.

“Over the last two months, in going door to door campaigning, the overwhelming issue that people have raised has been the economy—both on the national and local level,” said Fierro. “As a city and a state, we have to be looking towards the next opportunity. And Woonsocket can reclaim our place at the top of American industry by creating “green collar” jobs: manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels that will also help lower energy prices.”

The construction industry’s largest business association, the Rhode Island Association of General Contractors (RIAGC) recently endorsed Chris Fierro because they think that he has the business acumen and the negotiating skills to get the job done. RIAGC President, Armand Lusi, CEO of A.F. Lusi Construction states, “Over the last year, I have worked with Chris on a series of projects that will create serious benefits throughout the construction industry in Rhode Island; job creation, infrastructure improvement, and apprenticeship training come to mind. Chris has acted as a conduit for information and been diligent about ensuring that all sides have had a fair hearing.”

In addition to this business endorsement, Fierro also received the endorsement of Woonsocket Firefighters Local 732 this past week. “I believe that our firefighters are second to none. As the first responders to so many dangerous situations, these public servants go above and beyond. I am honored to have their support” concluded Fierro.

“I am proud to receive both business and labor endorsements this week,” Fierro concluded. “We need political leaders who are going to stop the political bickering at the State House and bring people together to solve our state’s recession. I have the experience and the commitment to bring this much-needed change to Smith Hill.”

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Chris Fierro Picks Up Key Endorsements in House Race

Northern RI legislators Rep. Ray Church and Rep. Ed Pacheco

Join the Sierra Club of RI in endorsing Chris Fierro for State Representative

WOONSOCKET – Chris Fierro, of 137 Ridge Street, is proud to announce that he has received the endorsement of Northern RI legislators Rep. Ray Church (D-48) and Rep. Ed Pacheco (D-47) as well as the Sierra Club of Rhode Island

Rep. Church, who represents the towns of Burrillville, North Smithfield, believes that Fierro is the right candidate because of his commitment to economic development and job creation. “Chris’s plans around bringing manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket with wind and solar companies are exactly the kind of forward looking vision we need in government right now,” Church said. “As a member of the House Finance Committee, I know there is an urgent need to stimulate our economy and I am excited about the prospects of Chris bringing green jobs to Rhode Island.”

Rep. Pacheco, who represents the towns of Burrillville and Glocester, points to Fierro’s commitment to fighting to keep Landmark Hospital open in making his endorsement. “I support Chris because of his commitment to affordable and accessible health care and his promise to fight for the important services and good paying jobs at Landmark Hospital,” Pacheco said. “Chris knows first-hand the importance of health care because his wife Kristina is a registered nurse and his mother in law has been a nurse manager at Landmark for over 15 years. And, it is crucial that we have full-time leadership on this issue at the General Assembly and Chris is the candidate who will deliver for the people of Woonsocket.”

Ben Jones, the chairman of the Sierra Club of Rhode Island’s Political Action Committee, said, “it’s going to take real leadership to address global climate change, increase transportation choices, and reduce our dependence on polluting, foreign oil. Our 2,500 members in Rhode Island believe that Chris Fierro will be this kind of leader.”

Fierro is grateful for the support. “My commitment to the voters of Woonsocket is to be a strong voice for change at the State House by bringing manufacturing jobs back to our city and fighting for health care and for our working families. I am humbled to receive the support of others who share my vision for change.”

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