Chris Fierro

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.”

On The Issues

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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Press Releases

Chris’s father & son; both named Vincenzo!

Chris with nurses from the United Nurses & Allied Professionals

Chris with Representatives Ed Pacheco & Ray Church

Photos

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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Press Releases

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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Press Releases

We’re happy to annouce that Rhode Island’s Future, the top political blog in the state, has named Chris’s race one of the top primary races to watch in 2008.

Here’s an excerpt:

With nearly 100 comments and lots of debate, our 2008 primary contest has come to a close.  And  without further adue, here our the top five primaries that RI Future will be watching closely and reporting on in 2008:

1. Chris Fierro – Fierro is running for State Representative in House District 51 in Woonsocket.  This seat was vacated when Roger Picard ran for the state senate upon Sen. Roger Badeau’s passing.

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What is most impressive about Fierro is that he is focused on bringing manufacturing jobs back to Woonsocket.  He is focused on bringing high-paying wind and solar power manufacturing jobs to Woonsocket and he has the skills to do it: he has worked to bring contractors and construction unions together to create good, living wage jobs.

Click here for the full post.

Annoucements

Chris and his dedicated group of volunteers have been talking to a lot of folks across District 51 about which issues are a priority to them.  A top concern that keeps coming up is keeping Landmark Medical Center open.

It is crucial to keep Landmark open – not only because it provides important healthcare services to people in the community – but also because the center provides a lot of good paying jobs.

Chris has been watching the situation at Landmark closely and has appealed to decision makers to ensure that the medical center remains open as a full-service, non-profit, locally-controlled community hospital that is responsive to the needs of the people of northern Rhode Island.

For recent news on the situation at Landmark, see this article from the Providence Journal.

On The Issues