Farina, Council VP, Will Run Again

Cranston City Council Vice President Michael Farina believes his first term serving on the council was both "meaningful and historic."

He now wants another two years.

Farina, a Democrat, announced his intention to seek a second term on the council on Wednesday, highlighting the council's recent track record of "fiscal responsibility and transparency," including a balanced budget with no tax increases, pension reform with police and fire retirees, and "we approved multi-year contracts with our municipal employees that will not result in future tax increases," he said.

Farina, a lifelong Cranston resident, is a director of business strategy and is on the board of directors of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. He is married to his wife, Ruthanne, and they have two children, Michael and Isabella.

Here's the full text of his campaign announcement:

My first term serving the city of Cranston as the Council Vice President was both meaningful and historic. We ensured the city had financial stability and improved bond ratings. We held a high standard of fiscal responsibility and transparency. My tenure saw a balanced budget with no increased or new taxes. A historic pension reform with our police and fire retirees was implemented, and we approved multi-year contracts with our municipal employees that will not result in future tax increases. Our streets are safer due to the acquisition of new police cars and adding new firefighting equipment including a ladder truck. We committed more resources to our students by supporting Special Education with a reserve of money to be used strictly for special education costs. We developed a reserve fund to help reinstate middle school sports and other cut programs. We passed legislation to create a voter referendum to continue to update our school buildings. We ensured we balanced the needs of the business community and the citizens by being open to business while protecting the rights of our neighbors and our neighborhoods by opposing the Phoenix Lodge project and approving expansion at Chapel Hill. We increased grant awards coming to the city and we will see significant upgrades to Cranston Stadium through our efforts. I am proud of the work the Cranston City Council did in 2013/2014 but the work to ensure a bright future for Cranston is not finished.

We need to continue to operate in a fiscally responsible manner and continue to have transparent government on the city council. There will be continued financial challenges facing Cranston and more than ever need keen financial minds to fight for Cranston’s future. We need to continue to improve our infrastructure and work harder and faster to repair our roads and sidewalks. We need to continue improve our educational system by fighting unfunded mandates and we need to continue to update our school buildings ensuring that the work started to make schools safer continues. It is imperative that the City Council and School Committee find a way to get past their differences and become a team, focusing on the future of our Cranston students. We have an obligation to expand the middle-class by attracting more well paying employers to Cranston and support paths for sustainable home ownership/retention. I am running for re-election to continue to address these issues and find solutions for our shared future. I have the track record and experience needed to ensure Cranston continues on the path to a brighter tomorrow and I look forward to the continued support from the citizens of our great city.

About Mike:

Michael Farina is a lifelong resident of Cranston and a graduate of Cranston High School West. He has served the city most recently as the Cranston Council Vice president and prior to his election he was a member of the audit committee. During his time on the council he served as the Vice Chair on the Finance committee and also was a member of every regular standing council subcommittee. He is employed a Director in Business Strategy and Financial Planning at a fortune 200 company and sits on the Board of Directors for CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. He is involved in his community as a member of the St Mary’s Feast Society and supports noble causes like Special Olympics through his work as a Freemason. He is a married to Ruthanne and they are the proud parents of Michael and Isabella.