Moira Walsh announced her candidacy for State Representative in House District 3, including the Smith Hill, Charles and Wanskuck neighborhoods in Providence.
“I was born and raised in Smith Hill, and I love our neighborhood,” said Walsh, who in addition to being a longtime waitress in Providence also works as a community organizer with Rhode Island Jobs with Justice. “I’m running for State Representative because our district needs someone who will give everything she’s got, every day, to fight for our community. I know I have the energy, persistence, and passion to follow through on that commitment – because our community deserves it.”
Walsh cited her strong family roots in the district as pivotal in her decision to run for office. “My first job growing up was at The Earthen Vessel, my father Michael’s cornerstone on Smith Hill that offered everything from refrigerators to school uniforms at prices our neighbors could actually afford,” she said. “My mother, Janet, worked for the Diocese of Providence and taught CCD at local parishes for more than two decades. My parents – who still live on Violet Street – always fought tirelessly to support their kids and better their community, and they instilled those same values in me.”
A parent herself, Walsh says her experiences as a single mother gives her the right perspective to represent working families in the district. “As a single mother, I have experienced what so many struggling families in our community deal with on a daily basis,” she said. “I know what it means to choose between paying for gas or for electricity. To decide between buying groceries or getting clothing for my son. I understand what it feels like to work full time, to sign up for all the extra shifts you possibly can, and still fall short at the end of the month. People in our community are working eighty hours a week and spending no time with their families, just to keep their heads above water. It seems that no matter how hard we try, the system is rigged against us, and no one is fighting to preserve the community that has given us all so much. That is why I have worked to advocate for increases in the minimum wage, for protections for workers, and that’s why I’m running.”
Walsh’s candidacy was greeted with excitement across the district. Thomas Oliveira, who have lived in the area for many years, said, “I am so glad Moira is running for state representative. She understands the importance of supporting the community and local businesses, after all, her dad had one that meant a lot to the neighborhood. I know that she has the energy, honesty and commitment to make our neighborhood a better place.”
Janice Luongo, longtime community organizer and Smith Hill resident is also excited. “There is a lot of need in our community,” she said. “And we need someone like Moira who will listen and take action because many families are struggling. Moira understands struggle, but she also knows how to bring people together to get things done. She has always lived in and loved this district, and I can’t think of anyone better to fight for the issues that matter to us at the State House.”
Walsh lives off of Douglas Avenue in the Wanskuck neighborhood of Providence with her 2 year-old son, Malcolm. She is an alum of Classical High School and Rhode Island College, a longtime server at a local Providence diner, and an organizer with RI Jobs with Justice.
[From a press release]
[Editor’s note: Walsh will be running against Rep Thomas A. Palangio (D) who was elected to 2012 and was re-elected in 2014.]