Bill Deware to challenge Rep O’Brien in District 54

Bill Deware has announced his candidacy for state representative today for House District 54 – North Providence. He will be challenging incumbent William O’Brien in the Democratic Primary. O’Brien won his seat in 2012 in a three-way race with just over 40 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed in 2014. Deware has issued the following press release:

“I have raised my family right here in North Providence, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather live,” said Deware, who works as a radiographer at Rhode Island Hospital and leads the Rhode Island Society of Radiologic Technologists. “I’m running for State Representative because our district needs someone to stand up for our community.  I decided that it was time someone was willing to stand up for us.  It was time someone ran to help the people of this neighborhood rather than himself.  I promise I’ll be an independent voice that fights for what the community needs–not for the people who have been running our state into the ground.”

Deware listed his representative’s unresponsiveness as central in his decision to run. “When my daughter, Adrianna, was born, the doctors told my wife and me that she had Down Syndrome as well as multiple physical disabilities.  Later we learned she also was autistic.  I love my daughter, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world.  However, I quickly realized that her life would be very different, and I would have to fight for her every step along the way.  Like most parents in our situation we quickly became experts on the programs that were necessary for my daughter and became much more involved in the community.  When I heard that cuts were coming down on those programs and on my daughter, I did what I had always been told to do, I called my representative looking for help.  At first his state email didn’t work, then no one would pick up the phone.  Next I did finally get a response but it was just a text giving me another email address to send my “complaint” to.  I sent an email pleading for help.  I’m still waiting for a response.  I reached out for an ally, someone to help protect my daughter, instead I found someone who couldn’t be bothered to return my phone calls. ”

This experience, Deware says was just the final straw. “This isn’t acceptable. This isn’t okay.  It horrifies me that we apparently have money in the budget to give the rich another round of tax cuts but people like my daughter are “too expensive”. My mother’s pension is okay to slash, but God forbid if we question a handout for a corporation.  Our schools are crumbling, our taxes are going up, and our jobs are disappearing.  We have to do something!”

Deware feels his current representative is just a part of the problem.  “My representative seems to care more about those at the state house than those in our neighborhood.  It shouldn’t be this hard to just get a response.  I decided that it was time someone was willing to stand up for us.  It was time someone ran to help the people of this neighborhood, rather than himself.”

Deware’s announcement was widely welcomed across the neighborhood.  Lenny Cioe, who has lived in the area for many years, said, “I’ve known Bill for a long time and he has always been a straight guy. When he sees something wrong he just goes out there and fixes it. I have no doubt he is going to do great things for the district.”

Danielle Delaney, longtime community member, is also excited.  “We need change,” she said. “I don’t feel like the guys at the statehouse are fighting for us.  Bill is honest.  If he says he’ll do something, he’ll do it.”

Deware lives off of Hatherly St in North Providence with his wife, Tiffany, and three children.  He graduated from URI, works as an X-Ray tech at Rhode Island Hospital, is head of the local non profit Rhode Island Society of Radiologic Technologists, and is a former Vice President of UNAP Local 5098.