RI Senate District 31 | Democrat
Headquarters: (401) 681-4660

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Fundraiser on Thursday, October 2nd!

As we move forward and try to win a fair election to determine the people of Warwick's next State Senator, we need to have the resources to enable us to get our message out!

Please join us on Thursday, October 2nd from 5:30pm to 7:30pm for a fundraiser at Ye Olde Boulevard Cafe - 1288 Greenwich Ave. in Apponaug (behind the car wash and the donut shop).

Press Release - Ensuring a Fair Election

September 22 - Warwick, RI - David Bennett, a nurse and Democratic Candidate for RI State Senate District 31, has filed with the Supreme Court asking for a re-run election and a recount of the mail ballots submitted in the recent Democratic primary. Bennett's opponent, Erin Lynch, currently holds a razor-thin 11-vote lead.

Bennett was leading on election night after the machines had been tallied, but during the recount of the machine votes it became clear that there were more ballots cast than voters who cast them - and that at least 19 Republicans had been improperly allowed to vote in the Democratic Primary.

"Frankly, the Board of Elections' process was a disappointment," said Bennett. "Even though it was clear to all present - the Warwick Board of Canvassers, the staff of the State Board of Elections, and both campaigns - that enough Republicans voted to change the outcome of the election, the Board voted to deny my appeal. I feel I have no choice but to appeal to the Supreme Court - and I have instructed my attorney, Angel Taveras, to file with the court this morning."

"Fair and clean elections are an absolute necessity to restore and maintain people's faith in their elected officials," said Bennett. "If the election is not viewed as legitimate, it erodes people's confidence in state government. I ran for office because I wanted to show that everyday working people can make an impact and make our voice heard. The last thing I want to have happen is for people to become more reluctant to get involved because they think the process is flawed."

"If even just a few people vote when and where they should not, it taints the state's elections," Bennett concluded. "An incredible number of my supporters have asked me to pursue this appeal - and so it is on behalf of them, and all of the voters in District 31, that we are moving forward to pursue a clean election."

District 31 Primary in the Balance

First of all, I want thank everyone - the dozens of volunteers and hundreds of voters - that came out yesterday in order to support my campaign. Just before midnight last night we formally asked the Board of Elections for a recount and we issued the following press release:

Senate District 31 Primary in the Balance

September 9, 2008 - The outcome of the Democratic Primary for State Senator in Warwick's District 31 remains unclear. However, David Bennett believes his campaign has already been a victory for working families.

"Today, Warwick's working families have sent a message to Rhode Island's elected leaders," said Bennett. "The state is on the wrong track - working people are struggling to pay their bills and get the health care that they need. Hundreds of working families in my district have voted for a new direction, and their voice cannot be ignored."

With just 11 votes separating the candidates, the Bennett campaign formally requested that the State Board of Elections impound all of the District's ballots and voting machines in order to ensure a proper and accurate vote count. Bennett's letter to the Board of Elections read in part:
I am writing to formally ask you to impound all machines and all ballots for all precincts in State Senate District 31. As of the writing of this letter, there are varying reports of the vote count in the Democratic Primary between myself and Erin Lynch.

Every citizen in our democracy deserves to have their vote counted and their voice heard.
"Regardless of the outcome, our grassroots campaign has always been about strengthening the voice of working people in Warwick," Bennett continued. "To that end, we will pursue all measures to ensure that every vote is counted."

Why I'm Running for Office

Dear Neighbor,

I have lived in Warwick for 53 years – my whole life. I live in Apponaug together with my wife Ann and our adopted daughter, Giana. I’ve worked in the health care field for more than 30 years – for the last seven as a registered nurse at Butler Hospital.

As you can tell, I’m not really a politician.

I’m a parent who is concerned about our schools and making sure our children get the best education possible. And I’m a nurse who wants more Rhode Islanders to get access to affordable, quality health care – especially our seniors.

We face lots of challenges in our state – like protecting the Narragansett Bay and all of its natural resources, protecting our community from the proposed airport expansion, and making sure that our families can keep up with the rising cost of living.

And that’s why I decided to run for State Senate: to be a voice for the changes that working families need. I respectfully ask for your vote in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 9.

I feel lucky to have grown up here in Warwick, and I hope we can work together to continue making our city and state a place that we are all proud to call home.

Sincerely,

David A. Bennett

PS – I hope to be able to talk with you face-to-face as I walk around the district in the coming weeks. Please feel free to call me anytime at (401) 737-0562 or email me directly at BennettForSenate31@gmail.com to let me know your concerns or ideas.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

More News from the Beacon

From today's Warwick Beacon:
David Bennett claims he couldn’t get the attention of the politicians; so now he’s decided to try to become one.

Bennett, a nurse at Butler Hospital, claims he couldn’t get in touch with former State Senator John Revens when the issue of mandatory overtime for nurses was circulating in the Senate. And when the School Committee decided to close three elementary schools earlier this year, he said his, and the public’s, input mattered little.

Now, he’s trying to do something about it.

In a Democratic Primary for the District 31 State Senate Seat, Bennett will challenge Erin Lynch, a local attorney, for the right to face Republican Tom Madden in the General Election in November.

“I think working families need better representation. I think all of these career politicians we supposedly have serving us have overlooked working families,” said Bennett.

[...Bennett] said his goal is to improve health care and education without increasing taxes on seniors...Bennett considers himself an outsider in the race; Lynch has the endorsement of the Democratic Committee, but he believes he has a good chance to win.

“I’ve really been getting a good reception from the people who I hope will become my constituents. People genuinely seem to think it’s time for an average guy to take office,” said Bennett.

If you're like me and you think that it is time for the hard-working families of our city to have a strong voice at the state house, please vote Bennett for Senate this coming Tuesday, September 9th!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Providence Journal Article

Today's write-up in the Providence Journal had this to say about my campaign:
One of the first things that Bennett likes to stress to people is that he is “not a politician.” He describes himself as a parent interested in education and a nurse who wants to see more Rhode Islanders have access to affordable health care.

Bennett said he would support legislative measures that help make living in Rhode Island generally more affordable. “The cost of living is going up and the quality of life is going down for our residents,” he said. “I’m worried because I know of elderly people who have to decide whether to put gas in their car, food on the table or fill their prescriptions.”

He said that as a nurse, he’s seen people risking their health by cutting their prescribed dosages in half to save money.

A graduate of Toll Gate High School, Bennett earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Rhode Island College before going back to school to become a registered nurse.

He said he is concerned about the environment and also about T.F. Green Airport’s impact on Warwick’s future. Since the Airport Corporation has not yet firmed up plans to expand, Bennett said, it’s not clear what roads and properties may be taken. As a result, he said, some people who live close to the airport are stymied when it comes to deciding how much to invest in improving their properties.

Are there other big issues that are important to you and your family? E-mail me at BennettForSenate31@gmail.com or call me at (401) 737-0562 and let me know!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Warwick Beacon Articles

Our campaign was mentioned in two recent articles in the Warwick Beacon. On July 3rd, the paper reported:
After State Senator John C. Revens - who had a near 40-year career in the General Assembly - announced he wouldn't be seeking re-election this year, five candidates have come forward to compete for the District 31 Senate Seat.

On the Democratic side, David Bennett, a nurse at Butler Hospital in Providence, will square off against three lawyers...The winner will go on to face [a Republican] in the General Election.

On Tuesday, Bennett, 53, took time out of collecting the necessary 100 signatures to answer questions. Bennett said he would run on a platform of finding ways to keep property taxes down, making health care more affordable and accessible, and fighting the potential airport expansion. He also said the state needs to budget its money more wisely.

"We need a comprehensive budget and it needs to be restructured. It has to be looked at from the perspective of working families," said Bennett…

"We've got problems in this state that won't allow us to sit back and wait for career politicians to fix them. They'll never get fixed that way, believe me," he said.
On July 22nd, after two of my opponents dropped out, the Beacon reported:
David Bennett, a nurse at Butler hospital on Providence’s East Side, said he was excited to be in the race.

"Everyone talks about the need for the average guy to step up and run. Well, that’s me. I’m the average guy. I’m not a politician, that’s for sure," said Bennett...

Bennett [...said he] would support initiatives to lower health care costs, improve education and become better stewards of the environment.
From going door-to-door, I know that my neighbors are ready for change, and ready for a voice that will stand up for working families. To help me get my message out to more of our neighbors, you can come by campaign headquarters and volunteer any evening or weekend - and please spread the word among your family and friends.
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