Dear Neighbor,

My name is Mark McKenney, and I represented Warwick’s District 30 as a Democrat in the Rhode Island Senate in 2019-2020. Warwick deserves to be well-represented. We need a Senator who supports reasonable, positive change, and works with others, a Senator who will help us move forward.

As I’ve been out of office recently, please allow me to re-introduce myself. I’m a Warwick guy. My desire to serve this community stems from my deep-rooted connection to it. My folks lived in Warwick when I was born. I’ve been here for most of my life.

I learned the value of hard work and public service from my parents. My dad, Dr. Bill McKenney, was a family practitioner - the GI Bill allowed him to go to college and then to medical school. He came from nothing, and always appreciated his good fortune in both surviving WWII and going on to become one of the first doctors at Kent Hospital. My mom, Mary Holton McKenney, had been a classroom teacher before her five kids arrived, and later worked in real estate while teaching CCD at St. Clements.

I was raised in Buttonwoods and went to Park School, Lockwood Junior High, and Bishop Hendricken. I held part-time jobs through school: paperboy, dishwasher, cook, busboy, bartender, waiter - which helped me learn the value of a dollar. I received my college degree from Boston College (with a year studying at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England) and my law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington. 

While I enjoyed my experiences in these wonderful places, I always knew I’d come home. Rhode Island is where I wanted to start a career and raise a family. After marrying an East Providence teacher, Tricia Cronin (my wisest deed), we moved to Warwick in 1986.  Our kids all went to public schools and played in the city’s sports leagues. Over time, we went to St. Rita’s in Oakland Beach, Sts. Rose & Clement, and St. Greg’s. Following in their mom’s footsteps, both of our daughters became educators; Caitlin teaches English at Davies Voc and Cara is an art teacher at Pilgrim. Dan, our youngest, works for a technology company. He returned from Brooklyn during COVID, and now works from home, here in Rhode Island. 

As an attorney, I’ve been an advocate for many Rhode Islanders. I helped reform our state’s broken workers’ compensation system - working with labor and business leaders and insurance companies. I’ve represented Rhode Island businesses, cities and towns, and injured workers.  In one of cases I’m most proud of, I represented a two-year old whose father was killed while on the job. We obtained a good result for the boy. We couldn’t replace his dad, but did what we could to help him out.

I have served in many volunteer roles - President of Literacy Volunteers of America - RI, Chair of the State Library Board, President of the Providence Community Library.  I gained as much satisfaction from those endeavors as any achievements in my professional career.

Throughout my life, I’ve taken great pride in my ability to work with others to solve complex problems. I’ve always believed in public service - giving back to people who helped lift me up along the way. That’s why I’m looking to be your state Senator, representing the great people of Warwick once again.  I want to give back to this community. I believe I have a skill set that enables me, as your Senator, to help fix problems and bring about positive change. I’m running again because we need to do more than make noise; we need to make actual progress. There’s work to do. We need to get our act together in Rhode Island.

I understand the negativity. Too often, our politics is bitter and divisive. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If we are to change our state for the better, we have to end that. We can do better.

I’ll look for common ground with folks who disagree with me, or have competing interests. I’ll try to understand their perspective. I can work with people and do it with civility and humor. Sure, there will be difficulties, but solutions can be found, and a reasonable way forward achieved. I’ll fight for issues that are important to me, and to the people of Warwick.

Right now, inflation has made the cost of living much more difficult for Rhode Islanders. I would not only suspend the state gas tax, but would consider a tax rebate to citizens.

On education, we can do better. Rhode Island schools were in crisis before COVID hit (recall the scathing Providence school report). And the pandemic didn’t help. In 2019, my Senate vote helped pass reforms modeled after Massachusetts, aimed at raising academic standards, improving curriculum, enhancing school self-governance and mandating local accountability. I pushed for Civics and Financial Literacy to be required, too. But that was just a start.

What else? Let’s get Universal Pre-K into law. Once it’s implemented, it could make a huge difference, especially later in life (better graduation rates, less incarceration, higher employment and earning levels). Developed countries around the world provide instruction for children starting at age 3 … why not Rhode Island? Also, I’ve seen the impressive new East Providence High School. A child walking into a state-of-the-art school gets the message - education is a priority. Warwick deserves 21st century schools. The state should help make that happen.

Rhode Island’s ranking for business-friendliness is pathetic. Small businesses had a tough time during the pandemic. I know - I have a small business. We need to improve and modernize services so small businesses can thrive. We shouldn’t be 47th in anything. Also, business-friendly is worker-friendly. Let’s support college, but also training for trades!

Let’s give a break to our citizens who most deserve it: seniors and veterans. Our state is in the minority of states that taxes Social Security and veterans’ pensions. I’ll work to stop that.

I’ll continue to speak out, as this campaign unfolds. Warwick is fortunate: the Senate Majority Leader and House Speaker live here; I’ll work with them to try improve our situation. I’ll listen, too. My personal cell number is on my flyers. I’d been told I’d regret that, but I’ve found folks to be respectful. I follow the same rule I do in my professional life – I make every effort to respond by the next business day. Please contact me at 401-578-6258 or McKenney4Senate@gmail.com.

I’m accessible, and I work with the team. Let’s move Warwick forward!

Sincerely,

Mark McKenney

Former Senator, Warwick District 30