Experience, It's Important

If your car breaks down. . .  you go to a mechanic.

If you are sick. . .  you see a doctor.

If you need a root canal. . .  do you ask your neighbor to do it?

When you are selecting someone to represent you, don't you deserve the person with real, practical, relevant experience?  

After graduating from Carleton College in 1993 with a degree in Political Science, I moved to Beijing, China where I worked for a Cranston company selling offset printing presses.  The contacts I made with that job led me to start my first business.  At 24 I started Asia America Corp., LLC.  My clients included a R.I. lobster company for which I sold lobsters in South Korea and the seafood division of Pillsbury for which I sourced suppliers of shrimp and scallops in China.

I came to realize that living and working in Asia was not what I wanted to do long term.  I moved back to Coventry at 26, met my future wife and decided to go to law school.  

I've been practicing law for 20 years and am licensed in four jurisdictions (R.I., MA, Fed. Ct. of Claims and Fed. Dist. Ct. for R.I.).  After two decades you can't help but have a wealth of experiences.  I've argued before the R.I. Supreme Court multiple times, served as the Town Prosecutor and represented clients in all manner of cases.  I've worked with, and against Town Councils, zoning and planning boards statewide.  The majority of my legal experience has been in general practice, real estate and real estate litigation.  I've been contacted and quoted by legal publications for my opinion on cases of interest.  

In 2013 I was presented with the opportunity to take over Coventry Pines Golf Course.  Back then the course was in fairly terrible shape, an embarrassment to the Town and my family.  I am proud to say that with a lot of love, dedication and work the course is once again an asset drawing thousands of people to our community. 

So how does this relate to the Town Council?   Being a general practice attorney is all about understanding and solving problems. . . big problems.  People don't hire attorneys to solve small problems.  An attorney's first step with any client is to understand their problem as well as they do.   Only then can you understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of their position.   Next you need the knowledge and experience to strategize a solution.  Without relevant knowledge and experience it is impossible to chart a path forward.  Equally important is having the knowledge, experience and wisdom to know when you are not the best person to help your client.  As applied to the Town Council, this means understanding when to bring in expert assistance and how to compare a problem or opportunity Coventry may have with how other communities have addressed a similar issue.  

My experience as a business owner has introduced me to another diverse set of problems.  Running a business is nothing but overcoming problems and obstacles that stand in the way of  growth and success.  Regulations, endless taxes and fees, insurance, maintenance and employment issues, are all things you can count on dealing with, coupled with figuring out how to move forward and grow, all while handling the inevitable, unexpected setbacks.  What many don't realize is that being on the Town Council is an unequal balance of dealing with the known, expected day-to-day problems, mixed with the unknown, unforeseen problems (who foresaw COVID or an extortion attempt for the use of Johnsons Pond?).  

Finally, the experience gained from marriage and raising two children in this community can't be forgotten.  I love my awesome wife, but that doesn't mean 23 years of marriage with two kids hasn't taken some work and taught me a few things.  I understand the problems facing residents of this Town.  I live, work and raised a family here.  I've had my personal issues with Town government and the School Department, I pay taxes and get to stare at wind turbines from my backyard.  I know what you want from your town government, it's what I want too.

I have zero political aspirations.  I have no interest in running for higher office.  I am not a politician.  I would appreciate the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience to serve this community.  The choice is yours.