To volunteer on Mike’s campaign or to put up a yard sign, please contact Mike at 401.601.2800 or DoneganForEG@gmail.com
To volunteer on Mike’s campaign or to put up a yard sign, please contact Mike at 401.601.2800 or DoneganForEG@gmail.com
Why I Am Running
I have lived in East Greenwich for over 25 years and know East Greenwich to be an excellent place in which to live and raise a family. My wife (Dr. Linda Donegan) and I have raised five children here who have all gone through the public schools. Our youngest just completed his Sophomore year at East Greenwich High School. Our entire lives center around East Greenwich. Like many of you, I am distressed at the current path upon which we find ourselves and the tenor of acrimony in our community. We need to do better.
I believe that I have the experience and skills necessary to bring people together and to work with our officials, employees and neighbors in carrying out the business of good and open local government. By listening to people and working together, there is no doubt in my mind that we can find a civil and reasonable path forward – one that addresses the needs and fiscal challenges that are common to all local governments, while providing our residents with the schools, services and excellent local government that we expect. We can bring positive change to East Greenwich and, with your help, that is what I plan to do.
About Mike
- Resides in East Greenwich with wife Dr. Linda Donegan
- Five children through EG Public Schools (one rising Junior remains)
- Education: Dartmouth College (B.A.) and University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)
- Attorney, Orson & Brusini, Ltd.
- Chairman, East Greenwich Planning Board (Third term)
- Former two-term Member, East Greenwich Conservation Commission
- Coach, EGHS Debate Team
- Coach, EGHS Model United Nations Club
- Former Coach, Cole Middle School Mock Trial Team (6 yrs.)
Key Issues
- We need to reestablish an ethical open government that is engaged with residents and values their input. We should not indemnify Council Members or our Town Manager for “knowing and willful” violations of the ethical laws. I will open up our government, insure that we run it ethically and hold all of us accountable.
- Our schools are the gem in our community and the primary reason that most residents moved to East Greenwich in the first place. Their reputation is also the single largest factor driving our home values. I will support our students and our schools, while making sure that our money is well spent and that our schools continue to improve.
- I will work to develop fiscally responsible budgets that do not rely on plundering our vital capital reserves to run our day-to-day government, which is what we have been doing. These reserves are necessary to maintain our bond rating and to address emergencies and unanticipated expenses that we have seen arise all too often.
- We need to lessen the tax burden on our residents by driving significant non-tax revenue. Managing our budgets responsibly is a given and is absolutely necessary, but we also need to increase revenue significantly beyond that raised by simply taxing the residents. I will work to implement these initiatives.
- The financial challenges that we face largely result from State law and impact all RI communities. I will work with the State to address our structural financial issues resulting from these State laws.
- We have five union contracts expiring next year. We need to negotiate better contracts with employees that are both financially reasonable to the taxpayers and fair to our employees. I will work with labor experts in these negotiations to avoid the highly-publicized errors of the past and to achieve these goals.
- Our community is fortunate enough to have many seniors who have great experience, talent and commitment to our community. We need to actively engage our seniors as a resource and also make sure that they have the services that they need and deserve.
- Over these past two years, we have seen a level of acrimony and mistrust that has fractured our community. This was completely unnecessary. We can manage our affairs and the financial challenges common to all RI communities civilly, responsibly and together. I will work hard to restore our trust and sense of community.
- Our community “Brand” has been significantly damaged over these last two years by: (1) Catastrophizing our financial issues (issues common to all RI communities) and creating the false narrative that we are bankrupt; (2) refusing to properly fund our schools; and (3) repeatedly violating the laws around ethics and open government. It takes a lifetime to build a reputation, but only a moment to destroy it. I believe we still have time. Together, we can reverse course and restore our values and community. That is what I plan to do.
Get In Touch
Feel free to contact me on my cell phone at 401.601.2800 or by email at DoneganForEG@gmail.com.
