Letter: In Support of Gary Cote for Town Council
By David Florio
My name is David Florio and I have lived in Coventry since 1982. I joined the Juvenile Hearing Board and was the Chairman from 1990-2000. I was the Democratic Town Chairman from 1994-2006. During that time many things were accomplished. Democrats established the Senior Tax Freeze, protected the environment, made our schools into some of the best in the state, and protected our quality of life. This was our platform during my term as chairman.
Democrats established the Juvenile Hearing Board which was a huge cause of mine since I was a Probation and Parole Officer and Supervisor. The Democratic majority worked with Republicans to enable our town to have a No Tax Residential Property Freeze. The same council financed school needs by $1.2 million without affecting the tax rate, and they created the Traffic Calming Commission to slow neighborhood traffic. They helped disabled tax payers meet their financial obligations to the town. They created Coventry's first Tax Amnesty Program to help hard-working, struggling taxpayers. They kept a greater level of town services while holding steady on taxes. These are facts!
It is also a fact that we are struggling with pension benefits due to the generous pensions given by the Council in 1986, when the Democrats were not in the majority! I've been reading a lot about the Democrats and supposed back room deals by a candidate who moved from District 2 to a home in District 4 approximately six months ago. He is a wealthy business man. He was a Democrat and at one time was actually fund-raising chair. Now he is an Independent, supported by the Republicans and is running against Town Council President Gary Cote, a Democrat.
Gary is a hardworking truck driver who has lived in this town and my neighborhood his entire life. He's a great neighbor, is approachable and straight forward. He is President of the Anthony Fire Board. We in the Anthony Fire District fortunately due not have the same issues as in other Fire Districts thanks to Gary's leadership.
Gary is honest and he knows how to read a spreadsheet. Hence no tax increase. He has helped many people, including his wife and granddaughter who have overcome major illnesses over the past year. His daughter, Diana was our son's babysitter. We trust Gary, his judgement and his family. Isn't that what neighbors do?
THE ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST GARY COTE HAS IS YOU! THE PERSON WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT 4, COVENTRY, R.I.
Fred Garvy
11:23 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I have a questions.
Regarding the 1986 contract statement. If the Dems have been in control since around 1988 and all of the employee contracts are re-negotiated every 3 years since then, why did it take 21 years to change the generous language?
You said " Gary helped disabled tax payers meet their financial obligations to the town". Is this in reference to changing the qualifications of the disability tax freeze so now only 1 household member instead of 2 needs to be disabled in order to freeze their property taxes?
Is this the same ordinance that failed to add an income qualifier and freezes the property taxes of someone on a very lucrative tax free disability pension from the state regardless if their spouse is still working and ignores their yearly combined income exceeding 100K?
Some of Coventry's residents are truly in dire straights, and this ordinance will surely help them. Too bad it lacks for any financial measure to control those who will abuse this benefit leaving the rest of us to make up the difference in our own tax bills.
mad hatter
4:15 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
gee david, politically biased much?? your tenure also helped to give us some of the highest taxes in the state.
Fred Garvy
10:11 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A letter of support like this may cost cote more votes than he pics up
david florio
8:44 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Well I guess you people were both wrong !!! Gary's Cote's interest like all the candidates I supported had only the interest of the Coventry residents at heart. The voters agreed and Gary won despite the best efforts to outspend his campaign by his independant opposition supported by the GOP, and despite the so called non partisan election pushed by the last GOP Council. By the way, which party had no tax increase last year and which council president had to push for pension reform 2 days ago ? Gary Cote. His only special interest is you.
Fred Garvy
1:23 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dave,
This is Rhode Island not Fantasy Island. Coventry was mentioned along side West Warwick as being on the verge of $$ disaster. But that doesnt matter to you Dave, you have your pension and frozen taxes while the rest of pay full boat plus increases.
If you think over spending, and giving colas while the rest of the state is dropping them is in the best interest of the Coventry residents, you may want to regulate your meds. Gary should have pushed pension reform 2 years ago cuz it was just as bad then. You and your party have controlled it for 26 out of the last 28 years. To act like its some sort of suprise makes you look foolish Dave. You are way smarter, You are Wicked Smart!!
david florio
5:41 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Well ,Mr. Bin Laden, you have spoken about me enough. I will now defend myself. Yes I retired in May 2008 after 30 years of state service. At the time I was running the Sex Offender Unit, Prison Rape Elimination Act Unit , Adult Parole, and the Safe Streets Unit- Mob Unit. I was on call 24-7 , supervised 16 probation and parole officers and I did alot of work with Chief Brian Volpe and the other 38 police depts. My one goal was no further victimization of child or adults and during my tenure not one offender perpertauated on a child. I was also a adult probation and parole officer before I became a supervisor. I had many people on probation and parole. Maybe someone you know. The point is did you ever think maybe I did not want to retire? Maybe I retired for health reasons. I did not take a medical retirement but I did have quadrupple by pass last year . For you to judge me and my motives is truly wrong. Sir, you know know nothing about me and my situation . My health and my situation is none of your affair. You are the foolish one sir. Because you have no clue of what I did as a career and the lengths I went to pursue my mission of public safety .It almost killed me! Maybe that's what a teaparty person like yourself wants. People like me dead! Well it is not happening. And remember Gary Cote's only special interest is you!