MEET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Click on the officials below to learn more about how they are delivering results for our community.
STATE SENATE
VICTORIA GU
District 38
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
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SAMUEL A. AZZINARO
District 37
BRIAN PATRICK KENNEDY
District 38
TOWN COUNCIL
KEVIN
LOWTHER
MARY SCIALABBA
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
DIANE
CHIARADIO
BOWDY
ROB
CILLINO
LESLIE
DUNN
GIUSEPPE
GENCARELLI
MIKE OBER
SENATOR VICTORIA GU
District 38
Victoria Gu is a Democrat representing District 38 (Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) in the Rhode Island Senate. Sen. Gu was elected to the Senate in November 2022. She has a lengthy history of community service and advocacy and previously served as chair of Charlestown's Climate Resiliency Commission.
In her first term in the Senate, she helped pass the RI shoreline access law in 2023; passed her bill, the Act on Coasts, to prepare for sea level rise and climate change; and advocated for reforming the Coastal Resources Management Council.
Senator Gu also successfully advocated for healthcare funding (doubling Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services in order to keep local providers financially solvent), mental health funding (enabling Medicaid reimbursement for school social workers and school psychologists), and housing affordability (improving short-term rental regulation and enabling more homeowners to have accessory dwelling units, also called “in-law units”).
The daughter of immigrants from China, Sen. Gu grew up in South Kingstown. She is a graduate of South Kingstown High School and Harvard University. She works as a software engineer and data analyst, and now resides in Westerly.
Sen. Gu can be reached at (401) 388-0696 and sen-gu@rilegislature.gov.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUEL A. AZZINARO
District 37
Samuel A. Azzinaro (D) has served the residents of District 37 in Westerly since first being elected in November 2008. He is the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and also serves as a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee, the House Rules Committee and the House Special Legislation Committee.
During the 2021 legislative session, Chairman Azzinaro continued to focus on the health and well-being of Rhode Island’s veterans. He sponsored a new law allowing the director of Veterans' Services to appoint an administrator for the RI Veterans’ Home who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces. He was also the sponsor of another new law which allows business vehicles which are owned by a veteran entity, and is registered and authorized to conduct business in the state of Rhode Island, to register such business vehicles with veteran plates.
He chaired a commission which led to the 2020 dedication and unveiling of a new memorial to the nine Rhode Island Marines who were killed in the 1983 Beirut bombing attack. The memorial is located along the Providence River.
In 2019, he was also honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with the group’s Legislative Award due to his consistent and tireless advocacy for veterans’ issues at the State House.
He was also instrumental in creating the Westerly Higher Education and Job Skills Center. He helped to develop the concept for the center, obtain the funding, and secured partnerships with colleges and businesses, which is training individuals in high skilled manufacturing jobs.
Representative Azzinaro previously served for 12 years on the Westerly Town Council, including four years as its President.
He served in the National Guard for four years, and was a member of the Army Reserve for four years, including two years of active duty. He was a Staff Sergeant E6.
Representative Azzinaro was born in 1943. He is a retired textile worker, business owner and carpenter, and resides in Westerly with his wife, Carol. They have five children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PATRICK KENNEDY
District 38
In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to have steady, experienced leadership at the State House. Brian Patrick Kennedy is a Westerly resident who has been honored to serve the people in the 38th District for 32 years in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He is Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, the Dean of the House and the past Chairman of the House Committee on Corporations. Brian is a member of the House Rules Committee, the House Committee on Oversight and the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Brian is the owner of Kennedy Realty & Appraisal in Ashaway. He was educated in the Chariho Regional School district and received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major from Providence College. Brian is an active member of many state and local community organizations including the RI Academic Decathlon and the Cox Charitable Foundation.
Brian has been a champion in the phase-out of the motor vehicle excise tax which has helped save Westerly residents over $1.8 million in local property taxes thus far. In addition, Brian sponsored legislation that was enacted into law that allowed Westerly to increase the property tax exemptions for veterans and widows of veterans, while increasing the holdings of the Westerly Public Library.
Brian is the sponsor of numerous consumer protection laws including consumer privacy of personal information, tighter regulation of credit reporting agencies and placing consumer protections on non-regulated power suppliers to protect RI residents who choose an alternative electricity supplier. He authored the law that mandates that gift cards and gift certificates cannot have an expiration date in RI and also prevents businesses from charging monthly fees to deplete the value of the gift card.
Brian sponsored the law to allow telemedicine in the State to provide RI citizens with greater access to healthcare providers, which has been utilized during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brian also authored the Pharmacy Freedom of Choice law that allows you to choose who you want to fill your prescriptions. During his time of service, he has authored numerous insurance laws that benefit our military, homeowners and the business community, including providing consumers with plain and simple disclosure of homeowner insurance deductibles for storm-related damage. Brian also worked to pass legislation for oversight of the COPAR quarry in Bradford and is a strong advocate for the people in his legislative district. Real Action, Real Results and Always Fighting on YOUR Behalf.
KEVIN J. LOWTHER II
Town Council
Kevin J. Lowther II grew up in Westerly and graduated from Westerly High School in 2000. After graduating from West Point in 2004, he had a distinguished 13-year career as Army Engineer Officer including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as service in Korea, Egypt, Kuwait and Germany.
In 2006 he was awarded the Bronze Star medal for actions in combat in Baghdad. After his army career, he worked as a construction project manager in Miami. He returned to Westerly in 2019 to begin a career in music and has been nationally recognized for his modern take on the violin, performing as Big Lux.
He is a co-founder of the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition and a member of the Westerly Planning Board. He earned a B.S. from West Point and MBA from the University of Miami.
MARY SCIALABBA
Town Council
Hello, Westerly! My name is Mary Scialabba, and 1 am proud to call this beautiful town my home for nearly two decades. As someone deeply invested in our community, I am honored to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Westerly Town Council.
I dedicate my time to being involved in various aspects of our town. I value the importance of the health and wellness of our neighbors and strive to be the neighbor and friend that those know they can count on. I stay up to date on certificate programs such as Suicide Prevention training to ensure I can provide the best possible support to the community.
Mental health advocacy has been a driving force in my community involvement during my term. I spearheaded the opening of Westerly’s first mental health resource center and I am happy to announce our first-year anniversary is upon us. Together with Chief Gingerella, Westerly Chief of Police, we reopened the substation in the North End to provide additional space for our Mental Health Professionals to assist Westerly. Together with local non-profits and community volunteers we are committed to bring resources to all of our neighbors.
Known for my compassion and dedication to every Westerly resident, I advocate for transparency in our town government. I believe that everyone deserves a voice. I am committed to justice and take on challenges with a sense of responsibility to uphold the best for our town. I believe in the beauty of Westerly and its potential as a place for families and our workforce to thrive. With all this in mind, I am thrilled to seek re-election to the Westerly Town Council. I am eager to continue serving our community and working towards a brighter future for Westerly.
I hold multiple undergraduate degrees from Johnson and Wales University in Providence and a Master's Degree in Finance from Sacred Heart University. I also have my CNA license and certificates in Mental Health Suicide Prevention. I have been the President of the Crossroads Condominium Association since 2012 and an active member of The Westerly Armory, The Westerly Historical Society, and The Greater North End Community Development, Inc. I am a member of Christ Episcopal Church and I also started a neighborhood watch with two other condominium associations near me. My engagement extends to statewide initiatives like the Rhode Island Parity Initiative, where I work closely with the State Insurance Commission for Mental Health. Previously, I contributed to local governance through my roles on The Joint Committee Plastics Utilization and Commerce, the Economic Development Committee and the Health and Wellness Committee for the Town of Westerly. The last few years I have held many town halls regarding mental health education. I will continue to fight for proper health (mental), and wellness (physical) for all.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to the journey ahead!
Diane Chiaradio Bowdy is a lifelong resident of Westerly and hold a Master's Degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has two children, a son and a daughter, who both graduated from Westerly High School. For over 25 years, Diane has been very active in serving our community's youth athletic programs as a member of Westerly National Little League, Westerly Pee Wee Football, and Westerly Youth Basketball League. She has been employed at Electric Boat in Groton for 20 years, currently as a Specialist Program Representative. Prior to EB, Diane spent 14 years in various positions at the former Analysis & Technology, Inc. in North Stonington, CT.
The combination of Diane's education, career experience and dedication to the development of our youth has ensured a positive contribution to the Westerly School Committee over the past 8 years. During this time, she served as the Chairperson of the School Committee for 3.5 years, and continues to serve as the Chairperson of the Health and Wellness Subcommittee of the School Committee. This subcommittee addresses, in general, student physical, emotional and mental health issues and makes recommendations to the School Committee and Administration on ways to ensure student success.
Diane's most pressing objective is improvement of Westerly Public Schools facilities. This will encompass buildings, grounds and fields, and will require strategic investment of operating, capital and bond funds. In order to ensure success we have to bring together not only the Town Council and School Committee, but also all other community stakeholders with one objective—providing facilities that will foster student achievement for years to come while also being responsible custodians of our community’s budgetary resources.
Diane has served the community well and supported all stakeholders of Westerly Public Schools. She looks forward to working with her teammates in continuing to serve our district and our community.
ROBERT CILLINO
School Committee
A life-long resident of Westerly, he is the son of Barbara (Carlesi) Cillno and the late Romeo (Junie) Cillino. Rob attended Westerly Public Schools and graduated from Westerly High School. He went on to obtain a BA from the University of Rhode Island, an MS in Elementary Education from the University of New Haven, and a 6th Year in Administration from Sacred Heart University.
Rob is well-versed in curriculum, understanding data, teaching and learning, and union issues. He began his teaching career in the Waterford Public School System in Waterford, CT where he still works today. He worked as a classroom teacher for thirteen years before moving to his current position as an Instructional Specialist in mathematics which he has held for the past six years. He has worked at both the elementary and the middle school level. This past year, his middle school was recognized by the Connecticut State Department of Education for the excellence growth demonstrated in mathematics. This involved a visit from the state talent office and Rob was invited to present on his school’s math program at the CSDE Performance Matters Workshop. In his tenure in Waterford, he has been very active in leadership roles including: writing curriculum, mentoring new teachers, training student teachers, being a member of the district’s data analysis team, a member of the district’s professional development team, and has been on various hiring teams. He also serves as the Teaching Assistant Principal for his building. Rob has also served as a union steward for several years and has twice served on the negotiations team for his union.
Rob lives in Westerly with his wife Kerri (Felicelli), and children Rocco (URI freshman), Nina (WHS junior), and Sofia (WMS 8th grade). He served as a volunteer firefighter in the Westerly Fire Department for 16 years and is a member of the Mount Carmel Feast Committee and the Calabrese Club. He looks forward to using his knowledge to help the Westerly School System continue to move forward in order to provide the best education possible for the children of Westerly.
LESLIE DUNN
School Committee
Leslie Dunn moved to Westerly at the age of 6 years old. She attended Westerly Public Schools and is a 2010 WHS graduate. From a young age Leslie has been active in the community, volunteering at events, participating in clubs/orgs, interning and working with local businesses and always returning to support local initiatives.
It is essential to do more than just talk about the issues affecting our communities; in the past few years it has become very important for Leslie to align herself with action-based initiatives and stay involved in discussions that will affect underrepresented communities and individuals. As a founding member of Westerly Anti-Racism Leslie continues to advocate for advancing the conversation around embracing diversity throughout the community.
A large part of why she does the work she does is her desire to see more diversity in the community and representation in schools, town offices, government positions and business ownership. Leslie is motivated by the hope that if the small community of Westerly can make changes there's so much more that can be done on a larger scale to effect change.
Leslie was elected to the Westerly School Committee in 2022. She is committed to seeing the district build and maintain a welcoming, supportive environment that upholds the mission to help every student reach their level of success.
GIUSEPPE GENCARELLI
School Committee
Giuseppe Gencarelli is a lifelong Westerly resident and graduate of Westerly High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of RI, a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of New Haven, and a 6th year degree in administration from Sacred Heart University. Giuseppe is married to Paula Gencarelli and has two children, Joseph and Julia, who both attend Westerly High School.
Giuseppe has been in education for a total of 21 years. He started his career as a classroom teacher in Waterford, CT; after 11 years he became principal at Hope Valley Elementary School in the Chariho Regional School District and has held that position for the past 10 years. During his tenure in Waterford and Chariho, Giuseppe grew as a teacher and school leader, and with his recent administration experience, he is fully prepared and ready to assume the responsibilities of becoming a Westerly School Committee member. As a life-long educator, Giuseppe will bring a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience to the Westerly School Committee. He will advocate for high quality education with a focus on delivering expert instruction. He understands the complexities and nuances that teachers face, especially in today’s world, and he will always make decisions with the students’ best interest in mind.
Giuseppe’s four-part educational vision is:
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To inspire and motivate teachers, students, families, and community members to maximize their full potential as educators, scholars, parents, and be valuable members of our society.
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To provide a safe, orderly, and secure learning environment while keeping our children’s social-emotional health a top priority.
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To develop positive global citizens.
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To be a supportive member of the Westerly School Committee who will help make decisions that will benefit ALL students.
MICHAEL OBER
School Committee
Michael Ober lives on Sherwood Drive in Westerly with his wife, Tammy, and his two sons, Zachary and Nathaniel. Michael has worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services for the last 30 years. He currently serves as a representative to the Department of Social Services Statewide Reopening Workgroup.
Michael earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2012. He was a member of the Westerly School Committee from 1998-2004 and served as Chairman of the Capital Overview Committee from 1999-2004. During Michael’s tenure on the School Committee a new Superintendent was hired, the position of Technology Director was created to improve technological platforms and applications and academic performance improved across the board. Westerly High School was renovated to a campus setting with expansion to Babcock Hall, and the Westerly Middle School was constructed.
As Chair of the Capital Overview Committee, Michael worked diligently to focus on infrastructure maintenance. Michael was a volunteer for Westerly Youth Soccer. He has served as a member of the Westerly Public Schools Policy Subcommittee and as Vice Chair of The Town of Westerly’s Board of Finance. Michael is currently Vice Chair of the Westerly Municipal Land Trust and is experienced in natural resource management. He has a comprehensive understanding of Westerly Public Schools and budgeting processes. Michael’s recent experience in creating reopening policy documents for public organizations will also prove a valuable resource for the Westerly School Committee.
