Dear neighbors,
Be curious. Give back. Be a part of the future you want to see. These are the values I was taught.
About Me
My grandfather, Leo Carriere, lost sight in one of his eyes at the age of 12. Faced with this setback, he looked to the future he wanted. And, with my uncle Normand and cousin Marc, they established Carriere’s Furniture on Eddie Dowling Highway and the shop on Avenue C. Their curiosity helped them become masters of their craft: high-quality, artisan furniture at reasonable prices for our community.
My father, Richard, became the first in the family to go to college. He married his Woonsocket high school sweetheart, bought a plot of land in North Smithfield, started a business, changed careers, has spent over twenty-five years in wealth management, and lives his life with an unfiltered curiosity to get to know anyone he meets and help them every way he can. My mom, Louise, raised three wonderful kids (unbiased opinion, of course) while also wearing the hats of tax preparer, leading volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of West Bay and Northern Rhode Island, and active member of her bowling league at Walnut Hill Bowling prior to COVID-19.
And me? Well, when I was in high school, the future seemed unlimited thanks to the rise of a true social technology: no, not TikTok, not Instagram, but the Nintendo Wii. I raised money to buy this system for the local nursing home next to us, and once a month, we would go and play games with the residents, swapping stories and helping them bowl a strike. Back then, giving back was as simple as being around others and letting them know they were heard.
After Clark University, I found my way to Washington, D.C. and met two loves I didn't expect: Robyn, my wife, and community organizing. I helped unionize my graduate work through one-on-one conversations that made one thing clear: regardless of background, we shared the same fears — wages that didn't cover rent, medical bills we couldn't afford, a future that felt out of reach. Later, as a Policy Advisor in Congress, I saw the same truth at a national scale: people with very different politics, all wanting a better future. We didn't always agree. But we talked, worked together, and got things done.
When my wife and I had the opportunity to move back home, it was a no-brainer. We were looking at what we wanted in our family’s future. We wanted a community that looks out for each other; neighbors who wave hello as you drive home, a community that comes out for high school sporting events, and that celebrates and mourns together. That community is what makes North Smithfield great, and that’s why we came home.
Now that I’m home, giving back means more than just being around others. It means finding places of community, collaboration, and clarity. That’s why I’ve joined statewide nonprofits, like Ocean State Chess Association, which led me to advise a Senior Project this past year at NSHS, and the Greater Rhode Island Labor and Employer Relations Association, which brings management, labor, and mediators together to grow a community focused on a prosperous, equitable workforce. I’ve built interactive budget tools so residents can see for themselves how decisions like the police bond affect our taxes.
So, what is my dream for North Smithfield’s future?
As a college professor, my job requires that I remain constantly curious. My job requires that I be able to say, “I don’t know, let me look into that and get back to you” – and then come to the next class and provide the best available answer. It means being able to be wrong. It means knowing that the answers I seek are more than likely out there in the world; I just need to listen.
I want…
… clean water in our schools, our teachers supported, and our students safe.
… a Town Council that empowers our police to enforce our town's laws to protect our environment, ensuring that no person or company is above the law.
… hard decisions made instead of being delayed, so we don't end up costing ourselves more money in the future as inflation increases, prices rise, grants run out, and we’re forced into rushed second-choice options.
… a Town Council that listens and says, “Okay, let me look into that and get back to you”, investigates, and then addresses the root cause of the problem.
… a town community that welcomes new homeowners and supports business growth through collaborative opportunities. I want a town that uses technology to centralize important, transparent information for its taxpayers.
… a town that makes it easier for families to stay together without worrying about being priced out of the town they love.
… a community that cares, comes together, and gives back.
