WUN QUESTIONS

Below are my submitted responses to questions from the What'sUp Newp.   The final published responses may have been edited by What'sUp Newp.

 

 

What’sUpNewp Candidate Questionnaire

 

Name: see below candidate profile

Occupation: see below candidate profile

Bio: see below candidate profile

RESPONSES: see below:

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE
Hugo J DeAscentis

Candidate – Newport City Council – Ward One

 

Lifelong Newport Resident

Attended Newport Public Schools K-12

Graduate University of Rhode Island 1976 – BA Biology

Career in the Sciences:

Laboratory Supervisor - Newport Water Department

Supervisor Water Plant Operations – Providence Water

Current – RI Level 2 Drinking Water System Assessor

Current – Water System Operations Instructor CCRI/Workforce partnerships 

Previous elected office -  Newport School Committee, serving 13 years ending 2010.

Personal – married to Sheila DeAscentis former Newport Public Schools

Elementary Special Education aid.

Raised 3 sons  all attending Newport Public School k-12.

Community - Former President Coggeshall Elementary School PTO

Former Newport Little league team manager (People’s Credit Union)

Former parent volunteer Newport recreation Department Youth Soccer Coach.

Parishioner St Joseph Church

Tell us something fun or interesting about yourself:

RESPONSE: Interesting – My children, myself, my parents, my grandparents, and my great grandparents all lived in the City of Newport.  My children, myself, and my parents all attended Newport Pubilc schools and all graduated from Rogers High School classes of 1945,1972, 2006, 2008, 2010.

 

Rank the following issues from most to least important (ok to put numbers on the right):

RESPONSE: Below issues re-ranked relative to what I believe is currently most important relative to the needs of the City of Newport. (not a value to value comparison of the listed issues)

1. This survey’s listed #9 as “other” I will post as my #1 – asset protection, Improvements are needed in building and asset protection. Newport needs to maintain what it already has.Any existing building (or asset) should last many generations.Examples new construction at Easton Beach after Hurricane Bob and the Rogers High School after the “window walls” renovation of the 1990’s . These should have lasted for many generations.
2. Affordable housing - Currently Newport housing is unobtainably high for the average worker.This needs to be addressed to maintain a diverse community.
3. Economy/inflation -Very serious issue.Again housing costs are difficult for the average worker and in particular for first time home buyers.This especially applies to our young residents trying to remain in Newport.
4. Crime/safety – Newport residents should have a high comfort level of safety within their own community.
5. Ethics – Generally, Newport’s elected official have always been long term local members of the community and are well known by the local community and therefore trustworthy.
6. Increasing density – can be controlled by zoning and development regs and on the plus side Newport has many nice parks.
7. Equity – As a former member of the Newport School Committee my sense has always been that Newport does this well.
8. Environmental protection – Regulated by RIDEM.Newport is much improved since implementation of regs of 1970’s.
9. Historic preservation – Newport does well

 

What are the biggest problems facing Newport right now?

RESPONSE: As stated above, I believe the most critical issues for Newport (and many other cities and towns) is affordable housing and the economy.  In particular, our young people will experience a high cost of maintaining a mortgage leaving little left for other expenditures.  The will result in an overall lower standard of living and a less comfortable retirement.

 

What's your top policy priority?

RESPONSE: Newport needs a stronger program to help maintain rather than replace its building and infrastructure. (such as we are now seeing with Rogers High School and Easton beach).

 

What qualifies you to be elected?

RESPONSE: Everyone who is classified as a qualified elector can run for pubic office

I previously served 13 years as an elected member of the Newport School Committee.  I have a great deal of experience and yes of course experience is always beneficial. I also have a strong knowledge of municipal operations. I believe in continued learning and research where needed. I believe it is imperative to connect the residents to their local government.  It is also important to be a good listener and have the ability to relay this information to our local residents.

 

What's the city's biggest long-term challenge?

RESPONSE: I would say asset protection needs improvement.  As examples, our residents recently learned that their high school and beach facilities need to be replaced. 

 

What is Newport's greatest strength, and how would you utilize it?

RESPONSE: Newport is a city with all the character of a city.  It greatest strength is comes with its size.  It is a small city and therefore more manageable.  There is no need for large scale programs.  There is no need for layers of administrators, department heads etc. In addition, its small size gives it an ability to respond more quickly and efficiently to its resident’s needs.  

Also, there are number of natural features I would hope to see continually maintained and improved.  Including Easton Beach (needs attention), cliff walk (needs attention), ocean drive, and of course Newport’s world class harbor.

 

What ideas do you have to make the City more affordable and/or livable for its residents?

RESPONSE: The city has become more affordable with the recent “owner occupied” residential tax reduction. This was a very long term effort but residents are finally able to see this tax reduction beginning with this year’s tax bills. 

Also, as previously mentioned, Newport needs improvements in maintaining its current buildings and assets.  Proper building maintenance will prevent the need the major (new) bonds to completely rebuild our existing structures.  Some examples are RHS and Easton Beach.

 

How can the city raise the revenue needed to fund the list of large infrastructure projects that need funding now and in the near future?

RESPONSE: This issue is more of doing a better job of maintaining our buildings.  Consider that the Rogers High School project is a replacement of and not a new structure added to inventory. Approx 4 million was invested in RHS in the 1990s to replace the deteriorating original walls with new more durable and more efficient “window walls”.  This renovation should have lasted many more years.

Easton Beach is a replacement of and not a new structure added to inventory.  The rebuilding of the beach after hurricane Bob should also have lasted many more years.

Keep in mind that frequent $200,000,000.00 bonds (that’s 200 million) for a city of Newport’s population size (less than 25,000) is unsustainable.

Good leadership is imperative as Newport can fail economically.

 

What should be done about climate change in the City?

RESPONSE: Any reversals will need to take place through world wide efforts.  However, the City of Newport should have a RMP (risk management plan) and ERP (emergency response plan).  These should have guiding documents for prevention as well as disaster preparedness and disaster response.

 

Anything else you’d like to share:

RESPONSE: Yes, A thank you to WUN for the opportunity to detail my candidacy for City of Newport’s Ward One Newport City Council election and let me end by stating my belief developed over many years as an elected member of the Newport School Committee:

All concerns are important

All votes are important

 

Hugo J DeAscentis Jr.

Newport City Council Candidate - Ward One

hdeasc@gmail.com

https://www.hugodeascentisnewportcitycouncil.com/home