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Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera is supposed to be term-limited in 2028, but there’s a movement underway to change the rules so she can run for a third four-year term leading Rhode Island’s smallest city.
The Central Falls Charter Review Commission voted last night to begin the process of adding a question to next year’s ballot to amend the city charter to “set a lifetime limit of 12 years for service as mayor.”
The current charter has a "loophole" that allows a mayor to serve eight years, sit out a term, and then serve another eight years in perpetuity.
"If the voters decide next year that they want to update our term-limit structure and I am given the opportunity to run again for this office, I will absolutely put my name forward to continue serving as mayor of Central Falls,” Rivera said in a statement. “I love this city, and I want to see our important work all the way through.”
The bigger picture: It’s a clever legal and public relations maneuver to sell the proposed charter change as closing a loophole, but the power play is obvious.
If you’re a supporter of Rivera – and most Central Falls voters are – one more term would give her enough time to win back local control of the school system and complete other initiatives that she has led in the city. There’s also some fear that there is no clear heir apparent to her as mayor.
Still, the changes would come as Democrats nationally fight back against a norm-breaking Republican president who hands out “Trump 2028” hats at the White House even though the US constitution very clearly doesn’t allow him to run again. It’s also not a great look that four of the five members of the Charter Review Commission have donated to Rivera in the past.
What’s next: The Charter Review Commission sent the question to the City Council, which will have the option of putting it on the 2026 ballot for voters to decide on the charter change.
Rivera’s term currently runs through 2028. If the charter change is approved, she would be eligible to run for another four-year term.
🤔 So you think you're a Rhode Islander...
Can you name the chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court who lost two races for governor and two races for Congress?
(Answer at the bottom.)
Do you have the perfect question for Rhode Map readers? Don't forget to send the answer, too. Shoot me an email today.
The Globe in Rhode Island
⚓Dr. Siavash Ghoreishi was a Rhode Island board-certified physician who worked for 37 years as a pediatrician. And yet, Ghoreishi testified in Family Court on Monday, he didn’t know about the American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and the Rhode Island medical regulations warning physicians not to treat close family members. Read more.
⚓ Republican Aaron Guckian on Monday announced he is running for governor of Rhode Island, presenting himself as a “compassionate conservative.” Read more.
⚓ The vast majority of Rhode Islanders are worried about the cost of energy this winter, according to a new poll. Read more.
⚓ A 19-year-old woman was killed and a 19-year-old man was injured in a shooting in Central Falls on Saturday night, authorities said. Read more.
You can check out all of our coverage at Globe.com/RI
Also in the Globe
⚓ Long a safe haven due to a reliable stream of retransmission fees and advertising dollars, local TV news stations are now facing a stark message as their industry faces the same financial pressures as the rest of media: adapt or die. Read more.
⚓Massachusetts leaders released on Monday the broad outlines of new educational standards students would be required to meet to graduate from high school, including mandatory courses, senior projects or portfolios, and financial literacy. Read more.
⚓ In a season of impressive wins, Monday night’s blowout was the best yet for the Patriots. Read more.
⚓ Voters in Providence, North Providence, and Charlestown will elect a new council member today in special elections.
⚓ The URI Honors Colloquium is holding its final event of the year at 5:30 p.m. with a discussion on the state of education in Rhode Island. You can watch it here.
⚓ The East Providence City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Here's the agenda.
🏆 Pop quiz answer
Peleg Arnold, who was chief justice from 1795 to 1809 and 1810 until 1812, lost races for Congress in 1794 and 1796 and races for governor in 1806 and 1815.
RHODE ISLAND REPORT PODCAST Christopher Gavin talks to Chris Frantz of the Talking Heads about about a newly released 1974 demo of "Psycho Killer" recorded while he was a student at RISD. Listen to all of our podcasts here.
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