Rep. June Speakman | Democrat, Bristol
1. You decided to seek office while working at Roger Williams University. How did that affect you as a professor and how are you now handling the dual roles? The opportunity to run came up due to an unexpected resignation. Thankfully, my campaign began during winter break, and my spring course schedule was such that, for the most part, my teaching schedule and my legislative schedule did not conflict. And … I was teaching a course on state and local government, which offered nice reinforcement to my General Assembly work, and great stories in the classroom.
2. You were often interviewed by media as a political science professor. How is the reality of the Statehouse meshing with your understanding before the election? While the academic understanding of state politics does teach us a lot about what goes on in a state legislature, the finer points of the policy-making process, and the importance of personal relationships, cannot be accurately captured by an academic researcher.
3. What are the issues you are most focused on? There are three issues in District 68 – the Silver Creek Bridge project, the leak in the [Bristol County Water Authority] water main and funding for the Bristol-Warren schools. … And of course, the big package of education legislation and the budget are objects of everyone’s focus for this session. I have submitted two bills – one for Secretary of State [Nellie M.] Gorbea that deals with the voter lists, and one that focuses on chemical contaminants in drinking water.
4. Many more women were elected to office in Rhode Island this year. Do you feel like you are part of a movement? The election of more women is a nationwide trend that has been developing since the 1990s.The election of [President] Donald Trump accelerated the trend by inspiring more Democratic women to enter the arena. … There is a significant grassroots movement of women helping women to run and to win.
5. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned at the Statehouse? One small thing: how busy the House floor is in the hour preceding the opening of the session – staff, lobbyists, guests and legislators – it’s a beehive of activity. One bigger thing: how complex some of the legislation is that we must consider; I crave more time to study! I must say, though, that there are lots of staff and colleagues … who are very knowledgeable on a range of issues and have helped me a lot.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
