Clifford: Omweg’s letter was outrageous, misrepresentation of facts

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I am responding to Anne Marie Omweg’s recently published letter to the editor in NRI NOW.

Her first comment states, “The beauty of nonpartisan elections is that we don’t engage in party stereotypes.” Ironically, she has three signs on her front lawn for candidates who all have the support of the Republican Town Committee. One (is) for  Brad Trenchard, who serves as the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, another for Town Council candidate and fellow Republican Town Committee member Joey Sevigny, and the last for Evan Masse, also a member of the North Smithfield Republican Town Committee. By the way, Mr. Masse recently dropped out of the race for School Committee after posting extremely insensitive, offensive, immature and inappropriate comments on social media.  

Editor’s note: The above image was published as a paid advertisement with this letter.

I am supporting candidates based on credentials and character, which are far more important to me than party affiliation, particularly at the local level.

Next, is Ms. Omweg’s silliest comment: “But what I do know is that three candidates …DeCristofaro, Punchak and Newton, were recruited by Mike Clifford. These are ‘his people’ you may or may not think that is a good thing, but you should know to be aware of the facts.”  

For the record, this is a misstatement. I did not, “recruit,” any candidates, but like many other voters, I spoke to each of the new potential candidates when I heard they were thinking about running. After learning more about them I offered my help, including gathering signatures to get on the ballot and offering sign locations if needed. They did decide to run for office and obviously, based on the signs I have posted on my property, it’s no big dark secret that I support them. They are more than qualified, have great credentials, and are all analytical and very bright. Kevin Newton has a degree in accounting and someone with that background is desperately needed in light of the town auditor’s reports. Rebecca DeCristofaro knows the town’s zoning ordinances as well as any member of the zoning board or the building inspector. David Punchak is an extremely knowledgeable and diligent former member of the town’s Planning Board and his analytical skills are most impressive. I’m proud of the new candidates I’m supporting and I’m confident none of them will disappoint or embarrass town residents in any way. Unfortunately, Ms. Omweg’s judgement in selecting candidates to support has already proven to be questionable based on her endorsement of Mr. Masse.

Finally, Ms. Omweg’s most outrageous statement, parroting counselors Beauregard and O’Hara, was the following: “If you live in North Smithfield and want Mr. Clifford to be the defacto sixth member of the Town Council, as he is now under President Kim Alves, then come November election, vote for these three candidates.”   

Again, for the record, I attend council meetings in person or watch on them on YouTube. During the public comment portion of the meetings, I often make many suggestions, and very often my suggestions are dismissed by the council. The list of my suggestions that the council actually took action on is much shorter than the list of suggestions they dismissed. Omweg’s statement about me being the defacto sixth member of the council has been said by Councilors Beauregard and O’Hara on social media and in whisper campaigns, and it not only insults Council President Alves and me, but all NS voters. I am certain that NS voters will make intelligent, fact-based decisions when voting and not be swayed to forego voting for well credentialed, highly qualified candidates simply because I support them.

It’s obvious to me who and what was behind Anne Marie Omweg’s letter to the editor.

Michael Clifford

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11 COMMENTS

  1. I know of many residents in town who have said they will not vote for any candidate who has a sign on your lawn, Mr. Clifford. I believe in fact that you did recruit 3 specific candidates. You have stated many times that Decristofaro knows the zoning ordinances better than any zoning board member, which is not true. I have heard from residents in that area of town (Pine Hill area) that she does not follow ordinances herself, specifically noise ordinances, example being a party and blaring music that the whole area could hear until midnight or later. You might want to rethink the candidates you support.

    • What on earth do ppl find funny being bullies as if in a childhood schoolyard? How old does one have to be in NS to treat someone with respect, whether you like them or not? I’ll give you a clue….it begins at home, from birth.
      Bullying says a lot more about the instigators, than of Mike, who drops everything to help someone.

      • Bullying seriously ??? Maybe recruited was the wrong term. However,groomed, primed, coached and mentored seem much more appropriate!!

        Even Mr. Clifford admits to doing all that.

        I’m sure Ms. Omweg is proud of the candidate signs she has in her yard just like Mr. Clifford is.

        • Bullying is exactly the correct term. Ppl are supposed to take the harsh treatment by anyone who disagrees, then when one puts their foot down, and speaks out, they are further bullied or their friends are. Yes, it’s the appropriate term to describe what anyone goes through who disagrees with anyone else, in this town. You just cannot accept someone who has another view, nor respect it, and agree to disagree. It will only stop when FB nonsense stops, when you all agree enough is enough, and realize kids need to learn how to work together or as adults, will be on meds and therapy. Goodness knows I’ve seen enough of adults who are incapable of thinking for themselves because they were belittled if they did, and on meds and in therapy during my 40 yrs in nursing…..

  2. It is demeaning to these candidates to insinuate they are sycophants. If this person truly bothered to research and follow the candidates she depicts in her “hit piece”, she would see that the new candidates have either been directly impacted by decisions the town has ignored, or the are employed in areas that are severely lacking within our government.They are motivated to attempt a change of direction. Yes, Mike is frank and outspoken, he speaks out consistently. He,like all of us, has the right to support whoever he chooses, but, to insinuate that these great candidates are his protégés is just an attempt to deflect from the fact these candidates are talented and offer their talents to move the town forward.

  3. The people that know the truth revealed her lies.
    Mudslinging from one side. I am laughing at their rudeness and shear ignorance in this election.
    God help us all

  4. No one needs to explain to the ppl that matter most in life, your friends, relatives, or close associates. We know you! Or we wouldn’t be friends!
    Jealousy and infantile behavior takes over where no real processing ability, self control, or mature mindset is available. Their miserable lives must be experienced by others or they are not happy trying to make it so for you too. They entice you to fight, to explain, to control you…..manipulation.
    Unfortunately, when a person has been successful, their children also, others hate that too. Laugh at them. Take nothing to heart. If ppl cannot see the obvious truth, for themselves, or wish to, to heck with them I say….cast them out. You owe them nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sleep better. Sweet dreams……zzzz.

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