NORTH SMITHFIELD – With the final ballots tallied, Town Council President Kimberly Alves is once again the top vote getter in a race for North Smithfield Town Council, followed by political newcomer Rebecca DeCristofaro, who came in second out of ten candidates for the five member board, according to the as yet unofficial results.
“I think voters really wanted change,” DeCristofaro told NRI NOW as the results came in Tuesday night. “I think people truly believe in our community and they’re excited about having something different.”
A strategic program and project manager for CVS, the 35 year old became involved in town politics in reaction to what she has said was a lack of oversight for one large company that does business in her neighborhood – Material Sand & Stone. She’s noted that in exploring the town’s regulation of the business, the subject of a decades-long legal battle with the town, it became apparent that many other issues were being overlooked, were not disclosed or were deprioritized.
“I voiced my concerns and I’m hoping I’ve empowered people to feel that they have a voice,” DeCristofaro said on Tuesday. “Voting is an investment. It’s an investment in yourself, in your home, in your property. I think we saw that in this race and I hope that people continue to be invested.”
On Wednesday, it appeared certain she’d be one of two newcomers to join the board with 2,780 votes, while one council incumbent, Douglas Osier, failed to secure another term by just 159 votes, coming in sixth behind Claire O’Hara in the re-election bids.
The fourth place spot went to David Punchak, a former member of the town planning board and Public Buildings Improvement Commission, who had 2,394 votes. Punchak is president of Benchmark Building Company, which he founded in 2008, and currently works as a construction management consultant for a renewable energy developer.
Alves, who is now positioned to begin her fourth term on the council after securing 3,472 votes in the contest, said her top priority for the years to come will be to finish the projects the board has already started. With everything from repairs to the police station, to the creation of a new multigenerational center still in development, she’ll have plenty to accomplish with her fellow election winners.
“It will be nice to work with some people who want to work as a team,” Alves said. “It’s exciting.”
On Wednesday morning, it was certain that incumbent Councilor John Beauregard had also secure another term after coming in third with 2,603 votes.
“I thought it was a good race,” said Beauregard. “I know some people felt they saw division, but any division came from the outside. All of the candidates were very polite and courteous to each other. Everyone invited each other to events. I have nothing but good things to say about the people who won and they people who lost.”
On the School Committee, results showed newcomer David de la Cruz with a comfortable lead, followed by incumbent Committee Vice President Jean Meo and Christopher Simpkins.
de la Cruz, a former teacher and parent of three, said he was looking forward to meeting with his fellow committee members to share priorities and see how they could begin to work together.
“A lot of parents want to see a return to a focus on academics,” de la Cruz told NRI NOW when asked how his message may have resonated with voters.
The new committee member is married to District 23 Senator Jessica de la Cruz, who was also victorious Tuesday, garnering 68.2 percent of the vote over challenger Lew Pryeor.
Asked about her goals for the coming term, Sen. de la Cruz replied “My goal is always to represent my constituents. Whatever priorities they have are mine.”
Meo, who served on the School Committee for nearly two decades from 1989 to 2008, will now begin her fourth consecutive term since her return in 2016. The veteran committee member teamed up with a candidate who would otherwise have been an opponent, holding a collaborative campaign with Simpkins, a 43-year-old father of two kids who are currently in the school system.
“I am pleased with the results and thank the community for their support,” said Meo. “The School Committee can continue to move forward with students’ education as the number one priority. I think the biggest concern I have is dealing with the mental health of our students.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to work and serving the kids of our community,” Simpkins said of his election win.
Competing for three open seats on the committee, Simpkins landed ahead of fourth place finisher Evan Masse by 1,186 votes. Masse’s campaign was cut short by controversy in August, but his name still appeared on the General Election ballot, and he ultimately won more votes for a committee seat than last place finisher Bradley Trenchard.
I am looking forward to better enforcement of our ordinances and zoning regulations as in the 38 years I have been a resident enforcement has been lax.
You go girl! Happy to have you, Kim and David as the new representatives and stewards of North Smithfield.
I think your full of SHIT, maybe you spoke to the residents on Pine Hill on a Sunday, cause you might seem like your in God’s Country on a quite day. I don’t know what MSSC promised or gives to those that live on that street , but clearly they are given something for being still. And if you’re gonna attack a Winning Town Council member for a party after Midnight with loud Music , then whoever didn’t call shame on you. Also I’ve lived in Town for 63 years and if my neighbor had a after hours party that was loud , but didn’t do it every weekend I’d let it go , cause that could be me as well. And when you leave no name that shows us you don’t have any acorns. And Thank – You for Voting for Kim & Rebecca .
I have spoken with Rebecca on a few different occasions. Each time I got a vibe that she is all about herself and not the residents of the town and it definitely shows. In finding out the one issue she ran on, I have spoken to residents in the Pine Hill area, and nobody has any issues with trucks on the road and/or the operation of the quarry. Also, in speaking with residents in that area they also mentioned she does not follow zoning ordinances, specifically noise ordinances. Example being having a party and having music blaring well past midnight in which residents in the area could hear. From what I hear, she was not well liked in Scituate and is not well liked in NS. In seeing previous meetings on YouTube, Alves and Decristofaro both need to learn how to talk to people, meaning the town residents and other council members. Hopefully, in 2 years things will change and there will be an entire new council.
You must be having a very miserable day. You’ve posted negative comments about Gibbs, Alves, DeCristofaro, Punchak, Simpkins on many articles during this election cycle. You’ve also written that many people have told you they wouldn’t vote for anyone I supported. You’ve accomplished nothing by your efforts but you have proven one point; you are completely out of touch with town residents. It’s likely you’ll be miserable for many more years rather than just today. Here’s hoping that you find peace of mind in the very near future. After all, anything is possible.
Thanks for the opportunity to address this, “NSVoter”. I avoided responding to negative comments and baseless accusations during the campaign, but feel it’s appropriate to respond now. First and foremost, my platform addresses multiple opportunities and focus areas in this town and never implicitly called out the Material Sand & Stone operation. My work on the MSSC case is precedent for the due diligence and enforcement of town law and ordinances I intend to pursue as a Town Councilor. The lack of oversight and accountability, which has enabled that operation, is pervasive and a serious liability. That will change with a new Town Administrator and new Town Councilors. Secondly, the last party I had on my property was in Oct 2023…it was my wedding, which I shut down by 930PM in order to avoid disturbing residents. Additionally, I can count on one hand the number of “parties” I’ve had on my property, none of them late night since I’m cognizant of town law and residents. And lastly, I’m from a very well-respected family in Scituate. We also have a soccer field named after us, after donating the land to the town. If you’d like to continue this dialogue, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Again, thank you for the opportunity to respond!
Very well said young lady, and best of luck in your upcoming term. The town should be thankful for your support.
I’m sure you’re very aware, but I’ll say it anyways. It’s either jealousy, or being a sore loser, or something completely different. It’s sad when hit pieces such as that comment from the losing side, whether a former candidate or related/friend of one, appears with no factual information. Be careful out there, also good luck!