My name is William (Bill) Muto and I’m running to be the next City Councilor in Warwick Ward 6. I’m writing to introduce myself, explain why I decided to run for city council, and ask for your support.
We have a new opportunity for representation in our ward as the current councilor is not running for re-election. There’s important work to be done in Warwick and my promise is to follow the three “Rs” in doing that work: Be Reachable, Be Responsive, and Be Respectful.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to contribute to the community in different ways.
This desire to serve my community stems from my deep-rooted connection to it. As a lifelong Warwick resident, I understand the issues that face our community. I grew up in a family of eight in Buttonwoods. My parents worked hard to provide my brothers, sisters and me with a better life and to impart the important values of family, hard work, public service, integrity, and common courtesy. They showed me the importance of giving back to the community through their joint support of the St. Clement community, and through my father’s dedication to coaching youth sports. To this day, I remain a part of that Sts. Rose and Clement parish.
My ties to this great city run deep. I was raised in Buttonwoods and attended Park Elementary School, Gorton Junior High School, and Warwick Veterans High School. During this time held several local part-time jobs as a paperboy, in my father’s contractor business, as a dishwasher, at Rocky Point, and at Ann & Hope, all of which helped me learn the value of a dollar and hard work. I went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from Rhode Island College and a Master of Business Administration from Bryant University.
My family, like so many others who live in Ward 6, were drawn to the area because of the small community feel, great public parks, and the excellent access to the shoreline. When my wife and I were deciding where we would live, we knew this was where we wanted to raise our family. My wife Joanne is also a lifelong Warwick resident and is an English teacher at Pilgrim High School. We have two children: Michaela, who works for a custom market research firm, and Alexander, who recently began his junior year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Over the years, our children played in the city’s youth sports leagues. Between the two of them, they took part in soccer, baseball/tee-ball, basketball and volleyball. This gave me the chance to give back to the community when I took on the role of coaching various sports teams, like my father did when I was young. I saw firsthand the benefits these programs had on the children who participated. It shaped my opinion of the need for quality recreational facilities for the youth of Warwick. As a father and a husband, I know the importance of providing the best possible future for our children: a future that is cleaner, safer, and friendlier to the working family.
However, I realize that these are challenging times, and I believe that better government can lead to better opportunities for all. The citizens of Warwick are facing many challenges right now, with the increasing cost of living expenses causing high anxiety and uncertainty. Other areas of concern include improving our schools, keeping our community safe, and maintaining our roads and infrastructure. It is also crucial to do what is necessary to preserve and protect the 39 miles of coastline in Warwick. Each of these issues impact all residents and the city needs to do all that it can to support them for today and into the future.
To deal with these challenges, we must do better. We need leaders who will bring people together and work collaboratively to address these important issues and bring about positive change. In my role as First Vice President of Business Intelligence and Analytics at Bristol County Savings Bank, I leverage data to equip the bank to face the future with clarity by helping people unite behind shared goals and reliable facts that guide a path forward. There is no one right answer to the issues facing the people of Warwick today, and there will be difficulties and disagreements along the way. But I will use my collaborative skills at City Hall to help find common ground and work towards reasonable, sustainable solutions.
I will take a common-sense approach to city government. I believe that government should help improve the quality of life of its citizens in an efficient and transparent manner. I know our government works best when it is accountable to the people it serves. Accountable for how decisions are made. Accountable for how tax dollars are spent. Accountable for producing results that make a difference in people’s lives.
In the months ahead, I will be working hard to earn your support as I talk to residents, businesses, community groups, and organizations. Together, let’s start the conversation. I want to hear your feedback and I want to know what issues are important to you and your family. I’m ready to fight for the interests of our citizens and serve as your advocate in working to make government open, honest, and effective.
In the meantime, you can reach me by email at bill@mutoforwarwick.com or on my cell phone at 401-741-8747.
I look forward to speaking with you and earning your vote in the general election in November.
Sincerely,
Bill
