Meet the Candidates: Semonelli Sees Education, Work Force as Keys to Local Economy

It should come as no surprise that Town Council President Christopher T. Semonelli, a Democrat running for a second term, would emphasize education and mentoring as part of his campaign platform and vision for the future of Middletown.

Semonelli, 55, whose energy and impassioned public spirit stands in contrast to the standard of the cool and reserved politico, is the former owner of a Sears appliance franchise on Aquidneck Avenue, and now a buyer-seller and manufacturer's rep of textiles. He is also the father of no less than six children, in addition to one-to-two foster children. "At various times, my wife and I have had eight kids running through the house."

Semonelli has lived most of his life in Middletown, and as a child would take the long way on his walks to school through areas which were then cow pastures, sometimes arriving late to class. Somewhere along the way he regained a sense of urgency regarding his education, earning a bachelor's in chemical engineering from Northeastern University, and an MBA from Pepperdine University, before returning to Rhode Island. 

Perhaps it's Semonelli's background and training as an engineer and business manager that causes him to frame some of the challenges Middletown faces in terms of integrating business growth, education and skill set.

"Today, the knowledge base is expanding so fast," states Semonelli. "We have to ask ourselves, 'What are the necessary skills to develop for the businesses of the future?' – Be it wind turbines, or green energy, how do we build a more capable work force locally?"

As part of an ambitious attempt to find answers to some of these questions, Semonelli has been instrumental in creating and championing the Co-Op/Mentor Program. Under the guidance of a group of educators and public servants in Newport County, its mission is to create an alliance of schools and businesses that will assist high school students to find rewarding internships and gain pre-professional skills preparation with companies doing work in fields that match their interests. The program has involved participation of a number of superintendents, principals and teachers from all three of Aquidneck Island's high schools, in addition to Tiverton and representatives from the Newport campus of the MET school. Corporations, trade associations and the various chambers of commerce, in addition to officials at the Newport Naval Complex, have been invited to come on board, and the program has also sought the input of business and economics studies professors at Salve Regina University.

Another educational challenge facing Middletown that Semonelli spoke of is the possibility of regionalization of Aquidneck Island's public schools. Regionalization would ostensibly create one high school for all of the island's students, in theory, saving money, and freeing up funds to support certain programs, such as advanced placement and foreign language studies, for example Japanese, which in some schools have either fallen by the way side, or are in danger of doing so.

"Middletown is financially stable. Our bond rating ranks either second or third in the state, and our school system is well-managed," stated Semonelli in regard to the effects of the recession on the public education budget. "But with our student population decreasing, and $300,000 less in the school budget available, we have to ask…Would regionalization be good for Middletown schools?"

He alluded to a study the town council commissioned on the issue, but made clear cost savings alone would not justify a move toward regionalization if the quality of education was not enhanced.

Semonelli made it point to commend the job his fellow commission members have done during past two difficult years, and also cited the police department union's cooperation for not taking raises.

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