Senator DiPalma Announces Third Term Candidacy

Senator Louis "Lou" DiPalma (Democrat - District 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) announced that he will run for a third term as State Senator. 

“Hopefully the voters will see fit to vote me in again,” said the Senator.  DiPalma hopes to knock on every door within his constituency to talk to the voters during his campaign. 

Patch wants you to be prepared!  Below is a cheat-sheet on Dipalma's background, recent legislation and priorities for next term. 

Whether you vote on strictly the issues or believe that good people make good government, we want you to be able to ask the questions that matter the most to you as a voter.

General Background:

• Raised in Bridgeport, Conn.
• 51 years old
• Graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a B.S. in Computer Engineering.
• He moved to Middletown on August 20, 1983, one day after graduation, after an offer from Raytheon.
• In 1989 DiPalma graduated with a M.S. in Computer Science from Brown University
• Currently works as a Technical Director, Raytheon Company - Integrated Defense Systems

Family Life:

• Senator DiPalma has been married to his wife Margaret for 28 years
• His daughter Kellie DiPalma is on the Middletown School Committee and is getting married this August
• His second daughter, Abbie, is 24 years old. 

Political Background:

• 2004 and 2006, Elected Middletown Councilor
• 2008 and 2010, Elected State Senator for District 12
• 2012, DiPalma will run for a third term 

DiPalma said his greatest accomplishments over this past term have been:

• His ability to use his understanding of data and appreciation for fact-based decisions to engage in budget discussions.  “The needle is moving in the right direction,” said DiPalma.  
• His push to establish the framework for .  If adapted, shared services can reduce municipal expenses and lower property taxes, he said.  He pointed out that change takes time, but the conversations have been started.  “It’s not a sprint,” said DiPalma. 

Most Recent Legislation:

• 
  Middletown Resident Danielle Mongeau contacted DiPalma about a bill that would require restaurants to increase their awareness of food allergies.
• 
  The bill requires projects that receive state or federal funding to take into account all roadway users, including bicyclists, walkers and public transportation

If re-elected, his main priorities will be (not in a particular order): 

• Dipalma said his priorities overlap, since a healthy government has jobs, a sustainable budget and good education system.
• Lowering property and income taxes.  He will continue to push for shared services to save the cities and towns money.   
• Job creation
• Education  

Hobbies:

• The Senator said he enjoys reading, but prefers non-fiction.  He said that life is fiction; he does not need to read about other characters and story-lines.  He is currently reading That Used to Be Us by Tom Friedman.  He also read Friedman’s previous books, Hot, Flat and Crowded and The World is Flat.
• He enjoys working outdoors and said he even maintains plants such as a fig tree and grape plants in his yard.