Bethany White with Helena

On to the General Election

We made it through the primary.

Thank you, Ward 1. I am grateful for every vote, every conversation, and every person who helped get us here. Now we keep going.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Countdown to the general election.

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East Providence Schools

Our schools need to be a city priority.

The school budget grew, but the numbers show that special education and classroom staffing did not keep pace. East Providence also starts teachers below every comparison district reviewed.

$47,099Starting teacher salary
−5.1%Identifiable special-ed spending per pupil
−14.24Districtwide teaching positions

Public safety and strong schools are both essential. East Providence has shown that it can offer competitive public-safety pay. We should bring that same focus to recruiting teachers and supporting students.

Summary of changes in East Providence special-education spending and staffingSee the evidence and sources

East Providence

People Priorities - Click here to find out how we pay for them

Protect students—not generate tickets.

Limit school-zone speed-camera enforcement to actual school hours. Add other student-focused safety measures wherever the facts show they are needed.

Remove the Flock cameras.

Absolutely no expansion of automated surveillance. Remove the cameras already installed.

Support a permanent farmers market.

Create a permanent, partially city-funded East Providence farmers market that also serves as an incubator for local businesses. Vendors who succeed there could earn rent assistance when they open an East Providence storefront. A permanent market would also give residents receiving SNAP greater access to fresh, locally grown food, and our CTC program students could participate as part of their learning.

Pilot curbside composting.

Use Barrington’s two-year curbside food-scrap composting pilot as a model for an East Providence pilot. Start small, measure participation, costs, and waste reduction, and use the results to decide whether a broader program makes sense. See how Barrington’s pilot works.

Fix the state roads.

Pave them before they become undriveable. Budget for the work or charge the cost back to the state. We live here. “It’s a state road” is not an appropriate answer at this point.

Invest in our youth programs.

Inventory what our youth programs have, what they need, and what young people actually want. Then make those programs top-notch—even if the city has to fund them.

Help homeowners actually build ADUs.

Create a one-stop city program that gives homeowners clear, property-specific answers, realistic costs, help with design and permitting, and connections to financing and qualified contractors. Target public assistance to homeowners who cannot afford the expensive early steps.

Create a ward-by-ward city wish list.

Ask residents what development, retailers, services, and experiences they want in their neighborhoods. Publish the results by ward and use them to guide planning, recruit businesses, and pursue the projects people actually want.

Launch City Stewards.

Create a community-service program for residents looking for simple, organized ways to help. Maintain lists of Eagle Scout projects, assistance for older neighbors, small repairs such as broken school fences, and park cleanups—including flexible weekend crews during the summer. Fill the service gaps without adding full-time positions.

Invest in historic preservation and tourism.

Bring East Providence history to life with replica gates for the Ring on the Green, stocks, a replica garrison house, and a historically informed Narragansett seasonal settlement near Hunt’s Mill or another appropriate location.

Bethany White for Ward 1

Good Information.
Better Decisions.

East Providence can plan ahead, spend responsibly, and make sure our actions reflect the values we share.

After nearly 20 years in Rumford, raising my family and building a life here, I am ready to put my background to work for the city we all love.

East Providence ward map with Ward 1 highlighted

How I Approach the Work

Start with the facts. Listen. Plan ahead.

City decisions should be understandable. Spending should reflect our priorities. Long-term obligations should be considered before they become emergencies.

Stay Involved

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