Cranston Councilman Switches Parties, Becomes a Republican

CRANSTON, RI—Cranston City Councilman Michael Farina strolled into Cranston City Hall on Tuesday afternoon, scrawled his name on a piece of paper and officially became a Republican.

Farina announced his party switch in front of friends, family and with the top city Republican leaders standing behind him at a City Hall press conference and said that the decision to abandon the Democrats and kill their veto-proof majority comes after "much frustration" with the current leadership of the Democratic party.

"As a Democrat in Cranston, I have felt the pressure to conform to party positions and the rules of party leadership comprised of people who play by the rules of a bygone era and are more about political maneuvering and personal ego than the very constituents they have taken an oath to represent, and I refuse to play that game," Farina said.

Farina said that he is unwilling to "blindly follow a political machine that only sees party labels" and his unwillingness to play along has left him ostracized.

He said as a Republican, "I am excited to join a party where open discussions are free and even encouraged o that the ultimate victors are the people of Cranston and personal agendas and egos are left at the door."

The party switch does not sway Farina from pursuing his long-term goal of running and winning the mayorship, most likely in 2020.

"I plan on eventually running for mayor and leading the city at a higher level," he said.

When pressed for a specific example about bad politics that drove him to switch parties, Farina cited a recent episode regarding library renovations. He said that he proposed the expenditure of funds resting in a restricted account for library projects and was blocked.

"Two months later, [the Democrats] came out with their own legislation to enable it," he said. "Instead of working together to fix flaws with my legislation, they circumvented it and did it for themselves," Farina said.

The city's GOP chairman Nick Lima said that Farina coming into his party's fold is "an example of the party's inclusiveness and dedication to putting taxpayers ahead of politics."

"He's an intelligent, honest, straightforward representative of the people who is both thoughtful and fiscally prudent," Lima said. "It's those qualities—not his party label—that led him to finish with the most votes of any council candidate in each of the last two election."

Farina was first elected to the City Council in 2013.

His party change comes a day after Cumberland Rep. Karen L. MacBeth switched from Democrat to Republican.

Farina said that his decision was not related to McBeth's decision, though he said he has been in touch with state GOP leaders who he described as welcoming and supportive.

This story is being updated. A request for comment has been sent to city Democratic leadership.