Bucka Defeats Carney In East Greenwich School Committee Race

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Nicole Bucka will be East Greenwich's newest school committee member, according to unofficial results released Tuesday by the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

Bucka, a Democrat, defeated Republican Peter Carney in the race for former Democratic school committee member Lori McEwen's seat. She received 1,159 votes, while Carney got 799.

Town officials called for the special election when Democratic school committee member Lori McEwen resigned on June 30 after moving out of East Greenwich. If McEwen had resigned with more than a year left in her term, the town council would have named a replacement, rather than holding a special election.

Bucka's experience includes serving two terms with the East Greenwich Local Special Education Advisory Committee and serving on the governor-appointed Inter-Agency Coordinating Council. Bucka also was a member of the Superintendent Selection Committee, the School Reopening Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee for East Greenwich School Department.

During the campaign season, Bucka said she wants to build on high education and career preparation programs in East Greenwich schools.

"I believe we can build upon our successful college-path programs and expand into career-path programs by partnering with local businesses and technical education providers," Bucka said in her Patch candidate profile.

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Carney hasn't served as an elected official, but hoped to bring his experience in the private sector to the school committee. Carney has worked as a residential lending professional and has overseen the New England market for his company for the last six years. He said he's responsible for a large budget, as well as workplace COVID-19 safety for his area.

In East Greenwich, 1,962 of 11,679 registered voters cast a ballot in the election, a voter turnout of 16.8 percent. Canvassing Clerk Elaine Vespia said turnout was higher than she thought it would have been.

East Greenwich 2021 special election unofficial results

School Committee:

• Peter Carney: 799
• Nicole Bucka: 1,159

Numbers represent vote totals.