Stone Won't Seek EG Council Reelection

EAST GREENWICH, RI—East Greenwich Town Councilman Bill Stone announced Wednesday that he won't seek reelection to focus on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rhode Island Public Radio.

Stone said that the decision was a difficult one because he's "thoroughly enjoyed the honor of serving as a member of the EG Town Council. . .and I would love to continue to serve."

But "the demands of my business, family obligations and the duties attendant with becoming Chair of the Board of Rhode Island Public Radio have caused me to make the difficult decision to step aside, for now, from running again for office in town government," Stone said.

Stone will serve as board chairman at a "singular time" for RINPR, which is poised to expand its content offerings and footprint in Rhode Island, Stone said. The station's new CEO and General Manager Torey Malatia has big plans to raise the station's profile during a time of flux for the media industry as a whole.

Stone said RIPR is an organization "I think is enormously important to robust civic life in Rhode Island" and the chairmanship was "an opportunity I felt I could not ignore. Yet, I also feel I cannot accept this role and still dedicate the time necessary to do the job of a Town Councilman, a role I also have deeply enjoyed."

Stone leaves the council after just one term, but it wasn't his first foray into local government. He served as a member of the Planning Board for three years before winning a seat on the Town Council in 2014.

A Democrat, Stone is a lawyer and managing partner of Outside GC and Patent GC.

Stone hasn't ruled out another run sometime in the future. And he said he's proud of the town's leadership and staff he interacted with during his term so far.

"I will miss serving on the Council and may seek to serve again in the future. For now, though, I will participate in local government from the sidelines, and as a member of the EG Democratic Town Committee, supporting others stepping up to serve the town.”

Stone is the husband of Carolyn Mark, chairwoman of the East Greenwich School Committee. She will be seeking reelection to a second, four-year term in November.