Philip Gould Officially Running For Lincoln Town Administrator

LINCOLN, RI — Philip Gould has formally declared his candidacy for Lincoln Town Administrator.

Gould made it official on May 24 when he delivered remarks at an event at the Lincoln Country Club. Gould said holds the right qualifications and temperament to do the job and spoke of his devotion to the community he and his family have called home since 1992.

In his speech, Gould spoke of the values of hard work and respect. He said he is an active listener and team leader who builds relationships. He spoke of his time as a soldier in Desert Storm, his 29 years on the Lincoln Police Department, of his formal education, and what he's learned on the job.

Live in Lincoln? Click here to subscribe to our breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. You can also download our Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

"In my opinion, a hometown is where you plant your roots, where you raise your family," Gould remarked. "When my wife and I bought our first house and decided to raise a family, it was clear that Lincoln was the place for us. The town and its people become a part of you."

Gould has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University, a master’s in public administration from Anna Maria College and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Over three decades, he rose through the ranks at the Lincoln Police Department and is now the department's administrative captain.

"I am the right person because I love our town and I am 100 percent committed to making it even better than it is now," Gould remarked.

Gould will face at least one other candidate in an upcoming special election. School Committee member John Picozzi has also declared his candidacy. Both candidates are running as independents.

Picozzi is running on a pro-business and transparency platform, promising to support schools and open space while keeping taxes in check by seeking new sources of revenue. "While we develop new opportunities for businesses to relocate here, we will also explore programs that fully support current businesses, and help them grow," Picozzi stated.

A special election to fill the Town Administrator post has been scheduled for Sept. 7, according to Lincoln Town Clerk Lillian Silva. If a primary is needed, it will be held on August 3. Candidate
declarations are due on June 24 and 25, and papers are due back in the clerk's office on July 6.

A third candidate, Republican John Cullen, said he also plans to run.

While Gould formally declared his candidacy more than a week ago, the cat was let out of the bag in April when he sought an opinion from the State Ethics Commission about what to watch out for as a police captain running for the town administrator's post. The nine-member commission gave their blessing to Gould's candidacy with certain caveats, advising him among other things to avoid using public resources in the service of his campaign.

The position became vacant in March when former administrator Joseph Almond stepped down to join the administration of Gov. Dan McKee.