Seveney Giving it Another Go for Senate District 11 Seat

PORTSMOUTH, RI—Jim Seveney is giving it another go.

The Portsmouth Town Councilman has filed declaration of candidacy paperwork and has launched a new campaign for the Senate District 11 seat in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Seveney has been a fixture in Portsmouth politics for years, serving on the Town Council since 2004. He was endorsed by the District 11 Democratic Senatorial Committee on Monday, which means he'll have the party's backing during primary season in September.

Seveney narrowly lost the District 11 special election to Republican John Pagliarini Jr. in January after former Senator Christopher Ottiano resigned to focus on a new high-level job at Neighborhood Health Plan.

Ottiano, a Republican, endorsed Seveney to be his successor, citing a longtime friendship and healthy working relationship between himself and the Portsmouth Town Council.

A lifelong Rhode Islander and retired Naval officer, Seveney said he's "honored to be the endorsed Democrat in the upcoming primary."

In a statement, he said: "My campaign is all about Democratic values — I want to fight for the priorities of middle-class families of the East Bay.”

Seveney will join other Democrats at a planned meet and greet with voters on July 10 at Foodworks at 2461 East Main Road from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The senate seat, covers portions of Portsmouth, Tiverton and Bristol.

Pagliarini will be seeking reelection. On June 24, he said he would be filing declaration papers early this week and thanked the Portsmouth Republican Town Committee and the Liberty Caucus for their Endorsements.

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You can see a list of all candidates across the state at the Secretary of State's website. Data is updated late each night until the declaration of candidacy deadline on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy: Jim Seveney.