Morin Announces Dist. 49 Reelection Bid

WOONSOCKET, RI—District 49 Rep. Michael A. Morin announced Friday that he will seek reelection.

Morin first won the seat when it was vacated by former Rep. and now Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli Hunt in a 2014 special election. He then was reelected later that year.

Morin said he has enjoyed working on behalf of Woonsocket at the State House and "look[s] forward to earning the confidence and trust of voters this election season."

Morin, in a press release, cited his appointment to the powerful House Finance Committee as one highlight during his time serving the district—the first time in nearly 20 years that a Woonsocket representative has served on the committee responsible for the nearly $9 billion state budget.

“As a Woonsocket resident, I am so proud that we have been able to turn our financial stability around,” Morin said. "I am fighting at the State House to continue our recovery by having the state invest more in our schools, our roads and our parks, while providing tax relief to working families.”

The son of the late George Morin, a former principal at Woonsocket High School, Morin said he "crafted legislative policies to create well-rounded education programming in our schools," according to the release. He also supported the recently-passed bill requiring elementary schools give children 20 minutes of recess per day.

"I learned the importance of education at a young age,” Morin said. “School is not just about textbooks and chalkboards, it is about creating an environment that nurtures a child’s intellect, creativity, and understanding of the world.”

Rep. Morin was the sponsor of successful legislation this year to allow breweries and distilleries to sell limited amounts of their products to visitors for sampling and off-site consumption, he said. The bill will help the state’s growing industries, including Ravenous Brewing Co. of Woonsocket.

Morin, the city’s Fire Marshal, is a member of the Woonsocket Rotary Club and volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Stadium Theatre.