Joe Polisena

Joseph M. Polisena (born June 27, 1954) is an American politician from Rhode Island. He served in the Rhode Island Senate from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2007.[1] He is currently mayor of the Town of Johnston, having been elected in 2006, and sworn into office in January 2007.[2] He is a Democrat.

Joseph M. Polisena
4th Mayor of Johnston, Rhode Island
Assumed office
January 2007
Preceded byWilliam Macera
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 25th district
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byDonna M. Walsh
Succeeded byChristopher Maselli
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 28th district
In office
January 2, 2001 – January 7, 2003
Preceded byWilliam P. Tocco Jr.
Succeeded byElizabeth H. Roberts
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 28th district
In office
January 5, 1993 – January 5, 1999
Preceded byGregory J. Acciardo
Succeeded byWilliam P. Tocco Jr.
Personal details
Born (1954-06-27) June 27, 1954
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLucille Polisena
Children1
EducationCommunity College of Rhode Island (AS)
Roger Williams University (BA)
Cambridge College (MEd)

Early life and education

Polisena was born to Julia Marie and Joseph Anthony Polisena on June 27, 1954. He graduated from Johnston High School in Johnston, Rhode Island in 1972. In 1985, Polisena graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island with an associate degree in nursing.[3][4] In 1988, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in health services from Roger Williams University in Bristol.[5]

In 1998, he completed a Master of Education through Cambridge College.[6]

Career

He was employed by the Community College of Rhode Island as a registered nurse and assistant professor. He also worked as a nurse at the Our Lady of Fatima Hospital.[7] He worked as a firefighter for the Johnston Fire Department.

Rhode Island Senate

He served a total of twelve years in the Rhode Island Senate, from 1993 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2007. He served as Deputy Majority Leader.[8] He served on a state commission studying improvements to the state fire code following a fatal 2003 fire,[9] and he sponsored a 2005 bill to clarify and strengthen the state's fire code.[10]

Mayor of Johnston

Polisena serves on the Rhode Island Municipal Pension Board along with Mayor Angel Taveras of Providence.[11] He has been an outspoken proponent of pension reform throughout the state.[12] He has proposed a plan to freeze cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in retirees' pensions.[13] Polisena has also been a strong supporter of Governor Lincoln Chafee's Municipal Relief Package for the cities and towns of Rhode Island.[14] Polisena is not seeking reelection in 2022, and he endorsed his son, Town Council Vice President Joseph Polisena Jr.

Personal life

He is married to Lucille "Lucy" Polisena. His son, Joseph Polisena, Jr., is Polisena's campaign manager.[15]

References
  1. "Polisena, Joseph M." Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  2. "Welcome to the Town of Johnston, Rhode Island". TownofJohnstonRI.com. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  3. "Mayor Joseph M. Polisena". 28 September 2012.
  4. http://www.ccri.edu/president/pdfs/2011_annual_report.pdf
  5. "Mayor Polisena". CampaignSiteBuilder.com. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  6. "Mayor Polisena". CampaignSiteBuilder.com. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  7. "Mayor Joseph M. Polisena". 28 September 2012.
  8. McGowan, Dan (May 14, 2012). "PowerPlayer: Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena". GoLocalProv. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  9. Mello, Michael (March 21, 2003). "Panel starts investigation of fatal R.I. nightclub fire". Associated Press, cited at Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  10. "Rhode Island Senate committee passes bill revising fire code". The Day. June 1, 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  11. "Taveras, Polisena named to R.I. municipal-pension panel". The Providence Journal. January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  12. Reynolds, Mark (March 19, 2012). "Mayor sees slow progress on municipal pension reform". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  13. Reynolds, Mark (May 15, 2012). "Johnston mayor considering a freeze on cost-of-living pension adjustments". The Providence Journal. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  14. "Local leaders who support Chafee plan". The Providence Journal. March 30, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  15. "Mayor Joseph M. Polisena". 28 September 2012.
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