Portsmouth Election Profile: Linda Ujifusa

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Linda Ujifusa is running for the Portsmouth Town Council. The 62-year-old Democrat currently serves as the council's vice president.

Ujifusa's husband, J. Mark Ryan, also serves on the Town Council. The couple has three children: John, Katie and Jamie. She has a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a law degree from the New York University School of Law.

Ujifusa is a retired lawyer who previously worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a private law firm.

Campaign website

Why are you seeking elective office?

Since being elected to the Town Council in 2016, I have been fortunate to work with an amazing town staff, fellow elected officials and volunteers to undertake new initiatives that have significantly improved how we manage our town and increased transparency. I would like to continue this kind of work to protect the health, safety and quality of life of our community - especially given the added challenges we face due to COVID-19 and climate change.

What do you believe should be done to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do to lessen its economic impacts?

We must listen to the scientists and take appropriate actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., wear masks, wash hands, and observe social distancing) until a vaccine effectively ends the pandemic. We have learned from the disastrous premature "openings" in other states that the best way to fix the economy is to get control of the virus.
I would also advocate that the federal government implement Medicare-for-all single payer to uncouple health insurance from employment and help the millions of unemployed people who have lost health insurance or are under insured.

Do you believe systemic racism is a problem in America generally and Rhode Island specifically, and if so, what would you do to combat it?

Yes. We should teach in our schools the truth about current and past systemic racism. We should also support recommendations and educational efforts of organizations like the NAACP and the RI Slave Medallion Project.

Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?

Yes

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

All 7 Democrats running for office share common values and goals and I would encourage voters to elect all 7. To learn about the Democratic candidates and our platform, go to www.portsmouthdemocrats.com.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I'm an incumbent.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

• protecting our public schools
• improving road safety and creating and implementing a green and complete streets ordinance
• improving climate change preparedness and resiliency, especially for our most vulnerable areas (i.e., Island Park, Common Fence Point)
• dealing with town-owned properties suffering from severe deferred maintenance (i.e., the former Coggeshall School and Hutchinson School) within the scope of an open space and recreation master plan
• creating and implementing an improved solid waste management program
• improving the Town's management of online services

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Some of the tasks accomplished during my tenure to date include:
• undertaking a complete and professional analysis of all our town properties,
• creating rolling 5-year capital improvement plans
• improving Town financial reporting - resulting in multiple accolades
• implementing zero-based budgeting that requires all departments to start with a zero budget and justify all funding requests annually
• adopting a Hazard Mitigation Plan that addresses how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters
• appointing a Charter Review Committee and putting proposed changes on the Nov. 2020 ballot
• holding an annual public meeting to determine the Town Administrator’s priorities
• working with the state to undertake a safety audit of East Main Road and implementing more aggressive speed control measures
• hiring a part-time Emergency Management Agency Director and winning a $339,000 grant from the RI Infrastructure Bank to use for required climate change resiliency work – e.g., flooding at an egress from Common Fence Point
• hiring a full-time Parks & Recreation Director and expanding program offerings
• fostering a local agricultural business (a brewery)
• partnering with community groups providing essential services to all residents, including the library and senior center
• regulating short-term rentals
• working with the School Committee and staff to facilitate school safety and capital improvements

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My Abraham Lincoln High School motto: "Do right."