North Smithfield Public Comment

Latest Episodes:

Episode Sixteen: Candidate Chat with Veronicka Vega Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Veronica Vega is running for Rhode Island House District 49,representing Woonsocket and part of North Smithfield. We talk about economic development, school funding, infrastructure, clean energy, and what it really means to be an accessible representative. Veronica also shares her personal story — from experiencing homelessness to running for office.

Public Comment: North Smithfield is local news by the neighbors, for the neighbors. We're two local moms and small business owners digging through the issues so you don't have to.

Find us at nspubliccomment.com

Email: nspubliccomment@gmail.com

Instagram: @nspubliccomment

Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield

Find Veronica at vegaforri.com on Facebook &Instagram

Episode Fifteen: Candidate Chat with Jon Brien Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Sarah and Elizabeth sit down with Rhode Island StateRepresentative Jon Brien, the only independent in the RI General Assembly, representing District 49 (Woonsocket & North Smithfield). Jon shares his remarkable political journey — from serving as a Democrat, to losing his seat by 50 votes, to returning a decade later and winning by the exact same marginas an independent. They dig into his landmark 340B prescription drug legislation that took on Big Pharma, Rhode Island's energy policy and why your bills keep rising, the broken two-party system, and what a three-party future could look like. Plus, Jon reveals the career he always wanted — and it involves a turntable, not a gavel.

Public Comment is a hyper-local civic podcast hosted by Sarah LaFontaine and Elizabeth Hammond, two North Smithfield moms and small business owners doing the heavy lifting so you don't have to.

Find us at nspubliccomment.com or on Facebook at PublicComment North Smithfield.

Find Jon by phone (401-559-3999) or email (jondbriendistrict49@gmail.com)

Episode Fourteen: Public Comment After Dark with Guest Host Bryan Murray Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes following local politics is enough to drive you to drink - so that's what we did. Elizabeth and Sarah are joined by guest host Bryan Murray for the first-ever episode of Public Comment After Dark. They do a wine and tequila filled deep dive into the North Smithfield town council race. They unpack the pettiness of the local campaign season, from sign-stealing drama to Facebook feuds, and explore why nice neighbors seem to transform after they declare a candidacy. Then, the trio puts all eight town council candidates — Kevin Carriere, Rebecca DeCristofaro, Sean Fuller, Paul Jones, Ann Lilley, BethNewberry, Michael Plante, and David Punchak — through the "Google Test," searching to see what everyday voters can actually find online about each candidate's platform. From SEO-optimized websites to candidates with no digital presence at all, they leave no search result unturned. Plus, Bryan shares his vision for building communities that residents inherit, and we ask him the question no one ever asks. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite after-dark beverage and tune in.Find us:

• Website: nspubliccomment.com

• Email: nspubliccomment@gmail.com

• Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield (page and group)

• Instagram: @nspubliccomment

Find the Candidates:

• Kevin Carriere: https://kevinforns.com/

• Rebecca DeCristofaro (incumbent): https://yourteamfornstc.com/

• Sean Fuller

• Paul Jones: https://www.electpauljones.com/

• Ann Lilley: https://yourteamfornstc.com/

• Beth Newberry: https://yourteamfornstc.com/

• Michael Plante

• David Punchak (incumbent): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563070934094

Episode 13: Candidate Chat with Mark Fasano Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Public Comment, Elizabeth and Sarahwelcome Mark Fasano, candidate for North Smithfield School Committee. Mark talks about his 20 years as a North Smithfield resident, his work building the town's youth softball program, and his goals for the school system if elected.

It's a conversation about community, kids, and what it means to serve your town.

Public Comment is a local news podcast covering NorthSmithfield, Rhode Island — by the neighbors, for the neighbors.

Mark's website is https://fasanofornorthsmithfield.weebly.com

Episode Twelve: Candidate Chat with Ken Block Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

This week on Public Comment, we sit down with Ken Block —independent candidate for Rhode Island governor — for a deep, no-talking-points conversation about the state's biggest problems and what it actually takes to fix them.

Ken gets into it all: why housing affordability is one ofthe hardest problems Rhode Island faces and why there are no easy answers. Why he believes bus fares should be eliminated; the education crisis in Rhode Island's urban districts, and why fixing K through 3 is the key to everything else.

He shares the remarkable story behind his book — how he was hired by the Trump 2020 campaign to investigate voter fraud, found none, and ended up subpoenaed by multiple grand juries. Plus: why Rhode Island's 911 system is dangerously slow, how the Washington Bridge failed because of clogged drains, why $44,000-a-year health insurance is crushing the state, and his plan for a regional insurance marketplace across New England.

We also ask Ken our traditional closing question — what'sthe one thing he'd fix with a magic wand? His answer might surprise you.

Find Ken at kenblock.com. Find us at nspubliccomment.com, onInstagram @nspubliccomment, and on Facebook at Public Comment North Smithfield.

Episode Eleven: Candidate Chat with Xay Khamsyvoravong Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Former Newport mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joins Elizabeth and Sarah to discuss his run for Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor. The conversation covers his family's immigrant story, the real responsibilities of the LG office, and why workforce is the through line connecting every major challenge facing the state — from housing construction and healthcare access to infrastructure and education.

Topics include the NSPTO's impact on local schools, thehealthcare provider shortage and billing paperwork crisis, mental health support for kids, Flock camera privacy concerns, Rhode Island's billion-dollar infrastructure liabilities, and why proactive local government is essential tokeeping communities thriving.

Xay also shares advice for first-time town council candidates, lessons from fighting to keep Newport's birthing center open, and the question he wishes more people would ask him.

Find Xay at xayforri.com or @xayforri on social media.

Find us at nspubliccomment.com or@PublicCommentNorthSmithfield on Facebook and Instagram.

Episode Ten: Candidate Chat with Michael Plante Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Michael Plante, candidate for North Smithfield Town Council,joins Elizabeth and Sarah to talk about why he's trading a 43-year real estate career for local government. From contaminated school water that's gone unfixed for years, to budget waste hiding in plain sight, to his fiduciary-firstphilosophy — Michael makes the case that local politics needs more business sense and fewer cheerleaders. Plus: the quarry dispute, flock cameras, solar farms, zoning reform, and the teachers and Boy Scout leaders who shaped him.

Find us at nspubliccomment.com or email nspubliccomment@gmail.com. Follow Public Comment North Smithfield on Facebook and Instagram (@NSPublicComment).

Contact Michael at 401-487-7600.

Episode Nine: Candidate Chat with Sue AnderBois Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Elizabeth and Sarah sit down with Sue AnderBois — candidatefor Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor and current Providence City Council member — for a wide-ranging conversation about energy policy, road safety, governmenttransparency, and surveillance.

Sue breaks down what a lieutenant governor actually does inRhode Island, previews her upcoming energy plan, and explains how Rhode Island's regulated utility model keeps your bills climbing. She shares the story behind her "What are you gonna do about it?" tattoo and how it drives her approach to public service.

We also dig into Sue's work transforming North Main Streetin Providence — bringing more safety improvements to the dangerous corridor in two years than the previous 30 combined — and her advice for citizens serving on local boards and commissions who feel like they're being ignored.

Then we get into Flock cameras: the privacy concerns, datasharing with out-of-state agencies and potentially ICE, what Providence has done to put guardrails in place, and whether a statewide ban is possible. Plus a very important Parks and Rec endorsement question.

Find Sue at sueanderbois.com. Find us atnspubliccomment.com.

A full transcript and show notes are available on our website.

Resources & Links:

• RISE Energy Audit (free energy audit through Rhode Island Energy): riseengineering.com

• Providence Special Committee on the Environment & Resiliency (Flock camera research presentation): available on the Providence City Council website

• Vision Zero: visionzeronetwork.org

• RI Infrastructure Bank (climate resilience programs): riinfrastructurebank.com

Episode Eight: Candidate Chat with Gabriella Stelle Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Gabby Stelle is running for North Smithfield SchoolCommittee — and she's not a politician. She's a born-and-raised North Smithfield mom, PTO treasurer, soccer commissioner, softball coach, and the person who helped bring the Hoops program back to town. In this episode,Elizabeth sits down with Gabby to talk about what she'd protect in the school system, why she believes every school needs a mandatory SRO, and how she'd approach the budget without sacrificing the teachers and programs that makeNorth Smithfield special. Plus: her actual answer to "what question do you wish someone would ask you?" is worth the listen.

Connect with Gabby Stelle: 📧 gabbystelle@gmail.com 📘Facebook: Gabby for School Committee

Connect with Public Comment: 🌐nspubliccomment.com 📧 nspubliccomment@gmail.com 📘 Public Comment NorthSmithfield (Facebook Group)

Episode 7: Candidate Chat with Ann Lilley Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Ann Lilley has been quietly doing the work in NorthSmithfield for years — community garden, Parks & Rec Commission, Groundwater Protection Commission — and now she's running for Town Council. In this episode, she joins Elizabeth and Sarah to talk about why she's taking that step, and what she thinks is broken in how our town communicates, spends money, and plans for the future. From the town website's glaring gaps to the million-dollar Halliwell question to the 2029 Comprehensive Plan, this conversation is packed with practical ideas and a genuine love for this community.

Plus: campaign bingo update, a candidate forum announcement, and a sneak peek at something exciting coming soon.

You can get in touch with Ann at her email - jslilley@yahoo.com and get in touch with us at our website - nspubliccomment.com or our facebook page -facebook.com/PublicCommentNorthSmithfield

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

North Smithfield Public Comment

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected