Introduced By : Representatives Harwood, Coderre, M. Anderson, Pires and Kilmartin
Date Introduced : April 10, 1997
Referred To : Read and Passed
WHEREAS, John J. Coleman, the former owner of Coleman Tire Sales, was first elected to the Pawtucket City Council in 1963. In 1973, as City Council President, he was sworn in as Mayor for a two month period following the election of then Mayor Robert Burns to the Office of Secretary of State. He returned to the Council and continued to serve Pawtucket as a member of the Board of Canvassers from 1973-1986, and as City Clerk from 1986-1988; and
WHEREAS, Distinguished as the first person in Pawtucket history to ever serve as Mayor, President of the City Council, and Public Safety Director, all at the same time, John J. Coleman is also the only person to be a candidate in three elections in three consecutive weeks. He was part of an unprecedented 1967 tie vote in a Primary; and
WHEREAS, John J. Coleman's impressive list of political and civic commitments includes being a past member of the Democratic City Committee; the 6th Ward Democratic Committee, League of Cities and Towns; the Fairlawn Community Improvement Association; the Pawtucket Community Action Program; the Model Cities Program; past President of the Pawtucket Blackstone Valley Credit Rating Bureau; the Pawtucket St. Patrick Parade Committee; past President of the St. Edward's Holy Name Society; and, past President of the St. Maria Goretti Holy Name Society; and
WHEREAS, John Coleman's political involvement has spanned four decades, and he continues to be politically involved today. An active supporter and advisor to Elizabeth Dennigan, who was elected a State Representative this past year, John Coleman spent both Primary and Election Days, from sun up to sun down, greeting voters at the Blackstone Valley Center and, with his help, Betsy Dennigan won, and won big!; and
WHEREAS, John and his wife, Margaret, have recently moved from Fairlawn to Narragansett. Retired, he is currently active with the AARP and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes John J. Coleman for his many accomplishments as a public official, and congratulates him on being honored by the Pawtucket Democratic City Committee with one of its first ever Lifetime Achievement Awards. A remarkable gentleman, he is truly deserving of our unqualified respect; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to former Pawtucket Mayor and City Council President, John J. Coleman.
