My story — and my path to politics — looks different than most.
My father was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia. In the 1980s, his country was mired in corruption and consumed by cartel violence, so he sought a better future for himself and the family he yearned to someday grow. He left Colombia behind and immigrated to Rhode Island, a state founded on the noble ideal of hope and grounded in freedom – a state where my family would come to find both. As General Treasurer, I have fought to preserve that dream for others.
For 30 years, my father worked in a factory in Central Falls. He became part of America’s industrial middle class. For much of that time, he was a member of the local union. My father’s job — and the support he received from that union — provided financial stability and ensured there was always food on the table. And so it was, in the smallest city of the smallest state, that I was born and raised.
As a lifelong Rhode Islander, I am a proud product of the Central Falls public school system. After graduating from Central Falls High School in 2003, I attended the Community College of Rhode Island – a chance my parents never had. After two years at CCRI, I transferred to a four-year college, where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, while competing for the men’s soccer team. When that part of my journey ended, and I walked the stage to accept my diploma, I became the first in my family to graduate from college.
Throughout my upbringing, my mother and father always taught me the value of hard-work, community involvement, compassion and caring for others. My father also taught me to always lead with hope. Hope in a brighter future and a better tomorrow.
The same hope that first inspired my father to come here has driven me throughout my journey. That’s why a resounding message of hope from a youthful presidential contender who said, “Yes We Can,” carried such an impact.
With that call to action, I returned to Central Falls because I wanted to give back to the community that had so openly welcomed my family and me. At the age of 24, I was elected to represent Central Falls’ 4th Ward on the City Council. There, I fought to keep the city’s only public library open amidst budget cuts. I was also able to keep the city’s only post office open when it nearly fell victim to budget cuts. While these accomplishments may seem small to some, I’ve often found that the little things can have the greatest impact on people’s everyday lives.
When the sitting Mayor was indicted on corruption charges and the city hopelessly plunged into bankruptcy, Central Falls became the first city in state history to be declared insolvent.
I saw a city in dire need, and knew I had the experience, passion and hope Central Falls needed. In a five-way primary against far more established opponents, I received 59 percent of the vote. I took office in 2012, becoming the first Latino mayor of Central Falls and the youngest mayor in our state’s history.
While there was much to celebrate, I immediately set out to improve my city. In this time, I learned, I listened, and I led.
Over the eight years as Mayor, our city overcame great adversity. After years of fiscal irresponsibility, the city was bankrupt. The pension was left underfunded by $80 million. There were skeptics. National news agencies openly questioned whether a 27-year-old could bring a city back from the brink.
Through transparency, community engagement, and strong leadership, we turned the city around – stabilizing finances, raising the bond rating to investment grade, and securing millions in federal, foundation, and private funding for infrastructure and quality of life improvements.
To protect pensioners, I worked with the Treasurer’s office to incorporate the city’s pension system into the state Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS), preventing the kind of benefit cuts—up to 55 percent—that I had seen devastate retirees. This move provided pensioners with greater diversification, lower costs, and access to sophisticated investment tools, ensuring their futures were secure.
After I completed my two terms as Mayor, I joined Brown University in a senior role with The Policy Lab, where I provided strategic advice and insights on The Lab’s engagement with state and local government partners. For me, public service is no part-time hobby; it’s a lifelong passion started by a spark of hope.
My story is a telling testament to the continued vitality of the American Dream. This is a country where my father, a migrant, fled violence in his home country and was able to see his young son elected Mayor. It’s this dream and my undying faith in hope that allows me to advocate for Rhode Islanders across our state, regardless of their background.
I was elected General Treasurer in 2022, an honor that allowed me to continue my passion for public service and apply my experience for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders. After completing my first term, I am proud of the work we have accomplished on their behalf.
We launched the RISavers program, expanding access to retirement savings for the 40% of private-sector workers who previously had no option to save through their employers. We piloted the RI AnchorHome mortgage program, leveraging the state’s short-term cash deposits to partner with local financial institutions and offer low-interest mortgage loans to qualifying Rhode Islanders. We reunited thousands of residents with millions of dollars in unclaimed property, helped individuals with disabilities save through RI ABLE, and strengthened our commitment to financial literacy in schools. Treasury also purchased and forgave millions of dollars in medical debt, providing relief to Rhode Islanders struggling with healthcare costs.
I do this work for all Rhode Islanders, but I also do it for my children, Arianna and Alessandro, and for my incredible fiancée, Sandra Cano. I believe deeply in the future of our state, and I believe in the power of hope—the same hope that brought my father here and that has guided me my whole life.
This fall, I ask for your support to continue this work. Stand with me for another term, so together we can keep moving Rhode Island forward—building opportunity, security, and hope for every family in our state.