A true outsider, Ferla makes mayoral bid

By Ethan Hartley
Posted 7/12/18

Vincent Ferla readily admits he is not a politician, but he also believes that this may be a good thing should he become the new mayor of Warwick, a city he has called home his whole life.

“I …

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A true outsider, Ferla makes mayoral bid

Posted

Vincent Ferla readily admits he is not a politician, but he also believes that this may be a good thing should he become the new mayor of Warwick, a city he has called home his whole life.
“I was never a politician, this is my first step into the arena and I have a lot to learn,” Ferla said in a recent interview. “I am a novice at this point. So, point me in the right direction and I’m going to make things better than they are right now.”
Ferla graduated from Warwick Veterans High School and went on to purchase C&L Auto on Warwick Avenue when he was just 19 years old, and he has been running it ever since. If his name sounds familiar, it’s most likely because his father, Vincent, owned the Rocky Point amusement park. His uncle Conrad was the park’s general manager, who was involved in the deal that brought the famous Rocky Point arch to Warwick, Ferla said.
Now, despite his admitted beginner’s status in the political world, Ferla feels he can come in fresh to City Hall and make a major difference regarding problems he perceives around Warwick. He mentioned potholes and the quality of roads, in addition to the city’s garbage disposal methods, as primary points of concern.
“I want to try and help Warwick,” he said. “All I can see are potholes every place and there are a lot of things that have to get addressed in Warwick as far as I’m concerned.”
Ferla said he would have no problem sitting down with the City Council and hashing out a plan to move forward, and that running a used car dealership has prepared him for any challenges.
“I’m in the aggravation business. I put the fires out – each and every one of them, and every single day there are problems,” he said. “I’m a quick learner…I think if I can run a business, a hard business, for 38 years, this could be a walk in the park.”
Ferla has no campaign events planned thus far, as he and his campaign manager Ken Murphy have just started the campaign process. He said that he would not be running if Scott Avedisian, whom he considers a good friend, were back on the ballot as he has been for the past nine election seasons.
“If he was running again next year I wouldn’t be running right now. I’m just throwing my hat in the arena and seeing what happens,” he said. “I think Warwick is a fantastic place to live…I think I can do something different for the future of Warwick.”

Comments

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  • Oldpal

    he has honest eyes with a twinkle...………..as good of a reason as any!

    Thursday, July 12, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    The whole "if Avedisian were running, I would not be running" line is curious to me. On one hand he says it might be a benefit that he (Mr Ferla) has no political experience. Then, the next breath he tells us if the 9 term incumbent Mayor Avedisian had run again, he wouldn't have thrown his name in the ring this year. With all due respect....

    WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    Thursday, July 12, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Well this looks interesting, so I googled his used car business for reviews. Yelp has one review and it is one star. Ok so there can be one bad one, but it is a very detailed complaint. Then I looked at YP (yellow pages), a mixed bag with several atrocious1 star experiences. Finally looked at google, with a 3.5 star average. Also a good number of bad ones here's an example review:

    "These people took advantage of my grandfather, and lied to him about the value of his truck. THey told him they would scrap it, and gave him like 50$ or so. A couple days later, they are selling the truck for 3,000 dollars!!! DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE"

    https://www.yelp.com/biz/c-and-l-auto-wholesalers-warwick

    https://www.yellowpages.com/warwick-ri/mip/c-l-auto-sales-4120381

    Thursday, July 12, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    I think I can understand the "if Avedisian were running, I would not be running" line. Why would anyone want to put aside a lot of time and money just to have the city vote the same guy in again and again. If he didn't step down, I have no doubt he would have been voted back in again. It is the nature of this city and the voters.

    Friday, July 13, 2018 Report this

  • WarwickObserver

    "running a used car dealership has prepared him for any challenges." Not to detract from the used car industry, but I do not see how that experience would qualify you to run a large city. I am sure you are a good used car salesman, but when it comes to politics - you are a lemon.

    Friday, July 13, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Mr. Ferla,

    Welcome.

    Please don't be bothered by the critics comments. It takes a lot more courage and integrity to run for office than to criticize those that do, especially when those complainers are anonymous. You added to the race can only be good for the voters. The more they hear different ideas from different people, the better the future legislation will be from their City Council. I would like to hear your views and goals for our City, especially what you would suggest for the Rocky Point acreage. Please feel free to call me at 401-338-9900.

    Happy Summer Vincent.

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Democrat for Mayor

    Tuesday, July 17, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Mr. Ferla, the last person you should take advice from is the make-believe mayor, particularly with regard to how to conduct a political campaign. He somehow expected that commenters on a news website would not look for publicly-available information about him, and then would not present that information within the context of his candidacy, or make logical conclusions about his unfitness for office from it.

    If you have been a reader of this website, you already know what that information proves: That he has not paid the property taxes on his residence since 2014, did not pay the sewer and water fees on that residence this year, and consistently lies about changes in the city's population, business sector, and school enrollment. His complaints about "critics" are meant to distract from the factual and easily verifiable information that they have provided.

    And when he talks about "courage" and "integrity," the make-believe mayor is basically saying that being a candidate somehow earns him the right to lie to voters and get away with it.

    While your decision to run for office is admirable, it doesn't immunize you from people looking into your background or criticizing you for what they find, as the make-believe mayor seems to think.

    Your best bet is to stay as far away from the make-believe mayor as possible so that you don't become associated with a failed candidate who continues to try and mislead the honest, taxpaying voters of Warwick.

    Tuesday, July 17, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    There couldn't be 2 words more foreign to Rick Corrente then courage and integrity. It takes ZERO courage to ignore your responsibilities as a citizen, like Rick Corrente has done failing to pay his taxes. It takes ZERO integrity for Corrente to complain about the poor treatment of our seniors, especially while that same candidate (Corrente) is ignoring his responsibilities as a taxpayer.

    Lets think about this: What if every citizen approached their taxes the same way Rick Corrente has? Which is to basically say "oh well, somebody else will pay theres not my problem". If everyone took that approach we wouldn't have any Senior Centers, or trash pickup. We wouldn't have a recycling program, or beaches that anyone would visit. The teachers that Rick Corrente panders to wouldn't be getting paid. This is what is so infuriating about Richard Corrente. He complains about all that is wrong within our city, but has never contributed a damn thing toward making it better INCLUDING PAYING TAXES. That is the worst kind of person. Corrente is the defibition of a keyboard activist. Telling everyone else what to do, while ignoring the fact his own life is a trainwreck full of missed bills, tax delinquency and litigation losses. Warwick doesn't need a Mayor who will have City Hall repossessed. There are hundreds of words to describe Rick Corrente, COURAGE and INTEGRITY are not one of them.

    Tuesday, July 17, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Well well well....

    FERLA WIFE ARRESTED BY STATE POLICE FOR WELFARE FRAUD! has $400,000 house ... "needs" food stamps?

    http://turnto10.com/news/local/wife-of-warwick-mayoral-candidate-accused-of-fraudulent-use-of-food-stamps

    Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Report this