RE-ELECT
LARRY MANDEL TO THE NORTH KINGSTOWN TOWN COUNCIL
Experience, Energy, Enthusiasm
ABOUT ME
My Journey
I first came to NK in 1970 when I met my wife, Judy (Curry) Mandel, who grew up here. We married in 1974 and over the years spent much time in NK, even as we lived overseas and in Washington, DC for most of our working years.
For over 32 years I served as a U.S diplomat. With our four children we lived all over the world, with multiple stops back in Washington and Rhode island. During my diplomatic postings i was active in community affairs, serving numerous times on school boards and employee associations, usually in leadership positions. In my last two overseas postings I served as Deputy Ambassador. I retired with the rank of Minister Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service.
Before entering the Foreign Service I was an attorney in Massachusetts, and previous to that was a business executive in Chicago, where I grew up. I received my BA from American University and my JD from Northeastern university.
I am delighted to be a full-time resident of North Kingstown, where we have chosen to live in retirement. I am an active participant in OLLI courses at URI, frequently play pickleball at Wilson Park and elsewhere, and am eager to continue serving on the North Kingstown Town Council.
Prior Service in North Kingstown
I was born with the public service gene. Prior to being elected to Town Council in 2022 I served on various committees including the North Kingstown Economic Development Advisory Board and the Audit and Personnel committees. Those activities made me interested in doing more, which led to my running for Council.
MY EXPERIENCE
NORTH KINGSTOWN TOWN COUNCILOR
I was elected to the North Kingstown Town Council in 2022 and have served on the council since then.
US DIPLOMAT
I served for over 32 years as a Foreign Service Officer, residing in eight foreign countries as well as Washington D.C. My duties varied from serving in the State Department's Operations Center to managing resources for embassies overseas and in Washington.
US DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN SERVICE GRIEVANCE BOARD
After retiring from the State Department in 2016, I served for five years on the State Department's Foreign Service Grievance Board, a 19-member appeals Board made up of judges, mediators, and retired diplomats.
FORMER DEPUTY AMBASSADOR IN TURKEY AND JORDAN
For my last two overseas postings, I had the honor of serving as the Deputy United States Ambassador in Turkey and Jordan. As Deputy Ambassador I had a wide range of responsibilities for both policy and operations of these two strategically important embassies.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Prior to joining the State Department I worked as an attorney in Massachusetts, and before that a business executive in Chicago.
MY PLATFORM
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
From serving as a U.S. diplomat, my focus has been on finding ways to bring people together. I believe we have more in common than separates us. Restoring trust in government means public officials working together for the common good. We owe that to the community and the voters. Over the past two years we have had an extraordinarily collegial Council -- we don't always agree, of course, but when we disagree we do it with respect and honesty. Maintaining that collegiality sets the tone for the town.
MAINTAINING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
It is essential to maintain our balance between the quality of life we love here, and the growth that is inevitable in a private-property based society. We cannot stop growth, but we can manage and prepare for it by focusing it where infrastructure and resources exist. I have lived all over the world. My wife and I made the very deliberate decision to retire here. I value how special a place North Kingstown is.
MAINTAINING OUR CLEAN WATER SUPPLY
We are fortunate to live in a community with excellent and inexpensive clean drinking water. I will advocate for continued measures to protect this vital resource.
MANAGING OUR RESOURCES
Managing the town’s finances so that we continue to perform our highest priority tasks will require us to be wise financial stewards. While we can do almost anything, we will not be able to do everything.
FOCUSING ON OUR SCHOOLS
Ensuring that our children are both successful academically and safe in our schools is essential. While this responsibility belongs primarily with the School Committee and the administrators, the Town Council plays a role in the budgeting process. It is Council's job to ensure that our students and teachers have appropriate facilities so that all students can reach their potential and thrive as citizens of our world. Town growth can help expand the available resources to fund our schools. Meanwhile, our teachers and coaches must be properly supported, trained, and supervised. Most importantly, our kids need to develop the life skills to both be self-aware and confident, and to know when to seek help. This is the ultimate goal of education.
STILL TO DO
Among the things we still need to do, working with our state and federal counterparts:
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Replace the deteriorated Police and Fire Stations with modern, efficient facilities
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Build a middle school that enables and provides safe 21t century learning
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Increase housing that serves our vital workers -- teachers, nurses, emergency workers, and others.
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Find ways to mitigate the impact of climate change, particularly rising sea levels
CONTACT ME
Contact me with any questions you may have or if you'd like to get involved and help our campaign!