Bella Noka says she will focus on seniors, healthcare and housing
By Will Collette
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| With her husband Randy. Photo by Steve Ahlquist |
Well-known Narragansett tribal leader Bella Noka joins an already jam-packed field of Democrats competing in the September 5 primary.
The winner moves on to a general election against whatever Republican gets served up as a sacrificial lamb in true blue Congressional District 1. No Republican has yet declared.
The seat is currently held by David Cicilline who has resigned to take over leadership of the Rhode Island Foundation.
Ms. Noka is well-known and admired by many (including me) but faces the same challenge of raising a ton of money and somehow breaking out of the pack.
Then there's residency. Richmond, where she lives, in not in CD-1. She's probably not the only one in the pack of nearly 20 candidates who doesn't reside in the district.
Rep. Seth Magaziner didn't live in the Second District when he declared but moved before the 2022 primary.