Sheehan Seeking Sixth Term in State Senate

Can he make it six? State Senator James Sheehan has announced his bid for re-election in the State Senate this week, looking for his sixth term in District 36 representing Narragansett and North Kingstown.

First elected in November 2000, Sheehan began his career in the state legislature as a major opponent to the ill-gated mega-container port in Quonset. In the past 10 years, he has served on committees such as the Port Facilities Study Commissio, co-chair of the Joint Economic Development Committee, acting chair of the Senate Government Oversight Committee and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.

“My philosophy has always been to look to the issues that need to be addressed and work diligently toward practical solutions,” said Sheehan in a press release.  “In recent years, I have been focused on improving the state business climate, especially for small businesses, in order to generate good-paying jobs for residents of Rhode Island.”

His accomplishments during his tenure in the state legislature have ranged from sponsoring a law to allow new businesses to concurrently file for permits and licensing (streamlining and reducing the cost of the process), receiving an recognition from the National Federation of Independent for his work to support small businesses, among others.

A Democrat, Sheehan lives in North Kingstown and is a teacher in the Warwick Public School Department.