Keable fends off challenger for House seat

BURRILLVILLE – Incumbent state Sen. Cale P. Keable handily defeated challenger Russell H. Jennings in Wednesday’s Democratic primary for the District 47 House seat and will now advance to the November ballot where he will square off against Republican candidate David J. Place.

Keable’s unofficial total vote in Burrillville and Glocester was 703. Jennings, a political newcomer, collected 220 votes.

Keable was elected to the District 47 House seat in 2010. He has been the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee since 2014. An attorney, he is a board member of the New England Organ Bank and is a former member of the Burrillville Schools Alumni Education Foundation Inc. and the Industrial Foundation of Burrillville.

“I am eager to return to the Statehouse to continue our fight to reform the Energy Facilities Siting Board to completion; to continue to fight the opioid epidemic; and to see through the complete elimination of the car tax to help our middle class,” said Keable. “I’ve learned many things over the years at the Statehouse, particularly that the ability to deliver for your community depends significantly upon your skill at developing consensus and working cooperatively with colleagues across the political spectrum.

“I have worked hard to build bridges and reach across party lines and divides to get results at the Statehouse,” he added. “I put my experience to work for my community, and will continue to work hard for the people of Burrillville, Glocester and Rhode Island.”

Place, the Republican candidate for District 47 on the ballot in November, has served on the Burrillville Town Council since 2010. A machinist apprentice for American Tool Company in Lincoln, he was a political organizer and treasurer of the Burrillville Republican Town Committee.

“I’ve learned many things over the years at the Statehouse, particularly that the ability to deliver for your community depends significantly upon your skill at developing consensus and working cooperatively with colleagues across the political spectrum,” said Place. “I have worked hard to build bridges and reach across party lines and divides to get results at the State House. I will put my experience to work for my community, and will continue to work hard for the people of Burrillville, Glocester and Rhode Island.”