We chose Cranston because it's a wonderful place to call home. We have great neighborhoods, good schools, beautiful parks, and neighbors who genuinely look out for one another. On Halloween, our street overflows with children trick-or-treating, and it's a reminder that this city is still a real community. But I'm also worried about our future. Cranston is facing serious financial challenges that threaten the things families depend on every day. If we don't make thoughtful decisions now, we risk higher taxes, devastating cuts to city services, and leaving our children to deal with problems we should have taken care of ourselves.

That's why I'm running for Cranston City Council in Ward 2—because I believe Democratic leadership means rolling up your sleeves, bringing people together, and doing the work to leave our community better than we found it.
 

I'm not someone who likes to complain about problems. As a civil and environmental engineer, I've spent my career solving them. Every day I work with people who don't always agree, but bring different perspectives together, study the facts, and find practical solutions. One of the things I love most about engineering is that when someone has a good idea, nobody cares whose idea it was. We just rally around it and get to work. I  believe if our local government had worked that way more often, Cranston would be in a much better position today.
 

Engineering taught me how to solve problems., but my parents taught me that the ones most worth solving are the ones that improve people's lives. My father Gary, who was also an engineer, was a practical, plainspoken man who believed doing the right thing, especially when it was uncomfortable, mattered more than anything. Shortly after starting a new job, he learned that a woman who had worked there for years was making less than the junior engineers who had just been hired. He barely knew her, and had only worked there a few months himself, but stood up to the company and insisted they fix it. He passed away unexpectedly last year, and I now find myself thinking about that story more often. It reminds me that none of us have unlimited time to make our communities better, and if we believe we can make a difference, we shouldn't wait to get involved. 
 

I was also fortunate to be raised by women who believed deeply in public service. My great-grandmother Martha Cunningham marched for women's suffrage when that was considered a radical idea. My mother Sandy spent years lobbying Congress to expand educational opportunities for children with disabilities, all because she believed my brother Hans deserved the same as every other child. Throughout their advocacy work, they both always taught me to ask one simple question about every decision made in government: “does it actually help the people who need it?”
 

Those are the values that made me a Democrat, and they're the values I'll bring to City Hall. I believe government should work for ordinary working class families. I believe we should measure every decision by whether it makes life better for the working families of our city. That means protecting our public schools, investing in our neighborhoods, maintaining the city services people depend on, and making responsible financial decisions that strengthen our future. After years of failed Republican leadership, Cranston deserves Democratic leadership that's guided by service, responsibility, and a belief that government should improve people's lives. It's not enough to point out what's wrong. We need leaders who are willing to do the hard work of governing, tackle difficult decisions, and stand up for the values we share along the way. 
 

I don't pretend to have all the answers. But I do know how to bring people together, ask tough questions, and solve difficult And problems. That's what I've spent my career doing, and it's exactly how I'll approach serving on the City Council. I'll always be honest about the challenges we face, and I'll always put the interests of people ahead of politics.
 

Chris and I chose Cranston because we believed it was the best place to raise our family. Today, I'm running because I believe Cranston is worth fighting for. I want Vincent, your family, and every family who calls our city home to enjoy the same safe neighborhoods, strong schools, and vibrant community that made us choose Cranston in the first place.
 

Over the next few months, I look forward to meeting many of you as I campaign door to door. I would be honored to serve as your City Councilwoman, and I hope to earn your vote in the Democratic Primary on or before September 9.

With gratitude,

 

Sara Haupt
Democrat, Candidate for Cranston City Council. Ward 2