Former N.S. Town Councilor John Flaherty

01/13/2026

Guaranteed to learn ‘the rest of the story’ as famed radio personality Paul Harvey used to say.

It’s your dollars and worth a listen.

I’m tired of being limited to 3 minutes of speaking time at Town Council meetings; so, on Thursday, January 15th at 10:05 AM I'll be hosting a radio show on WNRI/1380. A special election in North Smithfield is scheduled to be held on February 3rd. The ballot question will ask voters to approve or reject a $9 million dollar bond for the renovation of the North Smithfield police station. This bond question will be the main topic of discussion on next Thursday’s show. I have some facts to share, some questions we should all be asking, and some suggestions to offer. Please tune in on the 15th at 10.05AM. Thank you.

12/08/2025

Very glad this resource by Mike Clifford is back by another name. The reporting and analysis provide residents with facts, data and insights to help form their own opinion about town business and the use of their tax dollars. Onward into 2026.

Blogger

11/25/2015

Encouraging N.S. residents to be open-minded about the potential move to a hired town manager. (here's Mr. Guertin's 11/18 letter I respond to below - http://bit.ly/21frzoG)

I’d like to respond to statements made about me by Tony Guertin in his Nov. 18 letter to the editor titled “What motivates N.S.

02/19/2015

It's come to my attention that Mr. Stephen Vowels made a number of false public statements involving my actions as a former town official at the School Committee meeting of February 10, 2015.

12/13/2014

I understand that I'm going to sleep in a National Park tonight? http://tinyurl.com/qzneqm5

12/01/2014

A final ‘thank-you’ on my final day as a North Smithfield Town Councilor. When I first encountered Mike Clifford a few years ago, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. I’d seen him at an occasional town meeting asking what seemed to be difficult questions about various issues. I wasn’t sure then if he was an unreasonably disgruntled taxpayer or if he had legitimate concerns. Then I actually got to know Mike during the election of 2012 when we both ran for Town Council. How I wish now that he’d been elected then too.

Mike was then appointed by the Town Council to the Budget Commission where he became its Chairman and has been advising and helping to do the peoples’ business for the past two years. It was in the role that I really got to know Mike well. During this time we fought, collaborated, laughed and fought some more. We may not have agreed on every issue, but I have NEVER worked with someone as diligent and hard-working as Mike Clifford. Most people will never know the enormous amount of homework that Mike does on every issue for which he brings an opinion. And despite first impressions, he cares deeply about the future well-being of our town and all its residents - it’s not just about the money. For these reasons he became my closest confidant and advisor during my two years leading the Town Council and I will be forever grateful.

11/06/2014

Had the pleasure to lunch with former Cincinnatti Mayor Mark Mallory today in Providence. He shared good ideas and advice from successful redevelopment projects he championed during his 2 terms as mayor.

11/06/2014

And he's off! Best wishes to my friend Jay Freitas as he peddles 1,900 miles to Louisiana in a benefit ride in memory of a fallen hero.

Better yet, why not donate to a very worthy cause?

www.ride2recovery.com/donate.php
Under "rider name" type "Project HERO" for the first name and "New England" for the last name. Click "search" then "pick rider" and fill out the donation form.

Good luck, Jay!

Freitas, a North Smithfield resident and the son of a former police chief in town who shared his name, was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1967 at the age of 21, and sent to Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Ga.

11/06/2014

Congratulations to the newest two members of the North Smithfield School Committee. Merredythe and Art will always do the right thing for all concerned - they're two people with high intellect, integrity and sound moral judgment.

NORTH SMITHFIELD - Two candidates who campaigned on the premise of bringing transparency and accountability to the North Smithfield School Committee won by a landslide in the general election on Tuesday.

11/06/2014

Congratulations to Town Administrator Paulette Hamilton. The mail ballots have been counted and her victory is confirmed. See Board of election results here: http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2014/general_election/north_smithfield/

NORTH SMITHFIELD - It was with cautious optimism, and even a hint of post-election letdown that Town Administrator Paulette Hamilton acknowledged Tuesday night that she will likely lead the town for another two years.

11/06/2014

Thank you to those who did the homework on this package of three infrastructure bonds and talked with your neighbors about the importance of investinging in our town's future. I believe a majority of voters made the right choice.

NORTH SMITHFIELD - Voters on Tuesday were ready to 'Invest in NS,' approving all three bonds in the package to authorize $12 million in new town spending on roads, municipal buildings and school facilities.

11/05/2014

Yes! Yes! Yes!