CUMBERLAND - Cumberland Town Council Vice President Mia A. Ackerman has
announced that she is a Democratic candidate for the District 45 seat of the
Rhode Island House of Representatives. The district includes parts of Lincoln
and Cumberland. She has served for three two-year terms on the Town Council and
will not seek reelection in order to run for State Representative.
Before an overwhelming crowd at Andrew’s Bistro on Mendon
Road in Cumberland, Thomas Sculley, chairman of the Cumberland Democratic Town
Committee introduced Ackerman.
Regarding her decision to run, Ackerman said, “I have worked
tirelessly for the people of Cumberland on the Town Council.” She continued,
“As I’ve talked to constituents, I have been encouraged by their kind words and
have been urged to run for State Representative.”
As vice president of the Town Council, Ackerman serves as
the chairwoman of the Ordinance Subcommittee and is the Cumberland Youth
Commission Liaison, as well as the Senior Center Liaison. Ackerman is also on the Board of Directors of
the Historic Metcalf-Franklin Farm Association, an active participant in the
Cumberland/Lincoln Prevention Coalition, a member of the Cumberland Land Trust,
has served on the JJ McLaughlin Elementary Executive PTO board, and was a
former member of the Cumberland Juvenile Hearing board.
Councilwoman Ackerman has championed many issues in her time
on the Town Council, including the financing of the $3.5 million bond for the
JJ McLaughlin School addition and she initiated new traffic-calming measures.
She has also advocated tirelessly for a healthy tax base for small and large
businesses and says she will continue to do so at the Statehouse.
Ackerman, a resident of 6 Shelter Lane, is married to Barry
Ackerman. They are the proud parents of Samuel, 15, and Elicia, 13, who are
students in the Cumberland public schools.
A graduate of State University of New York at Binghamton,
Ackerman graduated with honors and received a Bachelor’s degree. She was the
recipient of the 2010 Women of Achievement award presented by the YWCA of
Northern Rhode Island, which recognizes women for their charitable efforts and
contributions to their community.
About her campaign, Ackerman said, “I am looking forward to
launching an aggressive and effective grassroots campaign beginning this week.”
She formed an advisory committee earlier in the year
consisting of residents from District 45 who offered advice and guidance about
a bid for the seat based on her previous work in the community. Ackerman will be
a candidate in the Democratic primary for the District 45 seat on September 11th,
2012.
