Dear Neighbor,
I'm writing to introduce myself in case we haven't had the opportunity to meet. My name is Alana DiMario, and for the past six years I've had the privilege of serving as your State Senator for District 36, representing Narragansett, North Kingstown, and New Shoreham.
When I first ran for office, I wasn't a career politician. I was (and still am) a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than twenty years of experience helping children, families, and adults navigate life's challenges. That background gives me a perspective few legislators bring to the State House. I carry the stories of my clients and their families with me, and those experiences drive my commitment to fighting for policies that help people grow, work, and thrive in Rhode Island throughout every stage of their lives.
Through my work, I realized many of the struggles people face aren't caused by individual factors or a lack of abilities. They're the result of barriers that government has both the power and the responsibility to address. Families couldn't find affordable child care. Clients struggled to access physical and mental health care. Seniors worried about remaining in their homes. Small business owners faced unnecessary red tape. Our coastline and natural resources were increasingly impacted by climate change, threatening our safety and future.
I ran for the Senate because I believed I could help remove those barriers and make government work better for the people it serves.
My husband Eric and I have called Narragansett home since 2008, and North Kingstown is where I have my therapy practice. We love it here. We have three children, two at Narragansett High School and one at the Pier School. I’ve talked to many of you while serving hot dogs at a Mariners game, standing in driveways at play date drop offs, enjoying Wickford Harbor Fires and parades, having breakfast at Linda’s, Shayna’s, and Ellen’s, and visiting the animals at the 1661 Farm with my kids. Those conversations have been my biggest sources of inspiration, leading to problems solved and bills passed.
For the past six years, your priorities have driven my work. I've listened, dug into the details, and delivered results. In partnership with community leaders, constituents, and advocates, I've passed more than 60 bills into law and secured millions of dollars in investments to make our communities healthier, safer, stronger, and more prepared for the future.
I'm proud of what we've accomplished. Throughout my time in office, I've stood up for the values we share: making life more affordable, supporting public education, protecting reproductive freedom, defending workers' rights, addressing climate change, and ensuring every Rhode Islander has their basic needs met and every opportunity to succeed. Those weren’t just promises from the campaign trail. They are the principles that guide every vote I cast.
For families and health care: I've worked to expand access to affordable and high quality mental health care and primary care, supported our health care workforce, and made telehealth a permanent option for Rhode Islanders. As a working mother of three, I know firsthand how essential affordable, high quality child care is for families and our economy. In my role as Co-Chair of the Child Care Commission, I’ve worked to expand access to child care, strengthen our early education workforce through an innovative pilot program and increased wages, and accelerate progress toward universal public preschool because every child deserves the best possible start in life. I’ve elevated the voices of educators and strengthened partnerships between parents and special education professionals, because strong public schools are an investment in our economy and Rhode Island’s future.
For our local economy: I helped restaurants survive the pandemic by sponsoring legislation that helped locally owned restaurants continue serving their communities, created a pathway for cottage food businesses to launch and grow, and reduced unnecessary red-tape barriers to success.. I’ve also worked to address rising insurance costs that are squeezing the child-serving organizations our families count on.
For seniors, workers, and every day affordability: From my seat on the Senate Finance Committee, I've pushed for tax relief for seniors and military retirees, higher wages, more attainable housing solutions that fit our community, and statewide paratransit service for people with disabilities while securing funding that improves public safety, infrastructure, higher education, and community spaces throughout District 36.
For our coastline and environment: In my time serving on the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture I've worked to balance renewable energy development with preserving Rhode Island's forests and open spaces and keeping ratepayer costs low. I've secured funding to strengthen the resilience of our ports and coastal infrastructure, helped establish the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund, defended the Act on Climate, and continued fighting for clean air, clean water, and a healthier future for the next generation.
Throughout all of this, I've never forgotten who I work for.
My first responsibility has always been to the people of District 36. If I believe something isn't in the best interest of our community, I've spoken up - even when it wasn't the easy or politically convenient thing to do. My loyalty is to the people I represent, not special interests or insider political pressure.
I've helped hundreds of constituents resolve issues with state agencies, from housing and employment concerns to health care and transportation. Whether someone contacts me with a question, needs help navigating the government, or wants to share their perspective on an issue, I believe listening is one of the most important parts of this job.
While I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, there's still more work ahead. I love this community, I love Rhode Island, and I am committed to working tirelessly to improve it. We need to continue expanding access to health care, making Rhode Island more affordable for working families and seniors, strengthening our schools and workforce, addressing housing challenges, protecting our environment, and ensuring our economy creates opportunity for everyone.
Between now and September 9, I'll be out across the district knocking on doors and attending community events because the best ideas still come from listening to the people I serve. I hope we'll have the chance to talk about what's most important to you and your family.
Thank you for the trust you've placed in me over the past six years. It has been the honor of my life to serve as your State Senator.
I would be grateful for your support in the Democratic Primary on September 9 so I can continue delivering results for District 36.
Sincerely,
Alana M. DiMario
State Senator, District 36
Alana4RI.com | Alana4RI@gmail.com
P.S. Mail ballot applications are due August 19, and early in-person voting begins August 20. You can also sign up for my constituent eNewsletter at Alana4RI.com to stay updated on my work and community events.