William Walaska Explained

William A. Walaska
State Senate:	Rhode Island
District:	30th^[1]
Term Start:	January 2003
Term End:	January 2017
Successor:	Jeanine Calkin
State Senate3:	Rhode Island
District3:	17th and 20th
Term Start3:	January 1995
Term End3:	January 2003
Birth Date:	16 September 1945
Birth Place:	Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Party:	Democratic
Residence:	Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Alma Mater:	Williams College Dartmouth College Providence College (BA, MBA)

William A. Walaska^[2] (September 16, 1945 – April 3, 2017) was an American Democratic politician and a member of the Rhode Island Senate who represented District 30 from 2003 to 2017. Walaska served consecutively from January 1995 until January 2003 in the District 17 seat.

Education

Walaska attended Williams College and Dartmouth College, and earned his BA in economics and his MBA from Providence College.

Elections

• 2012 Walaska was unopposed for the September 11, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 882 votes,^[3] and won the three-way November 6, 2012, General election with 7,585 votes (61.0%) against Republican nominee Keith Burkitt and Independent candidate Arthur Groh.^[4]
• 1994 When District 17 incumbent Senator Thomas Lynch left the Legislature and left the seat open, Walaska won the September 13, 1994, Democratic Primary and won the November 8, 1994, General election with 4,424 votes (57.7%) against Republican nominee Steven Archer.^[5]
• 1996 Walaska and returning 1994 Republican opponent Steven Archer were both unopposed for their September 10, 1996, primaries,^[6] setting up a rematch; Walaska won the November 5, 1996, General election with 5,353 votes (68.9%) against Archer.^[7]
• 1998 Walaska was unopposed for the September 15, 1998, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,475 votes,^[8] and won the November 3, 1998, General election with 4,941 votes (73.4%) against Republican nominee Raymond McKay.^[9]
• 2000 Walaska was unopposed for both the September 12, 2000, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,704 votes,^[10] and the November 7, 2000, General election, winning with 6,373 votes.^[11]
• 2002 Redistricted to District 30, and with incumbent Democratic Senator Paul Kelly retiring and leaving the seat open, Walaska was unopposed for both the September 10, 2002, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,932 votes,^[12] and the November 5, 2002, General election, winning with 7,331 votes.^[13]
• 2004 Walaska was unopposed for the September 14, 2004, Democratic Primary, winning with 512 votes,^[14] and won the November 2, 2004, General election with 7,758 votes (69.5%) against Republican nominee Roland Denomme.^[15]
• 2006 Walaska was unopposed for both the September 12, 2006, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,483 votes,^[16] and the November 7, 2006, General election, winning with 8,916 votes.^[17]
• 2008 Walaska was unopposed for both the September 9, 2008, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,013 votes,^[18] and the November 4, 2008, General election, winning with 9,256 votes.^[19]
• 2010 Walaska was unopposed for the September 23, 2010, Democratic Primary, winning with 1,306 votes,^[20] and won the November 2, 2010, General election with 5,545 votes (57.3%) against Republican nominee Armand Lusi.^[21]
• 2016 Walaska was defeated by Jeanine Calkin in the September 13, 2016, Democratic Primary by a 75-vote margin, ending his 22-year career in the Rhode Island Senate

Death

Walaska died on April 3, 2017, of cancer.^[22]

External links

• • William Walaska at Ballotpedia
• William A. Walaska at the National Institute on Money in State Politics

Notes and References

1. Web site: Senator William A. Walaska . . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
2. Web site: William Walaska's Biography . . March 12, 2014.
3. Web site: 2012 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
4. Web site: 2012 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
5. Web site: 1994 General Election Vote for R.I. Senate . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
6. Web site: 1998 Statewide Primary Vote for RI Senate (Democrat) . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
7. Web site: 1996 Votes Cast for RI Senate . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
8. Web site: Democrat Primary Statewide Primary September 15, 1998 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
9. Web site: RI State Senator, RI General Election, November 3, 1998 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
10. Web site: 2000 Rhode Island Senators & Representatives Summary by District, Democrat . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
11. Web site: 2000 General Election Results by District for Rhode Island Senate . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
12. Web site: 2002 Senator in General Assembly, Democrat . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
13. Web site: 2002 Rhode Island Senate by Senate District . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
14. Web site: 2004 Statewide Primary Senate Results by District . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
15. Web site: 2004 General Election State Senate Results by District . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
16. Web site: 2006 Statewide Primary State Senate Results by District . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
17. Web site: 2006 General Election Senate Summary Results by District . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
18. Web site: 2008 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
19. Web site: 2008 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
20. Web site: 2010 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
21. Web site: 2010 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 30 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . March 12, 2014.
22. Web site: Nesi. Ted. Former RI Sen. William Walaska dies at 71. WPRI 12 Eyewitness News. 3 April 2017. 3 April 2017.