Warwick Councilman Bill Muto announces run for State Representative, District 23

Lifelong Warwick resident will continue serving Ward 6 while seeking the open seat

WARWICK, R.I. — Warwick City Councilman William (Bill) Muto announced today that

he is running as a Democrat for State Representative in District 23. He plans to keep his

Ward 6 seat while he campaigns, bringing to the General Assembly the same approach

he has taken at City Hall: show up, do the work, and be straight with people.

“Representing Ward 6 has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Muto said. “I

have worked every day to lead with integrity and a commonsense approach to city

government. I’m running for State Representative because the challenges facing our

neighborhoods demand steady leadership and real collaboration. District 23 deserves a

representative who understands this community, stands with it, and works hard for it.”

Why He Is Running Now

For Muto, this campaign is a continuation of his Council work, not a break from it. Sitting

on the budget side of city government gave him a direct view of how state decisions

land on Warwick. Unfunded mandates show up in tax bills and in cuts to services

families count on.

“When you sit on the budget side of city government, you see clearly how state

mandates—especially unfunded ones—show up in our tax bills and in the services

families rely on,” Muto said. “I’ve seen where those pressures come from, and I believe I

can keep making a difference for Warwick by serving at the state level while continuing

to show up for Ward 6.”

A Warwick Native

Muto grew up in a family of eight in the Buttonwoods section of Warwick and went to the

city’s public schools. He still lives in the home his parents built more than 50 years ago.

He and his wife Joanne—an English teacher at Pilgrim High School—raised their two

children, Michaela and Alexander, there, and cared for their parents as they got older.

“Warwick is not just where I live. It’s who I am,” Muto said. “My parents raised six of us

here and taught us to work hard, keep our word, and give back. I know our

neighborhoods and our schools because I’ve lived them.”

His Record on the Council

On the Council, Muto has focused on the basics: showing up, following through, and

helping residents cut through city bureaucracy. He has worked on street safety,

government transparency, and building relationships with labor, small businesses,

school officials, and city departments. His background in business intelligence—more

than 30 years helping organizations turn data into decisions—shapes how he

approaches problems.

“The issues in front of us—workforce development, affordability, education,

infrastructure, public safety, economic competitiveness—are not solved with speeches,”

Muto said. “They require steady, collaborative leadership. I want to be a partner who

understands the issues, respects the process, and works with people to build practical

solutions.”

Where He Stands

Warwick roots. Lifelong resident with board service at Boys Town New England and

Bridgemark.

Accountable spending. Muto backs Council motions that include built-in outcome

measurements and public reporting—he wants the public to see where the money goes

and whether it worked.

Plain-language policy. Committed to making state legislation readable: plain

summaries, infographics, and regular feedback channels so residents actually know

what their government is doing.

Constituent engagement. Open-office hours in neighborhood parks and libraries,

combined with paper surveys and digital polling, so every resident has a way to be

heard.

The Road Ahead

“Rhode Island succeeds when its leaders work together,” Muto said. “Times are tough

for a lot of families, and there are no easy answers. Warwick has always met its

challenges by working hard and being straight with one another. I’m asking my

neighbors for their support and their ideas, and I’m ready to get to work.”

Learn more, volunteer, or donate at www.mutoforwarwick.com.

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About Bill Muto: William (Bill) Muto is a lifelong Warwick resident, business consultant,

and Ward 6 City Councilman. He serves on the boards of Boys Town New England and

Bridgemark.