My Backyard

By Ken McGill, Registrar of Voters

City of Pawtucket 

As Registrar of the Board of Canvassers for the City of Pawtucket and a person with a degree in political science I love political history, in particular Pawtucket political history. Pawtucket politics is different from say Providence politics and even Little Compton politics because, as a city, we are small enough to know of the riches of small town politics, but large enough to experience a good political battle just like the larger cities. That is why I love Pawtucket politics.

Pawtucket politicians have served an important role locally but many of our politicians have gone on to be huge players in state politics. Pawtucket can boast of three speakers of the Rhode Island House of Representatives who played important roles in shaping our state and watching out for Pawtucket. Those speakers were William R. Fortin, Harry Curvin and John Harwood.

William Fortin was speaker of the house from 1923- 1927. Born in Vergennes, Vermont he received his education in the Central Falls Public Schools. A pharmacist by trade Speaker Fortin was first appointed as an inspector of milk for the City of Pawtucket and was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy. He served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from January 1915 until 1927.

Our next speaker wielded a lot of power throughout our city and our state and that is Harry Curvin. Speaker Curvin was born in Pawtucket and received his education at St. Mary’s School and the Kinyon’s Business College. His trade was a contracting painter and a decorator. Speaker Curvin held a number of positions in city government before going on to state service. He was Director of Public Safety for the city from 1927- 1946 and Director of Public Works from 1951 – 1954. His first term as a representative was in 1931 and he went on to serve as speaker from 1941 – 1964. Speaker Curvin served the longest term as Speaker – 23 years and 223 days. He retired after the 1965 session. Many knew Curvin as a true political “boss” who had his pulse on everything from employee hiring to state contracts. Just an aside note – whenever I tell people that I live on Sterling Street the first thing people say is – “Oh – Harry Curvin lived on that street.”

Last, but never least, is Speaker John Harwood. John Harwood served in the House of Representatives from 1980 – 2004. He served the people of Oak Hill and Woodlawn sections of the city. From 1993 – 2003 Representative Harwood was the Speaker of the House where he presided over a $2 billion dollar state budget. He is a lawyer by trade and is a partner in the law firm of McKinnon & Harwood located on Newport Avenue. Speaker Harwood’s career was hurt by an unfounded political scandal in 2002, where he beat back a write-in campaign from a political unknown. Representative Harwood served the people of his district for one more term and then lost his bid for re-election in 2004.

Politics in our community is an exciting science. Pawtucket has seen many great leaders rise from local politics to become big players on the state scene. As we all know the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representative is probably the most powerful person in state government. It is nice to know that from time to time that power rested with a Pawtucket politician and that is why Speakers Fortin, Curvin and Harwood will always be part of – Pawtucket – Your Hometown. 

-           Until next week.