Ryan W. Pearson

Pearson was born June 30, 1988, in Providence, Rhode Island. His mother, Deborah Kent an office assistant, and his father, Douglas Pearson a painter.

He was raised in Cumberland graduating from Cumberland High School where he served as Student Government President. As a high school student he led the student government in several community initiatives including overseeing an elementary school reading program he continues to sponsor today. He also was part of the Save our Schools organization that lobbied for local voters to approve a successful $30 million school construction bond question to renovate Cumberland High School. CHS had become under warning to lose its accreditation after years of maintenance neglect at the school.

After graduating Cumberland High School in 2006, Pearson moved to Washington, D.C. and attended American University studying for a degree in finance while working in the United States Senate as a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

In 2008, after a series of controversies on the local school committee at home in Cumberland, Pearson moved back to Rhode Island and announced his run for the Cumberland School Committee. Ultimately, he was successful in his run removing an eighteen year incumbent after campaigning to oversee the construction projects, improve teacher quality and ensure fiscal stability for the district.

Pearson graduated from Providence College with a B.S. in finance in 2010.

On May 18, 2012, Pearson declared his candidacy for the 19th district seat in the Rhode Island Senate as a Democrat. Incumbent Bethany Moura, a Republican also later announced she would be running for re-election. James Spooner (Democrat) and Steve Orsini (Independent) also announced for the seat. Pearson went on to win the Democratic primary with 68% of the vote and despite competing in a three-person race, won 54% of the general election vote on November 6, 2012.

In 2016, Pearson was challenged by Republican Billy Charette defeating him with 55.5% of the vote. Challenged again by Charette in 2018, Pearson again defeated him with 59.2% of the vote.

Serving in the Senate Pearson has served on the Finance, Education, Housing & Municipal Government, Special Legislation & Veterans Affairs and Oversight Committees. Appointed as a freshman to the Senate Finance Committee, Pearson has continued to be a leader of that committee now serving as the Chair. He also continues to serve on the Education Committee.

As a Senator, Pearson has taken on statewide issues most notably as a key leader in the state's efforts to invest in school infrastructure. Charing the Senate taskforce on School Housing Aid, the taskforce released a series of recommendations in 2014. Through the budget process in 2015 several of these recommendations were enacted with a majority of the remaining initiatives enacted in 2018. Pearson has also taken a leading role in the oversight of the education funding formula advocating for changes over the years and now a full review.

Fighting for pension security and fiscal responsibility of local municipalities, Pearson has also successfully advocated for legislation that oversees the performance of local pension plans.

Economically, Pearson authored legislation that overhauled Rhode Island's approach to economic development creating the Executive Office of Commerce and also has supported the initiatives leading a turnaround of Rhode Island's business climate.

Locally he has focused on delivering more state aid for schools, roads and parks in Cumberland and Lincoln. He also authored the legislation finally merging Cumberland's fire districts in 2013.

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