William (Bill) Rupp has spent most of his career as a community newspaper editor and reporter in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, including stints as managing editor and news editor at the Woonsocket Call and the Pawtucket Times and editor of the weekly Warren Times-Gazette. He has been the recipient of and has led editorial staffs that have been honored with awards from press associations in Rhode Island, New England, and Pennsylvania and the Suburban Newspapers of America. He holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in journalism from Pennsylvania State University and has studied holistic counseling at Salve Regina University. He and his wife, Cyndy, have a blended family with three grown daughters and two grown sons. Reading thriller and mystery books, writing, home renovation projects, and personal fitness take up most of his spare time.
Beliefs Politics Rupp has been an independent most of his life. He considers himself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. He selects candidates to support as individuals, not party members, although he has always leaned toward Democrats in presidential elections. Religion Rupp considers himself a spiritual person, but not religious. He has a strong belief in a higher power, which he refers to as God. He believes in reincarnation and karma and is tolerant of every person's belief system. Local Hot-Button Issues -       Maintaining the quality of local services while slowing or reducing spending for them. -       Developing the town's business base with environmentally and people friendly enterprises to shift some of the tax burden away from property owners. -       Controlling taxes overall through a collaborative effort with public workers, particularly in the school department. -       Maintaining the educational quality and infrastructure of the school system without dramatic increases in taxation. -       Improving participation in town government with efforts that reach out to a highly educated electorate.