Off Hours: Ron Kandzerski, Facilities Management, campaign volunteer

Someday, Ron Kandzerski hopes to have a publisher for his manuscript, a nonfiction work he has titled "The Power of Egalitarianism."

Until he does, the book title perhaps best describes Kandzerski's efforts as a campaign volunteer. His seat-of-the-pants expertise was acquired through on-and-off involvement since the late 1980s with Rhode Island's Republican Party, first as a ward committee member, then as a ward committee chairman.

Ron Kandzerski displays some of the political correspondence he has received

"Ward committees are like a horse in a stable," says Kandzerski. "They await a call to action from the party." The chair is responsible for filling vacancies in polling areas, Kandzerski says, "but I try to be more active than that. That's why I got involved with Lugar."

Lugar is Republican Richard G. Lugar, the senior senator from Indiana. In 1995, Lugar launched a bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Kandzerski coordinated the senator's Rhode Island campaign.

The February 1996 edition of Providence Trunk Line, a newsletter published by the Republican City Committee, noted one result of Kandzerski's efforts:

"For the first time in anyone's memory, we had an actual candidate for president at a Providence Republican function. ... Sen. Richard Lugar from Indiana was the special guest at our Christmas party on Dec. 10 at the 1025 Club. Senator Lugar's Rhode Island coordinator (and Ward 12 GOP chairman) Ron Kandzerski was responsible."

Kandzerski clearly prizes the relationship with Lugar: A personal letter from the senator, written to Kandzerski "in appreciation of your strong leadership," holds a place of honor among dozens of framed political mementos that cover a wall in Kandzerski's home.

Last fall, Kandzerski advised Alfred H. Liddle III, who ran as a candidate for state representative in House District 37. Liddle lost to incumbent Democrat H. Norman Knickle, but plans to run again, with Kandzerski's help.

"If people like me stay involved in the political process, there are benefits like ... having an honest and sincere person in office," said Kandzerski, who noted that he would rather run a campaign than be a candidate. "Then we would have a good political system in Rhode Island and we wouldn't have to worry about scandals." - Tracie Sweeney

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