Author: Ian McLean for Smithfield
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Irresponsible Spending for a Good Cause
Two weeks ago, the Town Council approved $27,000 in donations to various organizations and nonprofits. Before that vote, I raised a serious concern: the town exceeded last year’s appropriated budget by more than $1 million — in reality, closer to $1.2 million. Despite this, the Council approved $12,500 for WellOne, $2,500 for the Blackstone Valley…
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Shrinking Fund Balance and Growing Debt
As Chair of Smithfield’s Budget & Financial Review Board, I’ve seen our town’s finances up close — how budgets are built, how they’re changed, and how they’re actually followed. And what I’ve seen is am major part of why I’m running for Town Council. Our budget has grown dramatically over the past decade, but our…
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SOS – Support Our Schools
When my wife and I moved to Smithfield in 2014, the strength of the school system was one of the biggest reasons we chose this community. As we settled in, started our family, and became more familiar with Smithfield Public Schools, we grew increasingly concerned about the downward trajectory in educational quality. We saw dedicated,…
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Meet the Candidate – Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who joined me at my Meet the Candidate event on Thursday. I truly appreciated the support, the conversations, and the thoughtful questions you brought forward. We covered a wide range of topics important to residents, including the School Bus Challenges, Pickleball Courts, Commercial Tax Rates, Senior Tax Freeze, and the Food…
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Campaign Event: Meet the Candidate
Join Ian McLean for an evening of conversation and community at Uncommon Pair Brewing! Learn about his vision for the Smithfield Town Council and share your ideas for our town’s future. Enjoy good company, local brews, and meaningful discussion. All in support of Education, Public Safety, Public Works, and Responsible Growth. Thursday, September 3rd •…
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Community Questions Answered: Pickleball
My understanding of the current pickleball situation is that the town acted with good intentions by refurbishing long‑neglected tennis courts using grant funding. Unfortunately, because of the geography of the area, the new courts sit lower than several nearby homes, creating a level of noise that has understandably frustrated residents. In response, the town implemented…
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Community Questions Answered: Data Centers and Housing
As I’ve been talking with residents around town, a few questions come up again and again, especially regarding my views on the recent data center proposal and on LMI housing. These topics affect Smithfield’s long‑term character, resources, and quality of life, so I want to share my perspective openly and directly. Below, you’ll find my…
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Channel 0 Local News – Interview with Ian McLean
As an Independent candidate for Town Council, my focus remains centered on supporting the people of Smithfield. With that in mind, I recently sat down with Nick DiCenzo of Channel 0 Local News to discuss my candidacy and the issues that matter most to our community. I appreciate the time and effort Nick puts into…
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Joe’s Substack – Candidate Profile: Ian McLean
I recently sat down with Joe Siegel for a conversation on his publication, Joe’s Substack. We talked about my press release announcing my candidacy for the Smithfield Town Council and spent time digging into why I chose to run as an Independent. In the interview, I explained that my focus is on building coalitions that…
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Valley Breeze – McLean announces candidacy for Smithfield Town Council
It’s pretty exciting to see different sources starting to pick up my campaign. Jacquelyn Moorehead of the Valley Breeze and Observer has released an article on my campaign, summarizing my prior press release. You can find the article here:
