Coventry Council Candidates Declare Nov. 28, Dec. 1

COVENTRY, RI — Coventry Council candidates for Town Council Districts 4 and 5 may declare candidacy for the seats starting Nov. 28 in the Feb. 3, 2026 special election filling seats vacated by former President Hillary Lima, Dist. 4, and recently elected Dist. 5 Councilman Robert DeLellis.

The Council candidates declaration period is on two days, Friday, Nov. 28 and then that Monday, Dec. 1, and forms are due back to the Board of Canvassers, with 50 signatures, by Dec. 9.

Voters have until Dec. 7 to make sure they’re registered to vote in the primary, if needed. They have until Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 to register to vote in the the Special Election Feb. 3.

Lima Dist. 4 Resignation Follows Solicitor Invoice Debate, Threat

In her resignation letter, Lima cited an increasingly volatile social media campaign, coupled with her ongoing debate among fellow council members about her handling of former Town Solicitor Stephen Angell’s invoices, restricting full view of the invoices to herself, for her decision to step from the role. She argues Angell’s  defense of the town’s eminent domain seizure of the Johnson’s Pond property from Soscia Holdings, LLC in 2024 requires limiting full access to the invoices.

Angell also resigned that week. The invoices debate also involved the earlier resignation of former Dist. 5 Councilman Scott Copley and Dist. 3 Councilman James LeBlanc, who protested the limited invoice access. In Copley’s case, then- Council Vice President JP Verducci reported Copley threatened Lima about the invoices just prior to his resignation. In July, Copley was arraigned in Kent County Superior Court on a felony charge of threatening a public official.

Lima’s former colleagues unanimously opposed limiting access to the invoices, opening full access during the Oct. 2 meeting following Lima’s resignation, without the restrictions placed on the majority of council members during an earlier April attempt to open access to the full council.

DeLellis Dist. 5 Resignation Follows DUI Charge

Delellis won the previous Special Election to fill the seat Copley vacated with his resignation. DeLellis ran unopposed for the seat in the August special election, winning  91.1 percent of the votes with 41 votes against four write-in ballots. In late September, DeLelis resigned following his Sept. 24 arrest by RI State Police for DUI.

Coventry Council Candidates Declaration, Special Election Timeline

The RI Secretary of State has posted the following Special Election timeline and relevant forms, including deadlines for prospective Council candidates. (Questions for more information may be directed to the Rhode Island Department of State Elections (401) 222-2340. Questions may also be directed to the Coventry Board of Canvassers, (401) 822-9150.)

Fri, Nov 28	Declaration of Candidacy filing period begins	FORM
Mon, Dec 01	Declaration of Candidacy filing period ends – 4:00 pm deadline	FORM
Wed, Dec 03	Nomination papers ready to be picked up.	FAQ
Sun, Dec 07	Deadline to register to vote – Primary	REGISTER TO VOTE
Tue, Dec 09	Deadline to submit nomination papers to the local board of canvassers	FAQ
Wed, Dec 10	Deadline for candidates to withdraw – Local Offices	FAQ
Wed, Dec 10	Deadline to file candidate objections – Local Offices	FAQ
Thu, Dec 11	Deadline for Boards of Canvassers to Certify Candidates (Local Offices) or Nomination Papers (State and Federal) to the SOS	FAQ
Tue, Dec 16	Deadline to submit Braille/Tactile/Large Print mail ballot applications – Primary	FORM
Tue, Dec 16	Deadline to submit Mail Ballot Application Online – Primary	PORTAL
Tue, Dec 16	Deadline to submit Mail Ballot Applications – Primary	FORM
Wed, Dec 17	Emergency Mail Ballot Application Period begins – Primary	COMING SOON
Wed, Dec 17	Early in-person voting period begins – Primary	FAQ
Sun, Jan 04	Deadline to register to vote – Election	REGISTER TO VOTE
Mon, Jan 05	Early in-person voting period ends – Primary – 4:00 p.m. deadline	FAQ
Mon, Jan 05	Deadline to submit Emergency Mail Ballot Applications – Primary – 4:00 p.m. deadline	COMING SOON
Tue, Jan 06	PRIMARY	VOTER INFORMATION CENTER
Wed, Jan 07	Deadline to submit recount requests – Primary	FAQ
Wed, Jan 07	Deadline for voters to return deficiency notices regarding their mail ballots to the Board of Elections (BOE) – Primary	FAQ
Wed, Jan 07	Deadline for military and overseas voters to return their mail ballots to the Board of Elections (BOE) – Primary	FAQ
Fri, Jan 09	Deadline for Boards of Canvassers to Certify Election Candidates to the SOS
Tue, Jan 13	Deadline to submit Mail Ballot Application Online – Election	PORTAL
Tue, Jan 13	Deadline to submit Braille/Tactile/Large Print mail ballot applications – Election	FORM
Tue, Jan 13	Deadline to submit Mail Ballot Applications – Election	FORM
Wed, Jan 14	Early in-person voting period begins – Election	EARLY VOTING INFO
Wed, Jan 14	Emergency Mail Ballot Application Period begins – Election	COMING SOON
Mon, Feb 02	Early in-person voting period ends – Election – 4:00 p.m. deadline	EARLY VOTING INFO
Mon, Feb 02	Deadline to submit emergency Mail Ballot Applications – Election – 4:00 p.m. deadline	COMING SOON
Tue, Feb 03	ELECTION	VOTER INFORMATION CENTER