Children first. Every dollar accounted for.

Children first. Every dollar accounted for. is the campaign website for Dan Hersey, a candidate running for Warwick School Committee, District 2, in the general election on November 3, 2026. The site focuses on operational management of the school district and fiscal accountability, emphasizing a children-first approach, cost discipline, and transparent reporting on the district's budget and contract performance. It includes sections on his background, policy positions, updates, and ways to volunteer.

The campaign targets Warwick voters, specifically those in District 2 who rejected a supplemental bond proposal in February. Hersey argues that the district's operational management needs improvement before asking for more money, such as the $50 million bond that would have finished athletic facilities at new high schools and funded city recreation projects. The site is designed to inform voters about his platform to ensure the district is run well enough to justify future funding requests.

The campaign emphasizes three core commitments: accounting for every dollar through transparent budget reporting, communicating plainly without spin, and maintaining an open presence in neighborhoods between elections. Hersey plans to hold open office hours at the library on a published cadence and visit schools regularly to stay reachable by email and phone. These habits aim to provide clear answers to parents rather than relying on press statements.

The campaign operates out of the Riverview neighborhood, where Hersey lives with his wife Tara and daughter Charlotte. He notes that the decisions made by the school committee between now and 2030 will shape the schools his daughter attends, making local involvement critical. The website provides a map or description of District 2, covering Wards 4, 5, and 6, including Riverview, Conimicut, Warwick Neck, Buttonwoods, and Oakland Beach.

Hersey ran an uncontested race in November 2026 after two other candidates withdrew over the summer. He states that an uncontested race was a reason to do more homework, not less, because voters did not get the check an opponent would have provided. The campaign website includes a section on his background and policy positions to compensate for the lack of direct competition.

The campaign launched in February following the rejection of a supplemental bond proposal by Warwick voters. Hersey was elected on November 3, 2026, and will be sworn in to the committee in January 2027. The site updates regularly with monthly Plain-English Ledgers and transparency pages to keep voters informed during the interim period.

Hersey works in brand and content marketing for a community-banking software company and founded a nonprofit that does policy research and testimony at the Rhode Island State House. He uses these skills to translate complicated financial material into language a non-expert can follow, which he intends to apply to the district's budget. This background informs his approach to explaining complex data to the public.

The campaign website includes a FAQ section that addresses common questions heard at campaign doors and via email. It also features a 'Meet Dan' page with a longer story about his background and a 'Where Dan Stands' section detailing his policy positions. The site is structured to provide plain-English explanations of complex topics.

The campaign focuses on three specific issues: budget, costs, and the aftermath of the rejected bond proposal. Hersey emphasizes that the committee's next term must take the February vote seriously, focusing on operational management and fiscal accountability. The site avoids flashy theatrics in favor of practical homework and data-driven decisions.

The campaign aims to start its term in January 2027, with the first vote on documents occurring then. Until then, Hersey will attend committee meetings as an audience member while continuing to publish updates. The goal is to ensure the district is run well enough today to justify being asked for more money tomorrow.

The campaign emphasizes that the job is operational, not theatrical, with a focus on actual habits like open office hours and regular school visits. Hersey plans to treat the school committee's budget with at least the same level of care as a non-expert would expect from a financial report. The approach prioritizes transparency and plain language over movement vocabulary.

The campaign highlights that the committee adopts the budget, sets policy, negotiates and approves contracts, and hires and evaluates the superintendent. It does not run schools day to day, which is the superintendent's job, nor does it invent curriculum from scratch since much comes from the state. The honest version is that it is an oversight job for roughly $203 million a year of public money.

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