BY VINAYA SAKSENA

CENTRAL FALLS — For most citizens, November 2008 marked the end of an intense political season, but voters in one local ward will be back at the polls in February to pick a new representative on the Central Falls City Council.

Current Ward IV Councilwoman Elizabeth “Betty” Crowley has announced her intention to resign from her post effective Jan. 5 as she simultaneously prepares to take office in the State Senate. She will replace multi-term incumbent Senator Daniel Issa, also a Central Falls resident, whom she defeated in the Democratic primary this year.
“I will resign (from) that seat when I move on,” Crowley confirmed. “I have submitted my letter of resignation.”
City Council President William Benson Jr. pointed out that Issa did the same when he first took his longtime Senate seat, having previously served as a city councilman and school committee member in the city. A state senator cannot simultaneously serve in a position such as a local council seat.
Under the rules of the city’s charter, the council is to call for a special election in the event of such vacancy occurring, if more than 180 days remain in the departing council member’s term. Benson said, however, that the council would not likely have to call for a special election, as that task would likely be handled by the Board of Canvassers, which is also allowed if the council does not call for the election within 13 days of when the vacancy occurs.
The city’s registrar, Gertrude Chartier, confirmed to the Times that a special election was indeed in the works, to be held on Feb. 17, 2009. A primary, if needed, would be held on Feb. 3.
 Those interested can declare their candidacy beginning Jan. 16, and will have until Jan. 23 to submit nomination papers.
Chartier, Benson and Crowley said they had heard about locals expressing interest in the soon-to-be-vacant seat, but did not name any specific interested parties. Some unnamed individuals appeared to be considering a run, but had not necessarily committed to the idea yet.
“There have been a few people inquiring about the dates,” Chartier said of the special election process. “I don’t know if they are going to be back to declare.”
Meanwhile, Crowley said she was focusing on getting ready to take office at the State House, and had recently attended an orientation for new legislators. She said the experience had made an impression on her, and given her an appreciation of a job that was harder than it probably seemed to many citizens.
“I was very humbled by that whole experience,” Crowley said. “There’s so much to do, and very little time actually to do it in. I want to make sure I’m informed before I vote on issues.”
Crowley said that with finances tight at the local, state and federal levels, she and her new colleagues in the senate would be facing many challenges after being sworn in next month. Likewise, she said that despite city officials’ best efforts, her successor on the City Council would also have to be prepared to face major challenges, particularly financial ones.
“Their main focus is the budget,” Crowley said. “They will need to brush up on what the current budget is and what the mayor’s (proposed) budget will be. On the whole, they have a big job ahead of them.”