No AFL-CIO endorsement is a win for Foulkes

Influential AFL-CIO opts not to endorse in RI Democratic gubernatorial race

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

The focus of the governor’s race temporarily shifted one block west of the State House Wednesday to a nondescript office building where leaders of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO met but opted not to endorse in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. 

The labor federation boasts more than 80,000 members, with endorsements determined by a two-thirds vote of its 15-person executive committee. But the panel that met behind closed doors didn’t even get as far as taking a vote on the two candidates seeking their backing, Gov. Dan McKee and challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes. 

“The consensus was, we could not get to a consensus,” Patrick Crowley, organization president, said in an interview Wednesday night. “We’re taking the position to stay neutral in the governor’s race. Individual affiliates can make their own endorsements if they wish.”

The decision marks another setback for McKee, whose reelection campaign is in need of a boost after trailing Foulkes by double digits in recent polls. Neither candidate received an endorsement from the Rhode Island Democratic Party at its state convention in June.

“He’s had so many losses,” said Joe Fleming, a political analyst for WPRI 12. “He really needs to find a way to start building momentum now that we’re heading into the primary.”

McKee’s campaign did not immediately respond to calls for comment Wednesday.

Early voting begins on Aug. 20. The primary is Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The AFL-CIO and the Rhode Island Democratic Party both endorsed McKee in 2022. Foulkes lost to McKee by three percentage points in a four-way Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Tides appear to have turned in Foulkes’ favor, with the former CVS executive prevailing with commanding, 20-percentage-point leads in polls released by WPRI-TV and the University of New Hampshire in May and June, respectively. 

Foulkes maintains a significant cash advantage and has picked up endorsements from a majority of municipal Democratic committees, including McKee’s hometown of Cumberland. On Tuesday, she unveiled endorsements from 26 state and local Democratic lawmakers in conjunction with a ceremonial opening of her campaign headquarters on Broad Street in Providence.

Local Democratic party leaders endorse Foulkes and Khamsyvoravong over incumbents

In unusual move, city and town chairs reject both McKee and Matos

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

The Democratic challengers for governor and lieutenant governor, Helena Buonanno Foulkes and Xay Khamsyvoravong, won the backing of local party leaders during a closed-door meeting at the Rochambeau Library in Providence Monday night.

The Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs did not disclose vote details from its endorsement meeting, which offers municipal party heads a chance to assert influence in state and federal primary races. 

“We are incredibly fortunate in Rhode Island to have such strong leaders serving our state and so many talented candidates willing to put themselves forward for consideration,” Erich Haslehurst, president of the association, said in a statement. “All of the candidates who sought our endorsement have demonstrated a commitment to public service and are working tirelessly to earn the trust and support of Rhode Islanders.”

The endorsement for Foulkes over Gov. Dan McKee comes as she amasses more donations and support from voters than McKee in recent public polling.

EDITOR'S NOTE: My wife Cathy served on the Association for a number of years and during several election cycles where such endorsements were made. One such event stands out, the 2016 Governor's race that came down to Gina Raimondo, Angel Tavares and Clay Pell. Cathy's insistence on supporting Clay, who had been unanimously endorsed by the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee, caused a deadlock that resulted in no endorsement for anyone for Governor that year. She came under tremendous pressure from other town chairs who had cut deals to switch their votes and wanted her to do the same. She was the only town chair who refused to sell out.   - Will Collette

Charlestown Dem named vice-chair of RI delegation to national Democratic Convention

RI Democrats elect delegates, give nods to Sanders supporters

By John McDaid in Rhode Island’s Future

There were two things every speaker at yesterday’s Rhode Island State Democratic Convention mentioned in their remarks: the horrific attack in Orlando and the importance of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Nearly 200 members of the RI State Democratic Committee, elected officials, pledged delegates, delegate candidates, and several dozen Bernie supporters gathered at the Rhode Island Shriners Hall in Cranston for a two-hour session at which the main items of business were the endorsement of congressional candidates and the election of at-large delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims and their families, and many of the speakers lamented the lack of progress in common-sense gun safety legislation. And while Bernie’s supporters may not have gotten everything they hoped for from the agenda (a resolution to require the 2020 superdelegate votes to mirror the popular vote was referred to the platform committee), the influence of Sanders’ message was front and center in the proceedings.

Charlestown Tapas

Sixteen tasty news nuggets

By Will Collette

Suicide squirrel cripples Charlestown this morning.

Just before 10:30 AM today (Monday), the lights went out for 3,149 Charlestown National Grid customers, businesses and residents alike, as National Grid suffered an outage that knocked out power for nearly the entire town, except for those with back-up generators or a green energy source (except that's not encouraged in Charlestown which effectively BANS wind power).

The Providence Journal reports that it was a suicide squirrel that shorted out the system. My favorite humorist Dave Barry really hates squirrels (click here for recent example) and would almost certainly accuse the now-deceased squirrel of an act of terrorism.

Richard Hosp passes away at Age 72

Former Town Council and Budget Commission member Richard Hosp has died. You can read his official obituary in the Westerly Sun by clicking here. Since he and his wife Martha retired to Charlestown in 1999, Mr. Hosp had been a dedicated community servant.

I admired him for standing up to the CCA Party, even though he ran on their first slate in 2008. I found him to be an intelligent, thoughtful and honorable man. While I didn’t always agree with him, I always took his counsel to heart. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Animosity between Tribe and Charlestown marks third day of court hearings 

Just a few days ago, I reported on signs that the long-running cold war between Charlestown town government and the Narragansett Tribe is heating up. I noted that a minor misdemeanor case was turning into a showdown between the sharp differences in how Charlestown town leaders and Tribal leaders view the core issue of sovereignty. At the December 18 hearing during the third day of testimony, those differences became quite stark.

On losing

Winners and losers in Tuesday’s primary

By Will Collette

I hate to lose. That’s one reason why, through most of my adult life, I have stayed away from electoral politics and focused instead on classic, Alinsky-style community organizing and strategic campaigns. In electoral politics, you put all your money on a single-roll of the dice and it’s win or lose on election day. In organizing or in strategic campaigns, there’s always a Plan B.

Since I’ve gotten more heavily engaged in electoral politics after returning home to Rhode Island in 2002, I have rediscovered how much I dislike that one-throw-of-the-dice aspect of electoral politics.

When I pick a candidate, I am almost always fully dedicated to what that person believes in. I’ve turned down work this year as in past years for candidates I didn’t know or didn’t like. Before I commit my time, I want to believe in that candidate.

So Tuesday’s primary results were a big disappointment since only one of the four candidates I supported won. I had picked Clay Pell for Governor, Frank Ferri for Lieutenant Governor, Seth Magaziner for General Treasurer and Guillaume DeRamel for Secretary of State. I made each choice based on whether I felt I could trust them and whether their values aligned with my own. Even after Tuesday’s result, I would not change one of my picks.

Come out and vote in Tuesday’s primary

Important choices to be made

By Will Collette

If you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain. On Tuesday, Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to pick who will go on through to the General Election in November to compete for the positions of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, General Treasurer and Secretary of State. Democrats are embroiled in hot primaries for all four positions.

On the Republican side, the only hot race is the one for Governor that pits two RINOs, Ken Block and Allan Fung, against each other. Lieutenant Governor Catherine Taylor (R) faces only token opposition from perennial candidate and full-time crazy Kara Young.

All of these positions are open seats because the present office holder is either term-limited from running again or has chosen a different future. There is no primary for Attorney General because incumbent Peter Kilmartin faces no Democratic primary opponent and Republican Dawson Hodgson does not have a Republican challenger.

Click here for the sample ballot. Don't forget to bring your photo ID.

There are no local primary races for any Charlestown positions. In neighboring House District 35, incumbent Spencer Dickinson (D) is in a rematch primary battle with Kathy Fogarty.

Polls open in Charlestown at 9 AM.

If you're one of those "none of the above" types, leave the space empty

Don’t waste your vote on Todd Giroux

By Will Collette (I originally posted this article on Rhode Island’s Future)

Todd Giroux at the 2012 Democratic State Convention asking
to be given the House seat for District 68 in return for dropping
his primary challenge to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (Photo by Will Collette)

In every election, there are fringe candidates who end up on the ballot and pick up a few votes from confused voters or those who, for whatever reason, think “none of the above” is their choice.

In the hotly contested 2014 Democratic primary for Governor on September 9, we have one of the fringe candidates in Todd Giroux. 

Though he is currently polling at 1.4%, the three principal contenders, Clay Pell, Gina Raimondo and Angel Taveras, are all running within 6 points of each other.

Giroux’s numbers, whatever they turn out to be, will not get him elected, but could hurt the real candidates.

Before you throw your vote away on Todd Giroux, let’s take a closer look at him.

Todd Giroux emerged onto Rhode Island’s political stage two years ago when he challenged incumbent Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in the 2012 Primary. I will never forget Giroux’s speech to the State Convention. It was a 15-minute ramble during which Giroux shared his muddled vision of a future. 

Then came Giroux’s punchline. 

Only Clay Pell and Taveras have actual plans on the environment

Gubernatorial Candidates' Thoughts On Environment

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

ecoRI News profiled the six top-polling candidates running in the Sept. 9 primary for governor. We encapsulate each candidate’s environmental platform and share their responses to six targeted questions on specific topics: fossil-fuel divestment, plastic bag ban, funding for environmental compliance, renewable energy, the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) and open-space protection.

DEMOCRATS

Todd Giroux calls for a revolving loan fund to upgrade Rhode Island’s aging housing stock and make it more energy efficient. The Bristol contractor also supports a Workers Progress Administration-style program for green jobs training. EDITOR’S NOTE: Giroux plans to fund his loan fund by taking money from the state pension funds. This is illegal.

He didn't respond to our specific questions.

Clay Pell has a lengthy environmental action plan. He advocates for greater energy-efficiency programs and enhanced development of brownfield sites, open-space protection and expanded recycling. He supports many of the state’s existing energy-efficiency and renewable-energy programs. He would continue the initiatives run by the state Office of Energy Resources. New programs would target specific vehicle-emission reductions.

Other plans include greater use of low-impact development and better management of stormwater runoff; a statewide organics recycling program and enhanced residential composting; and development of a green infrastructure design industry. He would keep the Renewable Energy Fund under the oversight of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.

Pell refutes Taveras’ challenges to his resume

Cites national leaders who support his experience, qualifications to be Governor

PROVIDENCE, RI -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Clay Pell today released the following statement regarding questions of his experience:

"It’s unfortunate that Mayor Taveras has chosen to make this race for Governor about my resume, instead of his ideas for our state.

"I’m proud of my experience, and I’m grateful that leaders who I respect and admire, such as the former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, the former Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and the former Under Secretary of Education of the United States, have chosen to speak out on my behalf.

"The Mayor’s ads are a return to old politics that he once disavowed as a candidate for office. His attacks against me are an attempt to distort my record, not inform the public about my real experience.

"The leaders I worked with know first hand about my experience in the Coast Guard, at the White House, and at the Department of Education. Their statements speak for themselves about my qualifications to lead our state.

Here's something completely different - a POSITIVE campaign ad

Pell earns progressive support

Clay Pells wins RIPDA endorsement

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future

Clay with CDTC member Ginger Glander and Charlestown Town
Council Vice-President Paula Andersen

The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats announced today they are endorsing Clay Pell in his upstart bid to beat both Angel Taveras and Gina Raimondo in the Democratic primary for governor.

“It was abundantly clear to the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats that Clay Pell is the progressive choice for governor in the Democratic primary, said RIPDA State Coordinator Sam Bell in an email from the Pell campaign.

“From his strong commitment to public education and educators, his opposition cutting a property tax relief program for low-income Rhode Islanders in order to raise the estate tax exemption for the wealthiest in our state, and his call to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 immediately, Clay is the candidate who has consistently stood on the side of working Rhode Islanders and embodied our progressive values,” Bell said. 

“We were also impressed by his comprehensive plan to revive our struggling economy through investment – with his Infrastructure Replacement and Rehabilitation program, his commitment to Health Source RI, and his belief that state government can be a force for good in the lives of Rhode Islanders.”

Dems' Guv race turns uglier

Taveras tacks away from Raimondo to Pell

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future

In the TV Commercial War that is the Democratic primary campaign for governor, Angel Taveras has tacked away from his defensive stance against Gina Raimondo to launch an offensive front against Clay Pell.

Click here to watch the commercial:

Pell’s campaign, in response, tacked away from what I called it’s positive campaign strategy, saying in an email:

For weeks now, Mayor Taveras and Treasurer Raimondo have been lobbing negative attacks at one another. At the same time, Clay has been focused on one thing — talking with Rhode Islanders about the new ideas and fresh approach he’ll bring as Governor, and his real plan to get our state back on course.

Because of the growing momentum of our grassroots campaign, Mayor Taveras has now turned his mudslinging in our direction. We, however, firmly reject the politics of attack and innuendo. Clay learned from his grandfather that campaigns shouldn’t be about tearing people down, but should be about ideas for the future.

I also wrote that Pell was playing the role of spoiler in this three-way battle. Several respected progressive voices chimed in to correct me. In a comment on that post, Will Collette, publisher (co-editor, actually) of the Progressive Charlestown blog, wrote:

Charlestown Tapas

More than a dozen juicy bits just for you

By Will Collette

Register to Vote!

If you aren’t registered to vote, you really have little right to complain how things go in state or town government. Decisions are made by those who show up, and when it comes to elections, you must be registered. To vote in the September 9 Primary, either party, the deadline to register is Sunday, August 10. While there are no primaries for Charlestown town offices or General Assembly, there are red-hot primaries for Governor (both parties), as well as General Treasurer, Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor. To download voter registration forms, please visit here.

TODAY:Free weinie roast

Meet Clay Pell and Michelle Kwan

Michelle & Clay with Ginger Glander at a recent Charlestown event

Clay Pell and Michelle Kwan invite you to a South County Bar- B- Q&A on July 6^th at the Elks Lodge in Wakefield at 6:00pm on Sunday.

This is one of a series of town hall-style meetings Clay is having so he can hear the concerns of Rhode Islanders and share some of his exciting ideas for revitalizing our state.

A hot dog supper (with veggie dogs available) will be served, and there is no charge for the event.

Charlestown Dems complete their endorsements for state candidates

CDTC calls on town Democrats to support endorsed slate in the September primary

By Will Collette

I wear two hats in Charlestown, and not just because I’m bald. One hat is as co-editor of Progressive Charlestown. The other is as a member of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC). 

This is one of those occasions where I am reporting on decisions that I was part of making. It may not make for the best journalism, but so it goes.

After interviewing nearly every candidate running as a Democrat for state office, the CDTC finalized its list of candidates it recommends to Charlestown voters who go to the polls in September’s primary:

• For Governor: Clay Pell
• For Lieutenant Governor: Ralph Mollis
• For General Treasurer: Seth Magaziner
• For Secretary of State: Guillaume deRamel
• For Attorney General: re-elect Peter Kilmartin

Governor's race: Dems lay out plans for the environment, Republicans don't even show up

By ecoRI News staff

PROVIDENCE — The four Democratic candidates for governor laid out their plans on how they would 

prepare Rhode Island for climate change during a 90-minute forum April 24 hosted by the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) and ecoRI News and held in Brown University’s List Auditorium. Republican candidates Ken Block and Cranston Mayor Alan Fung declined to participate.

The forum opened with presentations by two climate change experts, John King, professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, and J. Timmons Roberts, professor of environmental studies and sociology at Brown. Their presentations outlined the scientific consensus regarding the rapid increase in carbon dioxide emissions and translated that data into expected local impacts, including sea-level rise, temperature increases, warming urban centers, loss of coastal habitats, increased frequency of extreme weather events, ocean acidification and the potential for species extinction at a level rarely recorded in Earth’s history.

Class act: Clay Pell and Michelle Kwan

Clay Pell shows selfless support for mental health

Clay & Michelle at the Shelter Harbor Inn, April 13 (photo by Will Collette)

By Jonathan Jacobs in Rhode Island’s Future

Clay Pell showed true depth of character this weekend in support of National Alliance on Mental Illness RI (NAMI RI).

On Saturday night, at the Rosario Society in Providence, close to 200 people packed the hall to support NAMI RI at the non-profit, community-based mental health support organization’s first annual “Pasta Gala” fundraiser. 

As NAMI RI’s newly recruited, pro-bono government relations coordinator and communications consultant, I did my best to spread the word and, with a fantastic collaborative effort amongst members of the Board, the event hall was overbooked. And thank goodness for that. NAMI RI was recently written out of the Governor’s FY 15 budget proposal. Without the funding from BHDDH, this vital education, outreach, counseling and crisis response organization would not be able to survive.

The event was well publicized through social media, press release, letters and emails of invitation and word of mouth. It was packed. Senator Frank Ciccone, a stalwart ally from the beginning, was in attendance. Candidate for General Treasurer, Seth Magaziner, was there too. 

Governor candidates debate the environment

Candidates to Share Views on Climate Change
By ecoRI.org News staff

PROVIDENCE — Four of the six candidates in Rhode Island’s 2014 gubernatorial race have accepted the invitation to participate in a forum on why climate change should be a top priority for state action.

The “Climate Change Colloquy” will be held Thursday, April 24, at Brown University’s List Art Building, Room 120, from 9-11 a.m. 

It is being co-sponsored by the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI), an umbrella group that consists of more than 60 environmental and advocacy organizations statewide, and ecoRI News, the main environmental news source for Rhode Island and southern New England. The event is free and open to the public.

Mourning the loss of Nuala Pell

Widow of Senator Claiborne Pell and grandmother of Clay Pell, candidate for Governor, dies at age 89

Mrs. Nuala Pell (r.) with her grandson Clay Pell and Clay's wife
Michelle Kwan at Clay's candidacy announcement last January

By Will Collette

Mrs. Pell died unexpectedly Sunday morning and is being grieved by family and friends, as well as the many Rhode Islanders who were touched by her good works and life of civic service. Her husband, Rhode Island's long-serving and much beloved Senator Claiborne Pell, died in 2009.

Cathy and I saw her speak in January at her grandson Clay's official announcement of his campaign to become the next Democratic Governor of Rhode Island. The look of pride in her eyes for her grandson was unmistakable. She told the crowd that she had not expected to ever be getting back into politics, but there she was, asking Rhode Islanders to support her grandson.

Clay issued this statement this afternoon: “Our entire family is heartbroken by my grandmother’s passing. She dedicated her life to her family and to the service of others. From her work in support of the arts, education, and her humanitarian service, she was a beacon of hope to many. We could not have asked for a better parent or grandparent than Mimi. We will love and miss her more than words can express.”

Innovative way to fund a college education

“Pay it back, pay it forward”

By Nicholas Bottai, Special to Progressive Charlestown

Higher education is becoming more important in a world with cutting-edge technology at our fingertips. A High School Diploma no longer carries the same meaning it had when my parents were kids just a generation before.

As an Accounting major at the University of Rhode Island, I know first-hand the struggle many Rhode Island families face when attempting to put their kids through college.