RI Governor's Race Weekly Scorecard - July 9
GoLocal News Team
RI Governor's Race Weekly Scorecard - July 9
Each week GoLocal's reporters, editors and MINDSETTERS™ review and grade the candidates, policy statements, their media, and the campaign activities for each of the five major likely candidates for Governor of Rhode Island: Gina Raimondo (D), Angel Taveras (D), Allan Fung (R), Ken Block (R) and Clay Pell (D).
In a week at that was alternately a washout, with pols taking the rain in stride at the nation's oldest 4th of July parade in Bristol, and hot, as GOP candidates Allan Fung and Ken Block battled it out for their toaster ovens for debating on the John Loughlin Show, the political season forged full steam ahead.
While it's summer in the Ocean State, with primaries two months and a day away, the gubernatorial candidates probably won't see much beach time -- unless it's to shake hands and kiss sandy babies. It may be the lazy days for some, but the election cycle is reaching a fevered pitch.
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The Republican candidate hit out at the General Assembly for voting to increase the gas tax -- citing his comprehensive $200M tax reform proposal as an alternative -- and continued be outspoken in the fight to undo the repayment of 38 Studios bonds, calling out the partial settlements in the state's pending lawsuit in light of the ongoing criminal investigation as a mitigating factor.
Fung took a slight hit when Block swiped him on the Cranston's lion share of municipal aid from the state while increasing taxes, but emerged relatively unscathed despite the swing. As primary day draws closer, one has to wonder if Fung will muster up more of an attack on Block besides his stock "he-voted-for-Obamacare" response for the Republican masses.
Grade: B
The GOP gubernatorial candidate took another victory lap when Governor Chafee signed into law the elimination of the master lever, but whether that will help sway the vote at the polls will yet to be seen.
Block took a shot across the bow at the Democrats when he blasted Taveras for issuing incomplete bond information, stating that the City of Providence was overstating pensions assets by $57 million, and that the Democrats were using a "disproved argument" to pay back the 38 Studios bonds, when Fitch Ratings said it was an empty threat that they would downgrade the state.
While the debate between Fung and Block was widely considered a draw, Block took the opportunity to call Fung out on his record following the exchange. “Cranston is the second largest recipient of state aid for distressed communities,” said Block. “Mayor Fung raised taxes every year for the first three years of his time in office. This is not a success story.”
Grade: B+
It's been relatively quiet on the Clay Pell front, after he announced his Veterans' Policy at the end of June -- and sticking with his military focus Pell did unveil a new campaign ad highlighting his service, and continues to spend strongly in paid media, thanks to his deep pockets -- and his family's.
With Pell trailing Democratic opponents -- and inherent unwillingness to go negative -- one has to wonder if he hopes some mudslinging soon between Taveras and Raimondo might draw enough blood to leave him with an upper hand, because that's about all that can improve his stock at this stage of the game.
Grade: C +
Raimondo made perhaps one of the biggest media moves in the battle for the Democratic primary when she hopped in the Davey Lopes pool when it reopened before the 4th of July -- when Mayor Taveras was conspicuously absent from feel-good community event of the year.
The campaign continues to execute a strong ground game, rolling out a new ad touting that Raimondo "helped expand Crossroads Rhode Island and eliminated a backlog in a treasury program to help crime victims". While Taveras deflects questions about the city's finances in light of a bond offering, and Pell playing it safe, Raimondo appears to be making all the right moves in the race to the primary.
Grade: A -
While there was little surprise that Taveras was a no-show at the Davey Lopes pool reopening, he did manage to squeeze the slightly-less controversial Joslin Rec Center turf field unveiling into his schedule.
The leap from Mayor to Governor comes saddled with inherent baggage, and Taveras as the city's chief executive continues to wage wars with the City Council -- this time over the veto of the Council approved ordinance to reduce the non-owner occupied residential tax rate -- and deflect questions about the true status of the city's financial state. Having former Mayor Buddy Cianci say he'd withdraw his candidacy if there truly is a surplus certainly doesn't help.
Grade: C