Fecteau: Your Time Is Now; Run for Something
Matt Fecteau, GoLocalProv Guest MINDSETTER™
Fecteau: Your Time Is Now; Run for Something
To those who are considering running for office, your time is now. Rhode Island needs you. The time has come to challenge the status quo, and shape the conversation. While I am a Democrat, I find it refreshing to give the people within your community a choice, to challenge those that believe they are entitled to the office they hold. Rhode Island has infinite possibilities but held hostage by the lack of choice at the ballot box.
I especially encourage young people to run for office. Youth brings an energy, and diversity of thought a place like Rhode Island so desperately needs. Young people are dreadfully underrepresented in our government. They deserve to have their voices heard too and bring new ideas.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRunning for public office is difficult. It is time-consuming, and sometimes, it is a thankless effort. Your family life could suffer, and it can be physically and mentally exhausting. The name calling is the hardest, and the sheer disrespect is tough. Take some comfort in knowing, those that call you names (e.g. loser) likely never ran for office or are unbending ideologues. Some of your critics may be just simple pawns of those in office.
I ran for office twice. It was challenging. Being called a liar, having your character questioned, and having doors slammed in your face make you second-guess yourself. I’ve been thrown out of Democratic events, had my military service attacked by those who never served, and had people attempt to embarrass me by threatening to post details of my dating (sex) life online – nauseating.
For those of you that lost last time, the fight is far from over. Thank you for trying to change our community for the better and the way our government is run. You have given people a choice, and a voice. You have done something few had the courage or time to consider. Regardless of your loss, failure is a stepping stone to greater success. Dust yourself off and try yet again.
As for any voters who read this, I beg you, take a chance on someone new. We cannot keep voting in the same people every year because of their last name, because they’ve been around for a ‘really’ long time, or they are simply your friend. We need to take a chance on someone different.
We can only complain about our government for so long, and you will never know unless you try. This is the time to consider whether public office is right for you. If you have questions, I would be honored to answer them and would be happy to help in any way possible (no matter your political affiliation). We can change our state for the better, but not without giving people a real choice at the ballot box.
Potential 2018 Candidates for RI Governor
GOP/Moderate
Ken Block
The founder of Rhode Island's Moderate Party ran as a GOP candidate for Governor in 2014, but was beat by Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the primary, 55% to 45%.
The two never made amends and could face each other again. A Block third-party run would almost assuredly mean a Raimondo repeat win.
Block was the champion of eliminating the master lever, but that proved to be a bit of a false god -- the GOP made no gains in the legislature and in fact lost seats. Now, he is calling for line-item veto which may not be the ethics messiah that it is advertised to be.
GOP
Giovanni Feroce
Everyone knows Feroce as a high profile CEO -- first as head of Alex and Ani and now as the CEO of BENRUS. He is a retired combat Army Major, former State Senator and one of the most high profile Rhode Islanders.
His recent open letter to Brown President Christina Paxson this week went viral, and forced a statement from the Ivy League President after students trashed American flags on campus for Veterans Day.
He would bring government, military and business experience to the job.
GOP
Allan Fung
The Mayor of Cranston has a run under his belt, and is widely considered to be making another bid.
In 2014, Raimondo won 40% of the general election vote, Fung garnered 36%, and the late Bob Healey running under the Moderate Party flag collected 21% of the vote.
Many believe that Block put Healey up to run and cost Fung the Governorship.
In his re-election effort this fall, Fung racked up nearly 70% of the vote against long-time Democrat politician Mike Sepe.
GOP
Bobby Nardolillo
The Coventry GOP representative has aspirations of higher office. His family owns one of the largest funeral home companies in Rhode Island, and Nardolillo isn't shy about calling the current Governor out.
He is an outspoken critic of Raimondo and pounds social medial on hot-button issues that he disagrees with her on daily. He is a traditional Republican with a strong base in Coventry - West Warwick - Warwick - Cranston. Those are good places to have a base in a Republican Primary.
GOP
Anthony Giarrusso
He is the one of the legislature's leading advocates for small business - not a bad message for a Republican primary.
An interesting bio -- grew up in Providence and attended Mount Pleasant High School and CCRI. Today, he represents East Greenwich in the House and is the President of a jewelry company in Johnston.
DEM
Gina Raimondo
The first two years has been anything but smooth. She won the Democratic primary with just 42% of the vote and then won the general election with just 40% of the vote.
Her administration has stumbled on staffing, the ill-fated tourism campaign, failure to land GE's headquarters, technology implementation, and most importantly, the lack of economic development. No cranes. She has a fundraising advantage, but as 2016 proved (Clinton outspent Trump 4 to 1 on TV ads) the old rules no longer apply.
The big question today is - just who is her base?
DEM
Clay Pell
The grandson of one of Rhode Island's most beloved political families finished a reasonable third in the 2014 Democratic three-way primary garnering 27% of the vote.
His wife was a top Hillary Clinton campaign staffer and with the tough loss, living in RI must look a lot more attractive. As we know, his skating superstar wife Michelle Kwan coupled with deep pockets makes a Pell run very viable in a Democratic primary.
DEM
Brendan Doherty
Former Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Doherty may be in the mix against sitting Governor Gina Raimondo as well. He ran as a Republican against David Cicilline in 2012 and raised $1.47 million. However, the moderate Doherty can't be ruled out for a Democratic run.
A one-on-one with Raimondo could be interesting as Doherty could argue he knows how to effectively manage an organization. In a three-way with Pell, he could be take the center candidate. If Pell, Raimondo and Doherty were to all go for it, it could be a primary that rivals Bruce Sundlun, Joe Paolino and Frank Flaherty's mega-spend back in 1990.
