Governor McKee: What Happens Next
GoLocalProv News Team
Governor McKee: What Happens Next
Raimondo tweeted on Thursday night, “Rhode Island may be small, but our economy is mighty on the strength of our small businesses and innovative technologies. As Secretary of Commerce, I will harness that same American ingenuity to create good-paying union jobs and build our economy back better than ever before.”
Almost simultaneously, however, her press office canceled her weekly press conference on the coronavirus.
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Leaving RI in a Lurch
Raimondo's response to the pandemic has turned into a massive failure. More than one hundred Rhode Islanders have died in each of the last five weeks. Presently. Rhode Island has the second high infection rate in the world and has the 4th highest death rate per capita in the United States.
This public health crisis is now Lt. Governor Dan McKee's problem. And, he must develop a new strategy and create a functional vaccination program. A GoLocal investigation unveiled that at the present pace it will take the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) nearly two years to distribute the vaccine, its plan is riddled with errors and it is months out of date.
Moreover, Raimondo's departure triggers the most significant power shift in Rhode Island in recent political history.
The implications may be more significant as the state is fighting a losing battle against the pandemic, it is facing a massive budget deficit and an underlying economic crisis.
Raimondo is the first Rhode Islander to serve as a member of a presidential cabinet in decades. The last cabinet secretary with a significant Rhode Island connection was G. William Miller who served as Secretary of Treasury under President Jimmy Carter, after he served as CEO of Providence based Textron. He was drawn back to Rhode Island and ran a consulting business with former Governor J. Joseph Garrahy.
The Raimondo departure sets of a series of significant changes:
1. McKee Staff
Mckee will need to move quickly to build a top-tier staff and make critical changes to his cabinet.
Staffing will be critical and while McKee has always had a feisty group of staffers -- that group needs to be transformed now into an execution machine to ensure the vaccine is distributed and the state's fiscal challenges are managed.
It is no secret that there is no love lost between Raimondo and McKee. He has been a relentless advocate for small business owners and his activism forced Raimondo to free up grants and loans for small businesses.
Rhode Island is unlike Massachusetts, where the Governor and Lt. Governor run as a ticket and there is never a press release that comes out of the governor’s office that does not state, “Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito "will" or "announce" -- it is always a team in the Commonwealth. In Rhode Island, it is hard to remember a press conference in which both Raimondo and McKee jointly attended.
Raimondo has frozen McKee out of all coronavirus briefings and decision making, similar to President Donald Trump refusing to assist President-elect Joe Biden. The difference is that Raimondo’s treatment of McKee has gone on for years.
2. Picking a Lt. Governor
One of McKee's first orders of business is to select a Lt. Governor. Name being banded about are former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena, and State Senator Lou DiPalma, but none of those names makes the McKee tent bigger. Will he select a minority, a woman or a non-politician that expands his base?
3. Vaccination Program Now Biggest Issue
The faster Rhode Islanders get vaccinated, the faster the economy can recover. McKee needs to appoint someone to the now essentially leaderless initiative and involve the cities and towns.
McKee's political future -- and a 2022 gubernatorial race -- is tied to his ability to execute an effective vaccination program, something Raimondo has failed to do. It will prove he can get things done. A lackluster program will be a black mark against his tenure as chief executive.
4. Department Director Changes
The McKee administration would have new leadership in key spots — especially the Department of Administration — where Director Brett Smiley is expected to leave within months to run for Mayor of Providence. McKee is expected to appoint new leadership at Commerce, Administration, and Transportation.
5. Power with Shekarchi and Ruggerio
With a new speaker -- Joe Shekarchi -- replacing the ousted Nick Mattiello, there will be a new tone in the House. Shekarchi is a close political ally and friend to Raimondo. He ran her 2010 campaign for General Treasurer and chaired her transition team. He eats over at the Raimondo house — Mattiello was never invited over.
Raimondo’s departure sets up a new dynamic. McKee needs to establish himself. He needs to put wins on and across the board for a 2022 re-election and there are plenty of potential challengers — SEE BELOW.
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, an old school Democrat, has been pushed hard left by progressives in his chamber and his makeover and new agenda could run afoul of McKee’s pro-small business management priorities.
6. Transforms 2022 Governor’s Race
For McKee, two-years as Governor give him and his team the opportunity to lead, be seen as the leader, and raise tremendous amounts of money for a 2022 run.
It also dramatically shifts the leader board. Instead of being in the same breath as General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, now he is the front-runner and freezes out other potential business conservative Democrats like developer Joe Paolino.
It is now all up to Governor Daniel McKee.
Editor's note - a portion of this article was included in an earlier December story previewing this transition. Miller served as CEO of Texton prior to serving as Secretary of Treasury not after as GoLocal had previously published.
Potential Candidates for RI Governor 2022
Lt. Governor Dan McKee (D)
The former Mayor of Cumberland has been elected to his second term as Lt.Governor.
Garnered strong support from conservatives when he was challenged by progressive Aaron Regunberg in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor.
His one challenge -- fundraising.
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner (D)
In January, he will be sworn into his second term as Rhode Island General Treasurer.
At his last campaign finance report -- 7 days before the election -- he had more than $524,000 cash on hand.
He will be judged in part by the state employees retirement fund's performance.
He is also saddled with more than $700,000 in campaign debts.
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea (D)
She is Rhode Island's and New England's first Latina elected to statewide office.
She reported $160,000 cash-on-hand with 7 days left before the general election.
In a crowded Democratic primary, Gorbea could be a major force.
Former RI Attorney General Patrick Lynch (D)
Dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination in 2010.
As GoLocal reported in July 2010, "It’s official: Patrick Lynch is dropping out of the race for governor:"
Yesterday the Attorney General announced he was stepping aside to avoid what almost certainly would have been a bruising primary battle with Democratic contender Frank Caprio. “Often in our elections, the people of Rhode Island have gotten the wrong leadership because of divisive costly primaries, especially in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary,” Lynch said. “This election cycle had the makings of the same result.”
“I did not enter public service to become a footnote in history by injuring my party, resulting in the election of a governor who is not equipped to guide our wonderful State into the future it deserves,” Lynch said. “Therefore, today I am announcing that I am withdrawing my name from consideration to become the next Governor of Rhode Island.”
Cranston Mayor Allan Fung (R)
Bruce Sundlun won the governorship on his third try. Myrth York failed all three times when she was the Democratic nominee.
Fung however has been unable to significantly grow his base -- he won 37 percent of the vote in 2018 and 36 percent in 2014.
Could Fung come back?
He only has two more years in office as Mayor of Cranston and is term-limited.
Former Moderate and GOP Candidate Ken Block
Block, ho lost in 2010 as the Moderate Party candidate for Governor and again lost in 2014 in the GOP primary, sat out the 2018 race.
He hasn't stayed quiet -- he has been a leading advocate for the line-item veto.
Block does not rule out anything in the future and told GoLocal, "It is far too soon to be talking about 2022 when the inaugurations for 2018 have not yet happened!"
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza (D)
The Providence Mayor beat back a challenge from Dianne "Dee Dee" Witman without breaking a sweat. He was able to hoard his campaign funds and according to the last campaign finance report he is sitting on more than $630,000.
But, Providence mayors have not done well running for governor over the past half-century or more. Buddy Cianci, Joe Paolino, and Angel Taveras all failed when running for governor.
Former Democratic Candidate Matt Brown (D)
An enigma. He was the golden boy in the 2000s and then his U.S. Senate campaign came unraveled.
In 2018, his challenge in the Democratic primary against Gina Raimondo failed to articulate a vision and struggled to raise money. It did pile up more debt.
Today, he has nearly $250,000 in campaign debt.
Former U.S. Senate Candidate Robert Flanders (R)
Some GOP leaders thought Flanders' resume and demeanor were a better match for the Governor's office rather than the United States Senate.
He was unable to make a dent against incumbent United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), but did raise his name recognition.
Four years is a lot of time to build a war chest and to build an organization.
House Minority Leader Blake Filippi (R)
The fresh new face for the GOP. Filippi is an old school moderate in the mold of a John Chafee, Ron Machtley or Claudine Schneider but without the resume yet.
How he leads the Republicans in the House may set the stage for his future political fortunes. Will he join with the Mattiello team, the 21 Democrat dissidents, or keep the GOP independent?
Former Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor Aaron Regunberg
The 28-year-old State Representative ran a vigorous campaign for RI Lt. Governor and lost 51 percent to 49 percent to incumbent Dan McKee.
He was the highest profile progressive Democrat in the state.
Regunberg proved to be an aggressive campaigner and a strong fundraiser. He raised nearly $540,000 and loaned his campaign more than $130,000.
U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D)
Cicilline is in a battle to be elected to the #4 position in the House Democrats leadership, but if he is unsuccessful he may have to recalibrate his political future.
He is a dogged campaigner, a relentless fundraiser and is sitting on $938,000, according to federal campaign reports through October 17, 2018.
His tenure as Mayor of Providence ended in a fiscal mess. His successor, Angel Taveras called the state of the city's finances a "category 5 fiscal hurricane."
Attorney General-Elect Peter Neronha (D)
Neronha is the first to tell you he has no ambition to run for Governor and hopes to serve Rhode Islanders and then potentially run for reelection. But, time and politics can be factors.
Neronha has some ambitious advisors in his inner circle. Time will tell.
House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi (D)
Shekarchi is between the proverbial rock and hard place -- being number 2 to Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello. On one side is 44 Democrats supporting Mattiello's reelection and on the other is 21 Democratic House members who oppose his reelection.
Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly don't always succeed in running Statewide or for significant offices, but Peter Kilmartin (Attorney General), David Cicilline (Mayor of Providence and Congress), Jim Langevin (Secretary of State and Congress) Robert Weygand (Congress) all emerged from the State House in recent history.
Shekarchi is sitting on nearly $800,000 in his campaign account.
Former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras (D)
Lost to Governor Gina Raimondo in the Democratic primary for Governor in a three-way race in 2014. Taveras won 29 percent of the vote to Raimondo's 42 percent and Clay Pell's 27 percent.
Taveras, Providence's first Latino Mayor won strong points for managing the city's fiscal crisis left by now-Congressman David Cicilline, but ran into petty political issues -- he was widely criticized for closing a swimming pool in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city after a political dispute with a member of the City Council.
