Guest MINDSETTER™ Girouard: How Well Have Our Incumbents Led?
Guest MINDSETTER™ Larry Girouard
Guest MINDSETTER™ Girouard: How Well Have Our Incumbents Led?
We elect our legislators to represent us up on Capitol Hill and look out for our cities and towns. That said, these leaders have a much more ominous job which is to protect, sustain and grow our state. If Rhode Island is not fiscally solvent this will have a far greater negative impact on our cities and towns than anything our legislators could ever do directly for the district they represent.
How well have our incumbents led?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhen we all go to the voting booths on November 8t we must ask the question >> How well have our incumbents led?
To best answer that question one must look at Rhode Island compared to other states, both regionally and nationally. The foundation for any state economy is the health of its business community. Rhode Island must be competitive in order to sustain her economic viability. When Governor Raimondo delivered her inaugural address in January, 2015 she stated the following: “ ... In just the last year, we've had the highest unemployment rate in the country for nine straight months. We've been 49th among states where companies want to do business … and dead last for helping entrepreneurs ...”. This was, and is, a true and sobering statement!
The CNBC study came out again this year and Rhode Island ranks 50th, a position they have held several times in the last 6 years. Sprinkle these data with the fact that Rhode Island is one of two states losing population, one of two sanctuary states, has one of the most generous welfare programs, its capital city is essentially bankrupt, and headlines of corruption continue to lace the front pages of our papers and newscasts, and this begs the question >> How well are we being led?
There does not seem to be any appetite for a change in Rhode Island’s culture from leadership as they continue to look for new sources of revenue, like tolls and gambling, to feed their insatiable appetite to spend, rather than run government more efficiently and business friendlier. Our state budget continues to grow every year, and is now set at $9Bn which represents nearly twice the per capita spending than New Hampshire.
Rhode Island’s reality must be placed squarely at the feet of leadership, especially on the heads of those leaders that have held high legislative positions for any length of time. For example, in the Jamestown/Newport district, this points squarely at Senate President Theresa Paiva-Weed. First elected to the Senate in 1992, and Senate President in 2009, she has done little to move the Rhode Island competitive needle. Her “tenured” position is buoyed by spreading around monies from legislative grants to endear her to local voters by throwing them a few bones in order to deflect their thinking from the more serious strategic issues that face Rhode Island.
Regarding other area incumbents, over the last session Rep. Lauren Carson voted with leadership 99.2% of the time, Rep. Marvin Abney 98.2% and Rep. Deb Ruggiero 87.7%. When you consider the report card of Rhode Island’s reality, senior leaders are not getting the job done, and their flock is following right behind them lock, stock and barrel.
Rhode Island is on life support! There is a significant amount of data from objective sources that support this statement. If you care about the health of our state, and subsequently the health of our cities and towns, consider these facts when you walk into the voting booth next month. How well have our incumbents really led?
Larry Girouard is a Newport resident and past President of the RI Taxpayers.
Seven Big Surprises So Far in the 2016 Election Season in RI
#1
GOP Chaos
This year had all the makings for a big pick-up by the Rhode Island Republican Party, but to quote Earth Wind and Fire, “Something happened along way.”
Instead of a robust GOP slate of candidates that would have challenged the Democratic party — who is suffering from Ray Gallison, Anastasia Williams and John Carnevale hangovers — the minority party has been unable to put forth an average -- or even sizeable group -- of candidates.
Maybe the GOP infrastructure should have spent less time of the Presidential primary circuit, less time bickering, less time on the opinion page, and more time rolling up their sleeves and doing the real work of running a minority party. Recruiting candidates, fundraising and building a technology infrastructure is handwork. Going to the Presidential debate in New Hampshire is fun.
#2
Progressives are Marching
It started with the Bernie Sanders rally at Roger Williams Park before the Democratic Presidential primary — an estimated 7,000+ showed up for the Dem Socialist before he crushed Clinton in RI.
It was supposed to be the year of the GOP in RI. With angry voters flocking to Donald Trump, Sanders captured the wave of big upsets. The GOP was supposed to be the party that tapped into the dissatisfaction of voters, but in order to capitalize, you have to have credible candidates and a strategy. So far the progressives look to be offering a competitive collection of candidates.
#3
Doreen Costa, is that really your story?
Doreen Costa has been an emerging star for the RI GOP for the past few years. She has been at the forefront of so many battles and has been one of the most energized legislators. Now, she is stepping down at the last moment due to self-inflicted term-limits.
As part of her announcement, GOP Chair Brandon Bell said, “Doreen can see outside the dome. She was on Smith Hill for the right reasons and now she is moving on to her next commitment to public service."
This is a big loss for the GOP and an unusual story for her exit.
#4
Who is more powerful -- Warren or Barrington?
The Democratic battle for Rep District 67 is looking like a rivalry battle between tony-Barrington and the folks in Warren. Long-time Democratic Representative Jan Malik is being challenged by Jason Kinght who has a base in Barrington.
On Monday, the Barrington Town Committee voted to endorse Jason Knight for over the incumbent, Representative Jan Malik. “I’m so pleased and thankful to the committee for their endorsement,” stated Knight. “I’m campaigning to bring a new voice to the state house for Warren and Barrington and clearly the committee agreed that it is time for a change.”
Knight continued, “The voters of Warren and Barrington have a choice this year between a conservative incumbent who is anti choice and has enjoyed the support of the NRA or a new voice with real Democratic values who supports ethics reform and knows that we need new and creative ideas to get our economy back on its feet. The committee's vote shows that Barrington is ready turn the page.”
#5
Carnevale Draws Fire
Representative John Carnevale is out on a disability pension, once was charged with rape, but the woman who filed the charge died unexpectedly before Carnevale went to trial.
His most recent challenge is a law enforcement investigation as to whether he has violated voting laws by living outside his district and voting at a location that he did not live. Now, he faces five opponents: Ramon Perez, Lisa Scorpio, Joshua Beeman, Anthony Defilippo and David Marshall.
#6
GOP Chaos (Part 2)
Speaker Nicholas Mattiello lives in a district in Cranston that Mitt Romney captured 47 percent of the vote in 2012. Thus, it is a competitive district for the GOP, but instead of marshaling their energies and talents they have decided to run two candidates.
Steve Frias, an attorney in Boston and a Providence Journal contributor, is now facing a primary from anti-vaccination activist Shawna Lawton for the GOP nod and the opportunity to face off against the most powerful elected official in RI -- but not from the GOP pespective to replace him.
You would think the GOP could avoid a primary in the most important race in Rhode Island.
#7
The Biggest Ethics Reformer
No one has had more success in the past two decades driving ethics legislation through to adoption than Speaker Nick Mattiello. In his couple of years as Speaker he has overseen the elimination of the Master Lever and the passage of a complete overhaul of the ethics statute.
That transformation now goes before the voters for approval in November.
