Marie Langlois and Phil Keefe: Seth Magaziner is the Right Choice for Treasurer

Marie Langlois and Phil Keefe: Seth Magaziner is the Right Choice for Treasurer

Rhode Island is at a critical juncture. With high unemployment and a frustrating legacy of insider deals and mismanagement at the State House, we need a change of course. That is why we are proud to support Seth Magaziner to be Rhode Island’s next General Treasurer.

As the founder of a successful Rhode Island investment firm and the president of a union that represents nearly one thousand public employees, we approach this race with different points of view. But we both feel strongly that Seth represents the type of new leadership our state needs.

Seth Magaziner is an investment professional who will bring a steady hand to our state’s finances and use the Treasurer’s office as an engine for economic growth. That is why business and labor leaders throughout Rhode Island are excited to support Seth Magaziner for Treasurer.

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Delivering Strong Returns—Marie Langlois

As the founder and former managing director of Washington Trust Investors, I understand what it takes to manage investment funds through uncertain times. I am proud to support Seth because I know he has the right experience and temperament to manage our state’s finances effectively.

Seth rose to the position of vice president at Trillium Asset Management, where he served on the investment committee and had oversight of the firm’s financial services and energy investments. He holds an MBA from Yale University, has a clear understanding of the financial challenges facing our state, and a plan for how to tackle them.

Rhode Island needs strong financial management in state government. Years of mismanagement and poor investment returns allowed our state’s pension system to become one of the worst funded in the country.

Seth Magaziner represents a clean break from the old politics that got us into this financial mess, and that is why I am proud to join other prominent Rhode Island business leaders in supporting him to be our next Treasurer.

Investing in Jobs for Rhode Island—Phil Keefe

Rhode Island workers are suffering. Too many can’t find work, are under-employed, or have had to find work in other states. Meanwhile, our leaders have been focused on back-room deals instead of finding new and innovative ways to get our economy growing and creating jobs.

My union is supporting Seth because he has a plan to use the Treasurer’s office to bring jobs back to our state. Seth’s Blueprint details how he will invest more of our state’s dollars locally, to create jobs for Rhode Island workers, and also describes how he will invest in putting Rhode Islanders to work fixing our roads, bridges, and schools.

As the President of a union that represents hundreds of public employees, I am also excited about Seth’s plan to reduce the fees paid out of the pension system to Wall Street and his commitment to making the state’s investments more open and transparent.

Rhode Islander workers have been receiving lip service from politicians for years. We need a Treasurer with a real plan to revive our economy and stand up for workers. That is why SEIU Local 580 is proud to stand with a broad coalition of labor unions in support of Seth Magaziner for Treasurer.

Business, Labor Agree

Rhode Island needs strong financial management in state government. Years of mismanagement and poor investment returns culminating in Mr. Caprio's term in office allowed our state’s pension system to become one of the worst funded in the country.

In the Treasurer’s race, the choice is clear. We must turn the page on the insider politics and “let’s make a deal” economics that are holding Rhode Island back. Seth Magaziner will bring a steady hand to our state’s finances, grow the economy, and focus on creating jobs for Rhode Islanders.

While the two of us come from different backgrounds, we agree that Rhode Island needs fresh ideas to grow the economy and create jobs, not more of the same. We agree on Seth Magaziner for Treasurer.

Marie Langlois is the founder and former Managing Partner of Washington Trust Investors.

Phil Keefe is the President of the Rhode Island Alliance of Social Service Employees, Local 580, Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO.