NEW: Sen. O'Neill Looking at Governor or General Treasurer in '18
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
NEW: Sen. O'Neill Looking at Governor or General Treasurer in '18
O'Neill, who has held the District 17 seat which represents parts of Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, since first being elected in 2008, said he is "keeping his options open" following his decision not to run for the seat again this election. O'Neill has a track record of knocking off top level incumbents. In 2008, he came to office after upsetting Senate President Joseph Montalbano.
Sources told GoLocal that O'Neill had outreached to current elected officials to test the waters for support for a bid at a run for Governor.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"General Treasurer, Governor -- I'm keeping my options open at this time," said O'Neill, who won a spot as a delegate for Donald Trump in the recent Rhode Island presidential primary. "I'm working closely with [Republican Party Chairman] Brandon Bell."
Taking Raimondo, Magaziner To Task
In an interview with GoLocal Monday morning, O'Neill said Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is "not doing a good job" -- and that General Treasurer Seth Magaziner is "not doing the basics."
"[Raimondo] is not doing a good job," said O'Neill. "She's still campaigning and she thinks the election is next month. She needs to get companies here, meanwhile she's out giving out awards and traveling around the state. She should have the Lt. Governor doing the social things."
O'Neill said that while he did not vote for Raimondo, he had had "high hopes" for her.
"You have to be apply your intelligence in the right way to get things done to move the state forward. This is not a big social experiment," said O'Neill. "Same with the [General] Treasurer. The pension fund is losing money and we need to look at the basics."
Short List for Next Chief of Staff for Raimondo
Barbara Cottam
PRESENT JOB: Corporate Affairs Citizens Bank, Chairs Board of Education
She is the front-runner for the position, but she turned down the job when the Governor was first elected and the job is a far bigger challenge now.
Cottam has high-level experience having been at the helm of communications strategy for both Joe Paolino when he served as Mayor of Providence and for Governor Bruce Sundlun.
Question: Does she want to do a rebuild -- and run a campaign?
Eric Beane
PRESENT JOB: Deputy Chief of Staff
Presently, Beane is the Deputy Chief of Staff. Another former Governor O'Malley staffer with few Rhode Island connections, he was a trial attorney at U.S. Department of Justice, and was a staffer at DNC.
Question: Can Raimondo afford to leave her fate to another out-of-stater?
David Cruise
PRESENT JOB: Director of Legislation
The former Chief of Staff to Bruce Sundlun has Clinton administration, judicial, and municipal experience, and is widely respected and great depth of political knowledge.
Question: Does he want to be a Chief-of-Staff again? Will Raimondo listen?
Rick McAuliffe
PRESENT JOB: Heads the Mayflower Group and is a lobbyist
The former Patrick Kennedy staffer -- and for the past decade, a federal and state lobbyist -- has had some controversial clients and hired Keith Stokes at his lobby shop after Stokes left EDC post-38 Studios.
Question: Will he give up the income -- and is he too close to the legislature?
Dan Connors
PRESENT JOB: Advocacy Solutions, Lobbyist/Lawyer
Senate Majority leader by the time he was 30, and quit the legislature shortly there after. He has previously served as Chair of the New England Board of Higher Education, chaired the RI Public Transit Authority Board of Directors, was on the State Investment Commission, and a member of the RI Refunding Bond Authority.
Question: He has no significant political office management experience -- can he adapt?
Henry Kinch
PRESENT JOB: Clerk of Court
Currently serves as the Clerk of the Court, former top staffer to Bruce Sundlun. Served on the Pawtucket City Council and ran for Mayor of Pawtucket. Knows politics and would be a big addition for Raimondo in a campaign.
Question: Would he leave the courts?
George Zainyeh
PRESENT JOB: Shechtman Halperin Savage/Lobbyist
Zainyeh is the most experienced chief of staff in the state having run Patrick Kennedy's office for a decade and came in for the final two years to create stability in the Lincoln Chafee administration.
Served in the House and ran twice for Mayor of Warwick. Well-liked and great at bringing order to difficult situations.
Question: Do he and Raimondo have any relationship?
Joe Shekarchi
PRESENT JOB: State Rep, Chair of House Labor, and Lawyer
Powerful in the House as the Chair of Labor. Has aspirations himself either as Mayor of Warwick, or Treasurer or Lt. Governor next time and is one of the top fundraisers in the state. Authored the bill to eliminate the master lever. Very strong relationship with Raimondo - huge trust factor.
Question: Would he give up so much for so little?
