NEW: Taveras Calls on Raimondo to Have Enron Exec $100K Returned
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Taveras Calls on Raimondo to Have Enron Exec $100K Returned
Taveras’ campaign is asking General Treasurer Raimondo to "stay true to her pledge to hold Wall Street accountable" and direct the pro-Raimondo Super PAC American LeadHERship run by Kate Coyne-McCoy to give back the $100,000 it received from Arnold and his wife.
“If Treasurer Raimondo is serious about keeping Wall Street and other national special interest groups and their money out of the Governor’s race, then she’ll call on Kate Coyne-McCoy to return Arnolds' $100,000 Super PAC donation,” said spokesman Danny Kedem
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the Taveras campaign, Arnold is a Texas hedge fund billionaire who has funded EngageRI with at least $100,000, gave $8,000 to the Treasurer’s campaign, and another $100,000 to the Super PAC American LeadHERship.
“Clearly the Arnold family is looking for as many ways as possible to support the Treasurer’s pension reform agenda,” said Kedem. “Rhode Island doesn’t need a Texas hedge fund billionaire to try to buy this election."
The Taveras campaign says "Arnold is just one of several Wall Street connections who have contributed to EngageRI, the Treasurer’s campaign, and the pro-Raimondo Super PAC. When contributors from Wall Street give to the Treasurer, it appears that the pro-Raimondo Super PAC hasn’t been too far behind soliciting their help too.”
In January, Taveras was the first candidate to sign a pledge to end third party spending.
Win-Loss Records for 2014 Gubernatorial Candidates' Campaign Managers
Eric Hyers - Campaign Manager, Gina Raimondo
Congressman David Cicilline's 2010 Campaign: WON
Congressman David Cicilline's 2012 Campaign: WON
NJ State Senator Nia Gill's 2013 Campaign: WON
MA State Sen. Karen Spilka 2013 Congressional Campaign: LOST
Winning Percentage: .750
Hyers, who cut his teeth organizing for for now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand when she first ran for Congress in 2006, worked as a field organizer for John Edwards for President in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, directed a statewide field operation in Wyoming, managed state legislative races in Virginia and New Jersey, and served as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Democratic Party.
Hyers scored big while managing campaigns in New Jersey and Rhode Island, but came up short most recently in Massachusetts.
Danny Kedem - Campaign Manager, Angel Taveras
Anthony Wiener's 2013 New York Mayoral Campaign: QUIT
New Haven Mayor John DeStefano's 2011 Campaign: WON
Winning Percentage: .500
Kedem joined Wiener's political comeback bid after Weiner had resigned from Congress in a sexting scandal -- only to leave when Wiener once more was caught continuing the habit, spelling his downfall once again.
Connecticut Magazine's Jennifer Swift delineated Kedem's campaign history as having successful managed a New Haven mayoral bid, as well as outlining Kedem's early days organizing for Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill’s U.S. Senate campaign and Hillary Clinton's 2008 run for the presidency.
Jeff Britt -- Campaign Consultant, Ken Block
2002 Bruce Bayuk RI General Assembly Write-In Campaign: LOST
2006 RI Governor Donald Carcieri Campaign: WON
2012 Mark Binder RI General Assembly Campaign: LOST
Winning Percentage: .333
Seasoned political operative Britt lost close races in Bayuk and Binder, but scored big with Carcieri while working alongside Ken McKay. Following the Bayuk effort, Britt served in the "Carcieri 1" administration to work across the aisle and support GOP efforts statewide.
Patrick Sweeney -- Campaign Consultant, Allan Fung
2010 John Loughlin Congressional Campaign: LOST
2012 Barry Hinckley Senate Campaign: LOST
Winning Percentage: .000
The former Executive Director of the Rhode Island Republican Party has extensive campaign and consulting experience, but is still looking to win big spearheading a major candidate effort.
Sweeney was Deputy Campaign Manager for Loughlin in 2010.
Devin Driscoll -- Campaign Manager, Clay Pell
Northeast Regional Director, Organizing for Action
Communications Director, Rhode Islanders United for Marriage
Winning Percentage: N/A
Driscoll has headed up successful grassroots efforts and served on the Obama for America campaign in two separate stints, as Rhode Island state director for the 2012 campaign and as a field organizer in 2008. Managing Pell's run for Governor marks Driscoll's first bid to win a statewide office campaign.
