Regunberg Says PAC Funded by Mother & Father-in-Law Is Not Coordinating With His Campaign

Regunberg Says PAC Funded by Mother & Father-in-Law Is Not Coordinating With His Campaign

Congressional candidate and State Senator Ana Quezada (District 2 – Providence) issued a scathing criticism regarding a mailer sent on Aaron Regunberg's behalf by a newly formed super PAC.

Quezada said, "I have been saying since day one that big money super-PACs and the D.C. consultant class were going to flood this race with outside money and try to steal this decision from the people of Rhode Island. We believe Rhode Islanders can decide for themselves who represents them.”

The mailer is funded by a Progress Rhode Island PAC. According to the Federal Election Commission, the PAC has collected $130,000 and has only two funders -- Jim Cielinski who is Global Head of Fixed Income at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2017. Cielinski has donated $125,000 and is Aaron Regunberg's father-in-law.

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The other $5,000 donated to the PAC is from Regunberg's own mother Erica.

According to Cielinski's bio, "He oversees all of the global fixed income products and teams and leads Corporate Credit as well. Previously, Jim was the global head of fixed income for Columbia Threadneedle Investments from 2010. Prior to joining Columbia Threadneedle, he spent 12 years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as managing director and head of credit. Before that, he was head of fixed income for Utah Retirement Systems, assistant manager of taxable fixed income for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., and an equity portfolio manager for First Security Investment Management." 

 

Not Coordinating

Regunberg campaign spokesperson Matt DaSilva said in a statement to GoLocal, “There are a lot of outside vehicles that are spending heavily in this race for different candidates. In Congress, Aaron is committed to fighting to ban outside spending. Our campaign was not expecting this effort, and there is no coordination taking place. We are grateful for support from a wide range of Rhode Island groups and elected officials.”
 

 

 

“While our campaign has been knocking doors throughout the district, taking our message directly to the people, Aaron Regunberg has been trying to win this race by appealing to everyone except the people of Rhode Island. He's stacked up endorsements from D.C. bigwigs,” said Quezada — her comment was in reference to endorsements Regunberg has landed from sitting members of Congress such as U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District).

Quezada went on to criticize Regunberg’s fundraiser and specifically called out Regunberg’s father-in-law.

Regunberg’s wife, Katie, and their son Asa are featured in campaign materials.

 

 

 

“He's held high-priced fundraisers in Newport mansions. And now, he's had his wealthy father-in-law throw more money at a single piece of mail than most Rhode Island families make in a year. Aaron Regunberg has pledged not to accept money from corporate PACs, but taking a handout from a family member who just happens to be a high-ranking executive at a global financial firm is a sneaky way to backtrack on that promise,” added Quezada. “He even has the audacity to pretend he didn't know this was happening.

"Don't play cute with us, Aaron. We see you for who you are: a privileged rich kid with no real job experience who's cosplaying 'man of the people.' The most progressive thing Aaron Regunberg could have done in this race was use his privilege and considerable resources to help elect one of several credible candidates who are women and/or people of color, but he was never about that because it doesn't serve his ego or his ambitions," said Quezada. "The people of Rhode Island see you, Aaron."

 

 

Regunberg did not specifically respond to Quezada's charges, but said, "I’ve opposed super PAC spending since the moment I entered politics. I oppose it in this race and in Congress. I’ll fight to overturn Citizens United and end outside spending."