RI 2014 Governor's Race Weekly Scorecard - May 19

RI 2014 Governor's Race Weekly Scorecard - May 19

Each week GoLocal's reporters, editors and MINDSETTERS™ review and grade the candidates, policy statements, their media, and the campaign activities for each of the five major likely candidates for Governor of Rhode Island: Gina Raimondo (D), Angel Taveras (D), Allan Fung (R), Ken Block (R) and Clay Pell (D).

Allan Fung

Fung entered the fight on the 38 Studios bond repayment arguing the state should not make payment. Governor Lincoln Chafee claimed both Fung and Ken Block were unfit for office for taking the stance not to repay the bonds. Smart politics by Fung pointing out that Chafee’s thinking is flawed. Blasting Chafee is a winning strategy with Republicans.

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With Trafficgate quiet and Fung nearly beating Block 2-1 in first quarter fundraising, Fung announced that he raised over $131,000 in Q1, for a total over a half a million dollars raised since 2013. Fung currently has over $400,000 cash on hand.

Fung is in the game.

GRADE: B+

 

Gina Raimondo

Raimondo is starting to flex her muscle with women voters. External events ranging from pay equity issues at the New York Times with Jill Abramson and locally at RI Public Radio with Flo Jonic may energize women. Her campaign continues to raise questions regarding Angel Taveras’ fiscal management as Mayor of Providence. A steady flow of press releases from the Raimondo team consistently attacks Taveras for raising taxes and mismanaging the city’s fiscal affairs.

GRADE: B

 

 

 

Ken Block

No one has pushed harder and longer to reform the Master Lever issue in Rhode Island. Passage by the House 72-0 is affirmation that that it is time for reform. If the Senate passes Master Lever, Block can claim a huge victory as a candidate and own the reform position.

Both Block and Fung challenged the 38 Studios position – a smart campaign stance.

The only recent blemish was the pathetic fundraising number – if not reversed soon, Block will have to dip into his deep pockets much deeper. Only $69,000 

GRADE: B

 

Angel Taveras

Good news and bad news for Taveras’ campaign. Taveras has shown some fundraising muscle with a record first quarter and money does matter – especially when competing against the mega fundraiser Gina Raimondo.

The bad news is that Taveras’ management of Providence is creating a track record that raises real questions about his judgment. Fiscal miscues coupled with an emerging pattern of secrecy and blocking access to public information both by the media and members of the public undermines any claim of being a performer. Taveras’ administration has used every tactic to block requests – delays, charging thousands of dollars in claims and demanding extensions.

GRADE: C+

 

Clay Pell

More and more Pell seems to be running for a race in the future and not for Governor in 2014. While he has tried to role out some policy positions on the economy and education, most folks know more about his failure to vote as an adult and his losing his car.

Now, Pell has loaned his campaign a second million dollars. Pell has the resources to be a viable candidate for the Democratic nominee for Governor, but he needs to gain a real political foothold.

One big question for Pell is will the National Education Association hang with him and risk being a non-factor in maybe the most important election for the union in their history.

“Education is incredibly important to me, and to my family. I’ve seen first hand the power of education to transform lives, as people share with me their stories of what the Pell Grant meant to them – that it allowed them to go to college, build a career and achieve their full potential, and what it meant that government was directly investing in their future,” said Pell.

With issues like NECAP and pension reform unresolved, is Bob Walsh willing to sit this Governor’s race out.

GRADE: C+