RI Campaign Update - Independent Candidate Blasts Democrats for Skipping Education Forum
GoLocalProv Politics Team
RI Campaign Update - Independent Candidate Blasts Democrats for Skipping Education Forum
It may have been the last big holiday weekend of the summer, but, with the primary now one week away, the candidates didn’t take a break from the campaign trail.
Independent mayoral candidate Jon Scott said he was “greatly disappointed” after hearing that three Democratic candidates are declining to show up to an education forum the school board scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today.
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“I understand that we were given late notice but I am willing to go debate such an important issue with a half hour warning, if need be,” Scott said. “We have folks in this race who pride themselves on being champions of public education but they need extra time to complete this test? They need to have someone craft their talking points? I am stunned that candidates who tell us that they are 'ready to hit the ground running' on the first day cannot even sit in a room with taxpayers and teachers and defend their positions without prepared notes.”
The Taveras and Lombardi campaigns denied that lack of time to prepare was the reason they weren’t attending. Both campaigns said they had scheduling conflicts. A spokeswoman for Steven Costantino also cited a scheduling conflict.
“Our reason for dropping out is simply that we cannot be in two places at one time,” said Lombardi campaign manager Ramon Martinez. “Our candidate's schedule has a mayoral forum at the Jewish Federation League posted for quite sometime.” Taveras is scheduled to attend the same event, according to campaign manager Lauren Nocera.
Costantino also had multiple events on his schedule for the day, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Bramley.
Attorney General candidate Peter Kilmartin said he would create a Youth Advisory Council to bolster crime prevention efforts in the state.
The council would meet twice a month and examine youth-related issues like substance abuse and neighborhood safety. Its membership would include: 20 students from high-schools throughout the state, two representatives from the State Police, and two members from the Rhode Island Board of Education. The Attorney General would serve as chair.
“Children are experts on what truly impacts them and they must have a voice in meeting their needs,” Kilmartin said. “The Youth Advisory Council, which will be administered through the Office of Attorney General, will help find solutions to issues facing the youth in our state and build the foundation for a better tomorrow – for our children and our families.”