Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Every Friday, Dan Lawlor breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Rhode Island politics. Check out who made the cut this week.

Who's Hot

Providence Student Union-> This past weekend, dozens of adults - lawmakers, reporters, parents, professors, business people - took the state's proposed new high school graduation requirement at an event organized by PSU. Most adults failed. PSU has helped spark a national conversation on the type of testing we should have in schools.

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Nina Pande-> This hard working non-profit executive director and former Providence School Board President has taken the reins at John Hope Settlement House, and is engaged in a heavy duty turnaround at the decades old agency. Too many community centers struggle with low accountability, supports, and funding - Pande and her team are working with the community to revive this West End icon.

Mike Chippendale -> This Northern RI state representative has made some waves opposing the repayment of the multi-million dollar 38 Studios bonds. Both Chafee and Raimondo agree that there is a "moral obligation" to the bondholders involved, and they're probably right, but Chippendale is a voice for most Rhode Islanders who are frustrated to be spending tax money to satisfy investors while the state is falling apart.

Gordon Fox-> The Speaker and Senate President announced that General Assembly hearings will now be streamed live on the web. This is a great step for transparency- now more people can watch Committee Chairs declare previous votes "Null and Void."

John Marion-> Common Cause's Executive Director has launched a website - - www.ethicsheldhostage.com - to bring back the ill-fated ethics legislation in the House Judiciary. Marion has been involved in numerous good government fights - from Banning the Master Lever to Judicial Reform. Let's hope this session some significant reforms are enacted to bring more transparency for voters.

Who’s Not

Gordon Fox -> Bait and switch. Is it a coincidence the Assembly leadership announces its new "transparency" initiative - live stream of committee hearings- within days of killing an ethics reform bill and nullifying the Judiciary Committee bill in favor of a House vote for ethics reform?

David Cicilline-> Cicilline better watch out. His base of progressive supporters is getting a bit restless. While some were skeptical, a contingent of young progressives did a tremendous amount of door-knocking to bring out the Congressman's fabled "ground game" last November. If Cicilline starts disappointing his base, his pool of election workers will be much smaller next time around.

General Assembly Chairpersons -> Ever notice how the bills most people want to comment on are often discussed last at hearings?

Deborah Gist -> The State Commissioner of Education decried adult participation in Providence Student Union's NECAP Challenge as "an outrageous act of irresponsibility." An outrageous act of irresponsibility is implementing a high stakes graduation requirement without adequate supports, and giving students less time to prep than neighboring Massachusetts allows for their high stakes test!

Mayor Leo Fontaine -> The Washington Post recently highlighted the economic struggles of working people in Woonsocket. It's hardly the Mayor's fault alone, but after 15 years of Susan Menard and fifty years of a collapsing mill industry, how to bring back Woonsocket? How many people would guess CVS is headquartered there?

Attorney General Kilmartin -> The AG opposes the "ban the box" bill- which would eliminate the box on applications asking potential employees about prior convictions. Employers could still ask applicants about criminal history during the interview process, but this would prevent folks from automatically being screened out of a potential job opportunity.

Nicholas Hemond -> This young, ambitious insider has made the jump from working on Speaker Fox's expensive re-election race last fall to lobbying for a multi-million dollar special tax credit to rehab the old Industrial Trust tower downtown. Be leery of special one time deals to save the state ... the debts for the 38 Studios debacle are just starting to come due.