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?

Who's on on the rise and who's heading the other way in Rhode Island...

Who’s Hot

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Peter Shumlin -> Vermont’s Governor (at right) came to town this week with one important message: We legalized same-sex marriage and the world didn’t come crashing down.  For the last time, let’s make this clear: Rhode Island has a budget crisis, a dropout crisis, a salmonella crisis, a crazy tax plan and more coyotes than it knows what to do with.  An issue that no one under 40 has a problem with isn’t worth arguing about.  Pass it and move on.

Lincoln Chafee -> Okay, the idea to tax everything from barbershops to North Providence shakedowns has everyone in a tizzy. But if this Governor can cut your time in half at DMV, can he really be that bad?

Patrick Kennedy -> Congratulations to the former Congressman, who this week announced plans to get married.  Between the engagement, a new home in New Jersey and the fellowship at Brown, it’s been quite a month for Patrick. And hey, if he wants to run Congress again, about 83% of Rhode Islanders would make him the favorite over Congressman Cicilline.  

Xay Khamsyvoravong -> Word is Frank Caprio’s former campaign manager has resurfaced to take a job with RIPEC. Even though Caprio imploded down the stretch last November, there is no question Xay will continue to be a valuable name in Rhode Island politics for as long as he wants to be.

Frank Ferri -> Kudos once again to State Rep looking beyond trivial matters and thinking about what’s best for Rhode Islanders.  There is no reason why payday loan companies should be charging 260% interest rates and if that means they have to go out of business, then so be it.  Losing Check ‘N Go isn’t exactly losing Bank of America.  Now it’s time to take the fight to check cashers.

Paul Fogarty and Cale Keable -> Same goes for these two legislators.  Nice to see these gentlemen step up and lead the way to restoring the downtown areas in Burrillville and Glocester. The next trick will be to find ten Rhode Islanders who know how to get to Burrillville and Glocester.

Raymonde Charles -> Congressman Cicilline has a new press assistant, so it’s worth giving her a warm welcome to Hot or Not. You know, while her approval rating is still above 17.

Who’s Not

Dan Gordon -> Caused an uproar in Tiverton this week because he doesn’t support schools having Gay Straight Alliances.  Integrated schools are still okay, right Dan? (Photo at left)

Teresa Tanzi -> Just as baseball fans have come to accept the fact that steroids played a significant role in the home run surge of the early 2000s, Rhode Islanders generally seem to accept that the only reason anything gets done at the State House is through deal making. Getting caught is when you deserve to be thrown under the bus, which Tanzi and Barry Bonds learned this week.

Doreen Costa -> In a way, it’s refreshing to know there is at least one State Rep unwilling to be compromised by traditional State House tactics.  But you have to wonder how Ms. Costa’s constituents will feel when she can’t get anything done because none her colleagues can trust her.

Freshman Reps -> The above examples are the prime reasons why freshmen are to be seen and not heard on Smith Hill.

Tom Brady -> Rough week for a truly good man.  Everyone knows how difficult it is to get things done in an inner city, but Brady had a strong relationship with Steve Smith and there was reason to believe things could turn around.  The next question: Is Chief Esserman next to go?

Providence Schools -> It is no coincidence Brady resigned on the same day four more schools were announced as failing. Here’s hoping the next Superintendent can figure out how to address our low-performing schools, especially the high schools that are essentially becoming dropout factories.