Taylor: What’s in Her Future?

Taylor: What’s in Her Future?

Catherine Taylor has emerged as a GOP star with a promising future, following a close election in which she was one percentage point shy of knocking out Democratic incumbent Ralph Mollis.

Since the election, Taylor has been surrounded by speculation as to what her plans for the future might be. In an interview with GoLocalProv yesterday, Taylor said she is keeping all of her options open—including a second run for office and a position in Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee’s administration.

“I feel some obligation to the 160,000-plus voters who trusted me with their vote to serve in some way,” Taylor told GoLocalProv. “I would certainly consider running again … I would like to take another stab at it.”

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She says many of the issues she championed as a candidate—along the lines of openness and transparency in government—have since been adopted by other state officers who won in the election. She said she will be paying particularly close attention to Mollis and would consider running against him again. She also is open to running for other statewide offices.

Committed to party-building for the GOP

In the meantime, she said she is committed to helping the state Republican Party boost the grassroots organization and volunteer network it built during the election. She did, however, say she was not interested in running for chair of the party. (Last week, current Chairman Giovanni Cicione said he would be willing to not seek another term.)

A third option: Taylor said she is open to serving in some capacity in Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee’s administration. Taylor was a long-time staffer for both Lincoln Chafee and his father, John Chafee. She worked as a legislative assistant for the elder Chafee, later becoming a speechwriter for him. She also was a senior editor and speechwriter for Lincoln Chafee while he was in the Senate.

Open to position in state government too

She has spoken with Lincoln Chafee since the election—but not about his administration. “I congratulated him on his win and he congratulated me on my campaign,” Taylor said.

“If I was called to serve my state, I would consider it,” she added.