The Best Idea Our Guy Didn't Have

The Best Idea Our Guy Didn't Have

Which candidate for governor has the best idea for economic development?

We asked the campaigns to name their favorite - other than their own.

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At a gubernatorial forum at Business Expo 2010 yesterday, the ideas were flying.

One stood out from the rest: a plan to build the world’s biggest aquarium in the smallest state in the nation. Victor Moffitt, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, says it is just what the Ocean State needs to beat the recession.

But others were skeptical.

“If it works, it works,” said Nick Hemond, spokesman for Democratic candidate Frank Caprio.

“Listen, I like a good aquarium as much as the next guy but the fact is that an aquarium and the other ideas that were voiced today at the forum are ‘Silver Bullet’ solutions. They are one shot deals,” added Christine Hunsinger, campaign director for the Moderate Party’s Ken Block.

“I would say it’s a novel idea,” said J.R. Pagliarini, campaign manager for independent candidate Lincoln Chafee.

But, he pointed out that there already two aquariums nearby: the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and the New England Aquarium in Boston.

Fellow Republican candidate John Robitaille declined comment.

“I’ll plead the 11th Commandment,” Robitaille said—invoking President Ronald Reagan’s rule that Republicans should not criticize each other.

Robitaille instead commended third-party candidate Block. “Ken Block was more business-oriented than the rest,” he said. Like Block, he said he favors supporting small business and cutting taxes.

One tax Robitaille wants to get rid of is the $500 franchise fee paid by all businesses—from CVS to mom-and-pop stores—even if they don’t make a profit.  

Across the political aisle, his idea earned praise from Joel Coon, campaign manager for Democratic candidate Patrick Lynch. But Lynch would cut the fee and exempt businesses that didn’t earn a profit—rather than scrapping it completely, according to Coon.

“It’s just one more thing in a litany of things we over-regulate,” Coon said.

Democratic candidate Frank Caprio agreed, at least in spirit. “I like that all the candidates are now also focusing on ways to help small businesses, because I believe that is what we need to do to turn our state around,” he said.

For Moffitt, on the other hand, the answer to our question was none of the above. “I don’t think any of the other candidates have come up with any good economic development ideas,” he said. “People talk about job creation, but I haven’t heard any plan.”