Who's Hot and Who's Not in Rhode Island Politics?

Who's Hot and Who's Not in Rhode Island Politics?

Who's surging, who's failing?  GoLocalProv's news staff gives you this week's snapshot at the political power grid.

Who’s Surging

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Governor Donald Carcieri   His work to make Rhode Island the first home in the United States to an off-shore wind farm is very popular, even with those on Block Island who will be closest to the turbines.  Certainly the 900 or so jobs the state's partner, Deepwater Wind, plans on bringing to Rhode Island helps.

Gubernatorial Candidate Patrick Lynch   Recently endorsed by the state's second largest union, the United Food, and Commercial Workers Local 328.  The unions don't turn out voters like they used to, but in the arena of public perception, this is a big momentum builder for Lynch.

Gubernatorial Candidate Lincoln Chafee   Liberals and conservatives are praising the gubernatorial hopeful for his plea to have the Central Falls teachers and superintendent go back to the negotiating table with a mediator.  For an independent, could you ask for more than both sides of the aisle saying you're right?

Mayoral Candidate Angel Tavaras  Recently received the endorsement of former state senator and three-time gubernatorial candidate Myrth York for his bid to become Mayor of Providence.  York is still very popular on the East Side of Providence.  The East Side is a must-win, and for Tavaras, this endorsement will help. 

House Speaker Gordon Fox   His bill to put a referendum on the ballot this year to see if voters want to restore the power of the state ethics commission to police legislatures was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and received overwhelming support.  (This power was taken away by the State Supreme Court as a result of a challenge by former Senate President William Irons.)

 

Who’s Failing

Providence Mayor David Cicilline   The Mayor has had a hard early spring: scandals at the police department, a recent increase in crime, and the loss of stimulus dollars for the Providence Port to Quonset.  In a poor attempt to pull his profile out of a downward spiral he agreed to a contract with the Providence firefighters which, while long overdue, still looked contrived.

Congressman Patrick Kennedy   That recent outburst on the House floor only made him look more pathetic.  Kennedy is on his way out of Ocean State politics, but that video clip of his rant made the rounds on all the cable news channels and late night talk shows and made him, once again, the butt of too many jokes.

RI Republicans   Could be seen as trending downward since the Dorr Rebellion.  They are trending downward now because they have only two candidates for general offices and very few for legislative races, yet they will have six between the two Congressional districts.  Can't these guys figure out how to get out of their own way?

City of Cranston   At a point when the city is under water, both literally and figuratively in terms of the budget, the mayor and the city council have decided to hire lawyers and fight about who has the right to introduce resolutions. Is this really a good use of their time and the taxpayer's money?

Representative Steven Costantino  Is putting forth a budget-gap-closing idea to rescind the tax-exempt status of after-school programs, churches, and social service charities.  The only current tax-exempt folks likely not to be part of this are those that could actually afford it, like universities and hospitals.