Political insiders, candidates and union leaders agree: public employee unions can wield a major if not deciding influence on election outcomes in Rhode Island, especially the Democratic primary for governor.
“Increasingly and inexorably unions have developed extraordinary influence in Democratic primaries, and this year in the Rhode Island governor's race this will almost certainly be the case as well,” Democratic pollster Doug Schoen told GoLocalProv. His clients have included President Bill Clinton, former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
How do unions influence elections in Rhode Island?
National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI) Executive Director Bob Walsh spoke to the power public employee union endorsements have in influencing Rhode Island elections.
“I think that with over 11,000 members our support can make a difference in a close race. We will leave it to the pundits to determine how much of a difference we make,” said Walsh.
“The great thing about Rhode Island is that it is easy to get involved with political campaigns in support of candidates that support your values. I don't know if we have any particular impact other than an active and involved membership and a good communication system with our members to ensure they understand which candidates will best support the values we share concerning children, public education and working families,” Walsh added.
Rhode Island pollster Victor Profughi addressed the advantage public employee union support can lend to the candidates they throw their support behind.
“With labor union support, you can be a successful candidate even with relatively little money,” said Profughi.
Former State Rep. Douglas Gablinske spoke to the importance of union ground support at the statewide level.
“On the statewide level public employee unions can add huge ground game. The role unions play in elections is not much different than other special interest groups it is just that they come together and act in unison so that unified strength has a magnified impact particularly in a Democratic primary” said Gablinske.
Gablinske served in the Rhode Island General Assembly for four years (2007-2010) as a Democrat representing the town of Bristol. He was defeated in the September 2010 Democratic Primary to Richard P. Morrisson. Gablinske was one of six state legislators targeted in 2010 by Working Rhode Island - a coalition of Change to Win unions, AFL CIO unions, and independent unions.
"The unions had a perfect storm with my election -- between them having had enough of me because I was a Democrat who was not marching to their drum orders, and my having voted for the statewide funding formula. They concentrated a huge effort and were able to focus a tremendous amount of ground support and resources into my race,” added Gablinske.
[SEE RELATED SLIDESHOW: 2014 CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS]
“For federal races, our support is a decision made in conjunction with NEA nationally. At the state level, those decisions are made by member representatives of NEA Rhode Island, based upon those candidates that best support our values,” said Walsh of how the NEA reaches decisions regarding which candidate to endorse in a given election.
Gablinske noted that an incumbent who was elected with public employee union support in a previous election cycle, but takes a policy position that is at odds with union interests while in office can expect that support to dissipate when he or she is up for reelection.
"You can support the unions to a large degree and then you disagree once with them and they come after you. It is either 100 percent support or no support," said Gablinske.
“It makes for this unholy alliance between the Democratic party and the public employee unions. Candidates trade policy positions on wages and benefits in exchange for votes,” Gablinske added.
Looking ahead to next month’s primary elections, while the number of union members in Rhode Island has been down in recent years – dropping by 4,000 workers last year based on the most recent data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- Schoen spoke to the impact labor unions may have on deciding which of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for governor will emerge victorious.
“If [Providence Mayor] Angel Tavares wins the Democratic primary for Governor, it will be singularly because of the influence and power of public employee unions, pure and simple. And if Angel Taveras loses the primary, it will because a number of unions have broken away and given their support to Clay Pell--who private polling suggests is consistently cutting into Tavares' base of support,” said Schoen.
Taveras has been endorsed by the Rhode Island Alliance of Social Service Employees (SEIU Local 580) as well as the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters, Providence Fire Fighters IAFF Local 799, the American Association of University Professors URI Chapter, while Pell has the backing of NEARI and United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP).
Jim McGuire-North Kingstown
Steve Primiano-Barrington
Stephen Rawson-Burrillville
Michael Grossi-North Providence
Mark Dosdorian-Cumberland (President of the RIGOP Chairman's Caucus)
Michael Napolitano-Lincoln
Phil Hirons-Former Smithfiled Republican Town Chair, Former President of the RIGOP Chairman's Caucus
"I refuse to let the words hope, change, trust and investment in RI to be muddled with party politics. Many political leaders and RI Voters of every campaign and party know I speak truth to power putting people first. Follow my personal facebook page and you will see a long list of ardent RI Voters who are of all Political Party and Independent voter engaged for the best America and fair rules of the road for banking, housing and human decency supporting my campaign."
“Lorne has been focusing his efforts on identifying real solutions for Providence, not on political endorsements. As Mayor, Lorne will always put our neighborhoods and citizens ahead of politics. He brings the fresh perspective and years of experience necessary to help create jobs and grow Providence’s economy, not politics as usual," said Adrain campaign spokesperson Steve Gerencser.
Myrth York, Former Senator and Democratic Nominee for Governor
Patrick Lynch, Former Attorney General
Rhoda Perry, Former Senator
Ray Sullivan, Former Rep. and Campaign Manager for Marriage Equality RI
Senator Gayle Goldin
Representative Edith Ajello
Representative Art Handy
Representative Frank Ferri
Representative Linda Finn
Margaux Morisseau, State Senate Candidate (District 21)
Lauren Nocera, Campaign Manager for Angel Taveras for Mayor 2010 and Former Chair of the Providence Democratic City Committee
Leah Williams Metts, Chair of the NAACP Youth Council
Eugene Monteiro
Jenn Steinfeld
Jen Stevens
Paula Hodges
Christine West
