Anthony Gemma Announces Run for Congress
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Businessman Anthony Gemma formally announced his run for Congress in the First District yesterday, jumping into an already crowded Democratic field that includes Providence Mayor David Cicilline, former state party chairman Bill Lynch, and state Rep David Segal.
"As a taxpayer and as a constituent, I personally have been disengaged with the government because I don’t think that they are doing the right things that they could be doing," Gemma said. "They are not, for instance, using 21st century technology the way they can be. What was intended in the Constitution ... by your government representing the people can be done in a much quicker fashion now. Think about Facebook it has 225 million people. You can get immediate impact, an immediate feedback from constituents to help you decide how you should vote on a particular issue."
Gemma, the former president of Gem Plumbing, made his announcement at a theater in the Providence Place mall yesterday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn his speech, Gemma, who is pro-life, backed away from labeling himself as a conservative Democrat.
"How about the fact that I am for gay marriage?" Gemma said. "What does that make me? Does that put me back in the middle? So I am on both sides."
"I am just a Democrat - that’s what we are," he added. "We have to stop pigeonholing people. It’s not fair because people have different views. I will tell you right now that I will continue to be who I am. With all that said, it’s about the will of the people. Some of my issues have zero to do with my feeling. It has to do with what the constituents want to happen in their district. It’s representative government. That’s all it is. We have to get back to that."
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