Breaking: Binder to Run Against Fox in 2014
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Independent candidate Mark Binder announced today that he will again run for State Representative in District 4 next year.
Binder, who ran against House Speaker Gordon Fox in 2012, lost by 995 votes. Fox won with a final tally of 3,590 votes compared to 2,595 votes for Binder.
"In 2012, 38 Studios was hot news and Gordon Fox promised us an investigation," Binder said. "Six months later there has been no investigation. There has been no resolution on the repayment of the bonds.
Instead, we’ve seen a new 38 Studios debacle starting to emerge in the form of the so-called 'Superman Building.'
Binder said today that he "commended Speaker Gordon Fox for bringing a gay marriage bill to a vote in the House this year and giving the Senate a chance to approve the measure, finally leaving the state poised to join the other New England states in giving gay couples the chance to enjoy the benefits of marriage. But he said that outcome only came after a campaign where Binder focused on the Speaker’s failure to introduce gay marriage legislation in the previous legislative session, pointing to it as an example of Fox’s record of putting his political interests ahead of the interests of the district."
Focusing on 38 Studios -- and the Superman Buidling, Binder said, "I am deeply concerned that we are seeing Gordon Fox's allies and former employees starting to turn up the heat and press the case that the state needs to step in with $40 million—or more—of taxpayer money to do what the private market won’t—dump funds into fixing the building. The lesson of 38 Studios was that late-night votes throwing taxpayer money at a problem and hoping that it produces results is a disaster waiting to happen. Has Gordon Fox learned the lesson of 38 Studios? His constituents will be watching to see."
Binder, a businessman and children's book author, has lobbied against using the NECAP tests as graduation requirements, supported payday-lending reform, and testified against the Master Lever since the 2012 election.
“We need a voice in the State House who will stand up for the issues that people care about in our community,” said Binder. "During the 2012 campaign, Mr. Fox claimed he would look into Payday Lending Reform, the
usurious loans that target the poorest people in our district and he has dismissed the issue. While Providence students are working to promote awareness of the issue of eliminating high stakes testing as a graduation
requirement, the Speaker has again done nothing. He blocked a vote on an important ethics reform law that would give the Ethics Commission the authority to go after legislators who put self service above public service.
And to top it all off, controversial voter ID requirements and Master Lever laws remain firmly in place.”
Binder said, “The Speaker also promised a moratorium on late night votes, but given the pitiful lack of legislation passed by the House so far this year—watch out. They are on track to pass everything at the last minute
again. In the last campaign, Gordon Fox promised to listen to his constituents and so far, there is little evidence that he has delivered on that promise. It’s time to get the Fox out of the State House. The only
way to make sure that the voters of District 4 are being heard and their interests are being fought for is to vote out the incumbent. Once again, I ask and encourage the voters to Mark their Ballots for Mark Binder.”
Related Articles
- Election Day: Binder Speaks Out
- Mark Binder: This IS the Test
- NEW: Binder Blasts Fox on Additional Tax Credits
- NEW: Binder Rips Fox on 38 Studios; Taveras Endorses Fox
