GoLocalProv Voter’s Guide - Candidates for Governor: Ken Block
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Ken Block
Moderate Candidate for RI Governor
Born:
1965, Milford, CT
Education:
Dartmouth College ’87 (B.A. Computer Science)
Career Highlights:
• One-year consulting job with GTECH Corporation, 1991
• Full-time position with GTECH, 1992
• Formed Kinetic Consulting, in 1997
• Formed Simpatico Software out of the ashes of the dot com bust in 2001
Personal Information:
Block is the founder of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island, becoming active in politics after becoming increasingly unhappy with the political choices offered by the existing political parties.
Views on Key Issues:
• Do you favor the expansion of casino gambling in RI to include table games in Lincoln and Newport?
The Casino Referendum Bill, as it was written, did not provide enough information for voters to make an informed decision regarding the expansion of casinos to include table games. Rhode Island relies heavily on the 300 million dollars generated by our existing gambling program. Any change in the mix of gambling must ensure that we are no worse off and should actually be a better deal for the state.
• Do you think RI is culturally too accepting of public corruption?
Yes, I believe RI is too accepting of public corruption. Our elected officials have worked to serve their own self interest rather than acting as representatives for the people. We should expect more.
• Do you support the Deepwater Wind Project as a way of helping RI become a hub of the new energy industry? Do you think it is a viable method of economic development here?
I believe the Deepwater Wind project and other advances towards alternative energy are necessary for long term planning. We must lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, and harness our natural resources: the winds and tides. I believe creating "green" jobs through projects like this are a viable method of economic development here in Rhode Island
• Do you think RI effectively spends its education dollars?
No. Education spending in Rhode Island is the 6th highest in the nation, yet our achievement is ranked at 40th. That's not enough bang for our buck and it's a disservice to the children of Rhode Island.
• Do you favor a state law to allow gay marriage?
I believe that marriage equality is an issue of basic civil rights and I look forward to signing a bill to make it legal.
• Do you think RI should enact restrictive immigration legislation?
I strongly support E-Verify and believe it is the only sure method of solving the immigration problem in a humane way. E-Verify will stop people from working illegally, but it will also prevent unscrupulous employers from taking advantage of individuals.
• Do you think municipal government has done enough to cut spending?
I am sure there are ways that the municipal government could cut their spending further. However, the state has not provided municipalities with the predictability and stability they need in order to do so in an effective and efficient way.
• What specifically do you propose to change in the state pension system, and how much will your changes save in annual costs to the pension system?
I believe that there is a way to preserve a pension benefit for all public employees. Completely removing the COLA, ending the practice of rolling unused sick/vacation time into the pension benefit and pegging the age to begin drawing on a pension to the Social Security age, would begin to make Rhode Island's pension system sustainable.
• What is your strategy to address the state's budget deficit?
Please be specific, i.e. what cuts or revenue enhancements you are proposing. I plan to utilize technology in order to eliminate waste and fraud in our social services programs, particularly Medicaid. States that use fraud detection software find between 10-20% in waste and fraud. Twenty percent of our approximately $2 billion Medicaid program is $400 million, our estimated budget deficit. Implementing this kind of program throughout Health and Human Services will get us close to closing the budget deficit.
• What specifically will you do to improve employment for Rhode Islanders?
We must provide small businesses incentives to create well-paying jobs in Rhode Island by becoming cost competitive with our neighbors and ensuring that within five years it will cost 10% less to do business here.
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