Guest MINDSETTER™ Maura Kelly: Why I’m Running for State Senate

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Maura Kelly, GoLocalProv Guest MINDSETTER™

I am the aunt to eight amazing kids. They mean the world to me. I recently had the joy of reading my nephew the book The Lorax before bed. The book ends with a warning to the younger generations, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” This message resonates with me and calls me to action and service. I am running for State Senate because WE MUST DO BETTER, and I believe that we need a change of leadership to do so.

I’ve knocked on thousands of doors since I announced my candidacy. In District 5, we are small business owners who feel crushed by the inflated property tax burden. We are parents who desperately want a diversity of excellent public school options for our children. We are young entrepreneurs and activists who struggle to find jobs and create viable businesses that can sustain us. We are a diverse people united by a love of this city, a craving for change, and elected officials that we can trust. The more engaged I have become in the politics of this state, the more I am convinced that we aren’t going to move forward if we don’t elect new leadership.

We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, one out of three children in Providence live in Poverty, and we are failing to provide our state’s children with the public education they deserve. We must do better.

I’ll make strengthening our economy, enhancing the quality of our public education system, and leading the charge against public corruption my top priorities.

Small business growth is the key to reviving our economy and lowering unemployment, but high property taxes, endless red tape and lack of investment in public education stifle the growth of local small businesses and leave too many people out of work. We must restore state aid to municipalities for the purpose of property tax relief, and root out unnecessary bureaucracy that impedes our ability to put Rhode Islanders to work.

I work for the Rhode Island Department of Education, and I know that too many of our schools aren’t giving our kids the education they deserve. I will fight for a public education system that empowers all students to lead successful, fulfilling lives regardless of socio-economic background. We need high quality schools to prepare our young people for the future, and to encourage businesses and families to move INTO (not out of!) our neighborhoods.

For too long the General Assembly has been fraught with conflicts of interest and insider dealing. The connection between government transparency and job creation are inseparable – government should serves the public interest by making common sense investments in job creation, not backroom deals to businesses (38 Studios) and individuals with insider connections on Smith Hill. The best thing we can do to make our state business friendly is to send a clear message that we are no longer a state for sale. I will work to pass tough conflict of interest rules for members of the General Assembly, and reform the judicial nominating process, ending the revolving door between the legislative and judicial branches of government.

I began my career working as a community organizer with a focus on helping workers and families advocate for safer streets, better schools and sustainable neighborhoods. Later, my interest in sustainable economic development took me to Point Judith Capital, where I researched green energy alternatives as an innovative driver of economic development and learned what innovative companies and small business need to thrive.

I have a reputation for being gutsy, energetic, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to the challenges that I tackle. I know that together, we’ll right the ship and move our state toward future prosperity. We CAN do better!

Maura Kelly is a candidate for State Senate in Rhode Island District 5. Her website can be found at www.maurakelly.com.

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Comments:

Michael Trenn

7:20am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

All these Democrats are saying the same thing. Really.

Malachi Constant

7:30am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

It seems like every time this Kelly talks she changes the reasons why she's running for office. As someone who lives in the district, I'm dizzy trying to keep up with the spin. If she keeps changing her principles now, image what she would do once elected?

Common Sense RI

8:55am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Mr. Trenn is correct. Nearly every one of these articles I have read that has been written by a Democrat is content free. It's all platitudes. Tell us what EXACTLY you will do to achieve all these lofty goals.

If you can't it means one of two things, either you have no clue and are just running for the sake of running or you do know but are afraid to be upfront because you think the voters won't like it.

David Beagle

9:36am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I think these democrats candidates are passing the script to the next candidate after their piece is shown.

tom brady

12:19pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Community organizer from Chicago. Works for RI Dept. of Education along with its 180 plus staff. Sounds like a big government liberal to me. Living on the public dole.

Art West

1:26pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I have to agree with all the other comments. You're just blowing hot air.

If you don't recognize the fundamental problems with RI -- poor business climate and high taxes and regulations (meaning few realjob opportunities) together with oppressive taxes and bloated budgets -- then you have no business going to the State House.

Tell us how you will tackle the above. And "fighting for us" by promoting more social service handouts is not an answer.

seve smith

2:44pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

How Maura will vote when all of the race to the top money dries up and RIDE needs more money to feed the bureaucracy? She seems like another technocrat from engageri to me.

Odd Job

3:50am on Thursday, August 16, 2012

"I began my career working as a community organizer"
Are there any fro-profit working Dems left?

Blais Hazelwood

10:41am on Thursday, August 16, 2012

Maybe they all hire Bill Fischer, the highest paid golfer in the state, to be there mouthpiece. He never turns down a client, whether it's an opponent of another client or not. Makes the press releases a lot easier. "Hey kid, just send them the same piece we used for the other dem on our roster." LOL He had nothing but negative things to say about Chickachini during the previous election while retained by Lynch campaign, yet this time around he is defending the guy? REALLY! Enough said.