Is Cicilline in Trouble?
Friday, May 08, 2015
Even with the backing of some of the most powerful Democrats in the state, including R.I. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Susan Cicilline Buonanno, sister of U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, lost her primary bid for the Democratic House District 33 seat to South Kingstown councilwoman Carol Hagan McEntee -- who she out out-fundraised by a margin of over 30 to 1.
Jennifer Duffy, Senior Editor of the Cook Political Report, said that she does not think there is a campaign against the congressman or the Cicillines, but that there is some cause for concern.
“As 2014 showed, [David Cicilline] is more vulnerable in a mid-term election than in a presidential year.” Duffy said. Asked if she thought the recent loss by his sister indicated an "anti-Cicilline" movement, Duffy said, "No, but I think there is a bloc of voters who don't like or don't trust Cicilline."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCicilline Buananno, a Narragansett Town Council Member and former School Committee member, got 577 votes, to Hagan McEntee's 652. McEntee now goes on to face Republican Robert Trager and independents C. Elizabeth Candas and James McKnight Jr. in a special election on June 9.
While Cicilline Buananno failed to make it out of the Democratic primary, political analyst Darrell West said he didn't believe any challenge to brother Rep. Cicilline would come from Republicans.
“I don’t see a big electoral problem for Cicilline,” said West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.
“He won his last race with 60 percent of the vote. He works hard and spends a lot of time in the district. He has been successful in helping the state win federal grants," said West. "He has spoken up forcefully against radical Republican ideas and why he doesn’t think they help ordinary Rhode Islanders."
Challenges from Within?
Last year, Cicilline, the former Mayor of Providence now in his third term as Congressman, weathered a strong threat from inside the party -- from relatively unknown Democratic challenger Matt Fecteau in the 2014 Democratic primary.
Fecteau, a former White House national security intern and captain in the U.S. Army with two tours to Iraq, garnered nearly 40% of the Democratic vote.
Fecteau said that Cicilline does not represent the “average, everyday Rhode Islander."
"Absolutely, the Cicilline name is becoming a liability for the state’s Democratic party," said Fecteau. “The Congressman has upset a lot of people because he hid the financial crisis in Providence from the people.”
“When I was campaigning,” he added, “people told me that they were fed up with his lies.”
The Cicilline name has been prominent in the state and the media for many years. The congressman’s father was a well-known attorney noted for representing mob figures. His older brother, John, also an attorney, was convicted of extortion and served prison time. (Though disbarred after the conviction, John’s license to practice law has since been re-instated).
Fecteau attributed his primary loss to lack of funds and name recognition. Cicilline had $1.2 million in campaign funds. Fecteau had $5,000.
Fecteau said that he is considering another run against Cicilline. “He won’t have his name recognition to fall back on,” he said.
Fundraising, Connections Fell Flat
Despite out-fundraising her opponent by a wide margin, Cicilline Buonanno came up short in the polls.
Cicilline Buonanno reported in her 28-Days Before Primary Report that she had no cash on hand -- but quickly raised over $11,000 from such backers as her brother, former State Senate Finance Chairman Stephen Alves, the Providence Firefighters Union and AFSCME.
On her 7 Days Before Primary report, Cicilline Buonanno reported having garnered an additional pick up in contributions of over $3,300 from Friends of Nick Mattiello, the Teachers Federation PAC, the Utility Workers Union, and others.
Hagan McEntee, a lawyer and South Kingstown council member, entered the 28 Days Before Primary mark with under $1,000 cash on hand, and in the 7 Days Before Primary reported a net of $450 in contributions -- and a $2,000 personal loan to herself.
Prior to the election on April 24, former Narragansett Councilwoman Glenna Hagopian filed a State Ethics Commission complaint against Cicilline Buonanno, citing her use of her Cranston school email, where she serves as principal, for campaign purposes.
"Ultimately, at the local level, the most important element is the individual candidate in the community, and how well that candidate conveys their message," said veteran political pollster Victor Profughi. "It can be a world a difference between what 'inside the party' means in terms of the local community, and what it means statewide."
Cicilline's office to not respond to request for comment on his sister's defeat.
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