NEW: John Lombardi will Run for State Rep. in District 8
Friday, June 15, 2012
Former Providence Mayor and City Council President John Lombardi will run for the House seat in Federal Hill, GoLocalProv has learned.
Lombardi’s official announcement is expected to come next week.
Lombardi ran in a four-way Democratic primary for Mayor in 2010, finishing the second to Angel Taveras. The lifelong Federal Hill resident has $14,167.71 in his campaign account.
Kimzey, who counts both the Chairperson and the Executive Director of the Providence Democratic city Committee as supporters, has $12,555.53 in her account, while Tarro has $6,810.24.
In recent weeks, there had been some question as to whether Tarro would seek reelection, but the first-term Democrat confirmed his plans to run earlier this week.
“I am definitely a candidate for reelection and always have been,” Tarro told GoLocalProv.
Comments:
Tim Roberts
8:53am on Friday, June 15, 2012
an interesting race just got more interesting.. my money's on kimsey.
Zack Mezera
9:32am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Thanks for your support Tim. If your money's on Kimzey then we could sure use it, this is going to be a tough fight. The curious can learn more about Libby here:
www.libbykimzey.com
and donate at this link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B4JFGZJ4AWCVS
louis rizzo
10:07am on Friday, June 15, 2012
$$ on Kimsey ??...VICTORY to Lombardi...
Harold Stassen
10:21am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Seems as if Lombardi just can't let go? Tarro's 1st term has been forgetable, paying more attention to currying favor with (outgoing) Speaker Fox. Don't know Kimsey but most likely one of the new "progressives" who make up the West Broadway area. Could be fun to watch.
pamela elizabeth
11:02am on Friday, June 15, 2012
I support Libby because she decided to run months ago; she is committed to serving the district and put her team together early on. She represents new ideas and high energy, hard word and transparent campagning. She is courageous and authentic in every way.
jon paycheck
11:09am on Friday, June 15, 2012
jobs,jobs,jobs....
Edward Smith
11:47am on Friday, June 15, 2012
What do you get when you have a three way race between two old-school Italians and a progressive woman in that neighborhood?
The Honorable Libby Kimzey.
Kristina A. Fox
12:22pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
I'm a proud second generation Federal Hill resident, and a proud Libby Kimzey supporter!
Kate Lyons
12:55pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Libby Kimzey is smart, fresh and tough, just what we need to represent such an important part of the city.
anthony sionni
3:36pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Great news! John Lombardi will be a great representiive ! He was a great councilman!!
a c
8:22pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
I believe Libby Kimzey will make an excellent state representative. She has several endearing qualities: Honest, high level of integrity, and a great moral compass! She has my vote!
Charles Drago
10:42pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
My Dear Ms. Kimzey,
Please explain, in detail, your position regarding the race for Congress from the RI 1st.
Do you support David Cicilline?
If not, do you repudiate David Cicilline?
David Cicilline has become the litmus test by which we measure a Democratic candidate's Democratic credentials.
In your opinion, Ms. Kimzey, does David Cicilline embody the values and promise of the party of FDR, JFK, RFK?
Quickly, Ms. Kimzey. You remain ill-defined as a candidate in general and a Democratic candidate in particular.
Speak truth to power. Speak truth to the people.
Time is of the essence.
Edward Smith
1:14pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Who could leave Mr. Drago and his Cicilline fetish out of this thread? How thoughtless of us. Thank you for pointing out the issues that really matter.
Charles Drago
1:21pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
What matters in this instance is the electorate's right -- and indeed, obligation -- to gain insight into the character and conscience of candidates for public office.
I simply seek to determine if Ms. Kimzey, who, despite her progressive stances, likely stands to my political right, is joining Myrth York's Pro-Cicilline choir, or if she understands that David Cicilline has betrayed every principle of the Democratic Party and its left-most wing.
This issue, I submit, matters a great deal.
marylou sexton
2:26pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
I too would like to know if Ms.Kismey supports Cicilline's re-election bid.
Cara Mella
3:11pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Me three.
Keith Fernandes
3:43pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Me 4. Anyone who supports Cicilline is not deserving of office in this state and certainly not deeserving of representing the voters of Providence who have had to pay dearly for his lies. Enough is enough.
anthony sionni
6:46pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
me 5 ,who would support cicilline? you got to be kidding !
Joe Bagofdonuts
7:55pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Just some thoughts on previous postings.
“Just can’t let go”
Can be also be defined as caring about the place he calls home and a commitment (or addiction, doesn’t matter) to help all those he/she represents.
“she is committed to serving the district and put her team together early on”
This implies that there is a lack of commitment by others which certainly (should) not (be) the case. Libby Kimzey is just entering running for office so it was essential for her to start early. Wise decision, no fault no blame on either side. Entering early is not necessarily essential for an incumbent (always running) or someone like John Lombardi who fully understands the rigors and organization of running a campaign.
“She represents new ideas”
What are they? How do they compare to the other candidate? If a stance is similar / same they would not necessarily be considered "new" or unique. Also, we sometime confuse someone who is beginning a journey as being the one who owns the market on “new” ideas. Let us all agree that we all evolve throughout life and capable of “new” and “fresh” ideas. Hats off to all those willing to make oneself better.
“high energy, hard word”
have not met many successful candidates who did not have “high energy” and with regards to “hard work” it is one area that John Lombardi’s generation understands. “Hard work” is not something special it’s simply the starting point for someone who has passion.
“transparent campaigning”
In this day, and in particular this state everything worth noticing is noticed. Transparent campaigning is not simply a website and public records of how much money is in the coffer. It’s about honesty and I will assume that all three candidates have this and if not they do not deserve to represent anyone!
“She is courageous and authentic in every way.”
Running in politics does not necessary classify oneself as courageous. You could make the argument that youth can enhance the notion of courage. If you believe this you also must take into account the notion of experience.
“two old-school Italians and a progressive”
Did not know democrats differentiate values based upon ethnicity or sex. We are better than that, sure you are a democrat?
“Libby Kimzey is smart, fresh and tough, just what we need to represent such an important part of the city.”
Two other candidates received their undergraduate and law degrees. Not a bad start.
“I believe Libby Kimzey will make an excellent state representative. She has several endearing qualities: Honest, high level of integrity, and a great moral compass! She has my vote!”
I think that is the case for both John Lombardi and Libby Kimzey. Difference is John has displayed these traits for many years and will be his own person. This means a commitment to her/his constituents not to the inner working of other city politicians looking to strengthen their hold. It is about time that all candidates start thinking about why they are there rather than whom they associate with. My vote is for John Lombardi and I am sure Libby Kimzey’s shared dedication will make her an asset in time.
Joseph Davis
11:27pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Libby, show your honesty and independence. Answer the questions that has been posed six times.
Who are you supporting for Congress in the First District?
Will you speak out against David Cicilline and his lies and how he ruined the city of Providence for his political gain?
Tim Roberts
3:10am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
i whole-heartedly regret signing up for notifications after commenting - as this seems to have turned into some kind of jubilee for anthony Gemma. It seems to me that Miss Kimsey is most likely to be voting for Congressman Langevin, and if any of these trolls lived in the district she seeks to represent, they would know so much.
now, if I uncheck that box, can I please stop getting emails??
Cara Mella
10:00am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
According to Tim, I guess she lucked out not having to answer the question because of her district? I don't think so. Eventually she will have to as well as the rest of her team.
Charles Drago
11:12am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Since I raised this ruckus, permit me to offer more thoughts on the legitimacy of holding up the issue of support for David Cicilline as a litmus test for the character, courage, insight, and independence of all of Rhode Island’s Democratic candidates – especially liberals and progressives – for elected office.
Beyond all doubt and to the degree of metaphysical certitude:
– Mayor David Cicilline demonstrated professional incompetence that drove Providence to the brink of bankruptcy and all but destroyed the city’s public schools.
– Congressman David Cicilline has failed to produce a viable jobs plan or a single job for Rhode Island, failed to bring a single significant infrastructure project to Rhode Island, and failed to introduce and pass a single piece of legislation that has managed to curb the greed of the GOP’s corporate masters or thwart the Constitution-defying social agendas of the Religious right.
– Mayor/Congressional candidate/Congressman David Cicilline repeatedly has lied to the electorate about his actions and intentions. When all attempts at evasion and misdirection had failed, Cicilline “apologized” not for lying, but rather for his poor choice of words in certain limited instances. That cynical act of political self-service, yet another lie, is the equivalent of John Wilkes Booth apologizing to the audience for interrupting the play.
– In 2010, certain leaders of the Rhode Island Democratic Party pressured members of the state’s Democratic Committee to endorse David Cicilline’s candidacy for Congress from the RI 1st. In 2012, those leaders and others, in the face of all that is noted above, once again are applying intense pressure to repeat the endorsement. This pressure extends to all of the state’s Democrats seeking election or re-election to public office this year.
And so the Cicilline litmus test must be applied – and not just to Ms. Kimzey. But since this thread focuses on her candidacy, let us now attempt to determine the character, courage, insight, and independence she would bring to public office.
Do you, Ms. Kimzey, find David Cicilline’s professional and personal conduct to be inconsistent with the practices and principles of the Democratic Party? Will you speak truth to the ruthless, self-aggrandizing Democratic power brokers who demand that you tow the party line and support David Cicilline? Do you understand the dangers posed by the inept, unscrupulous David Cicilline to our state, to our nation, and to the Democratic Party? Will you, without guarantee of political support, risk your budding career and stand and be Rhode Island’s first Democratic candidate for public office to say, “This far, and no farther!” to David Cicilline and his willing executioners?
For in the final analysis, Ms. Kimzey, this is not about David Cicilline.
It’s all about you.