Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, July 09, 2010
Read Side of the Rhode - Who's Hot and Who's Not in RI Politics - every Friday only at GoLocalProv.com!
WHO'S HOT
Lincoln Chafee -> Chafee may be getting whacked from the left and the right about his sales tax plan, but he's winning national plaudits - this time, the cover of the USA Today - for being one of a handful of viable Independent candidates seeking statewide office. His fundraising numbers may be less than impressive, but Chafee doesn't need to buy media when he's getting such good free media.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJoe Fernandez -> This democratic candidate for Attorney had a successful second quarter of fundraising - distancing himself from his rivals Peter Kilmartin and Steve Archambault. Fernandez brought in $102k to Kilmartin's $60k and Archambault's $50k. This race could very well be the most exciting race of the entire Primary
Steve Stycos -> In a victory for the little guy, the Cranston Councilman who stood by while a Stop and Shop was permitted to do a run-around around zoning requirements and public hearing requirements had decided to not seek re-election. Instead, his main critic on this project, current school committee member Steve Stycos, will be seeking the Ward 1 Council seat in Cranston. Stycos is a huge community and environmental leader in eastern Cranston who has led the Farmers Market, Friends of the Pawtuxet and many other important neighborhood issues.
Chris Bizzacco -> This former chief of staff of Providence Mayor David Cicilline will soon be running one of the biggest Mayor's races in the 2010 election cycle. Bizzacco will be running the campaign of Greg Fischer, the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Louisville. This is Bizzacco's first entrance back into the political arena since leaving Providence City Hall to attend Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and thereafter being interviewd by the State Police for the check-cashing scandal involving the Mayor's brother.
Sheldon Whitehouse -> I was not a big fan of Sheldon's when he ran for Governor in 2002. But, let me tell you, I am super-impressed with his performance as a United States Senator. And, this week, his unveiling of bipartisan legislation to create a National Endowment for the Oceans was a timely and historic effort to create a reliable stream of revenue to fund projects aimed at protecting and preserving our oceans and coastal areas. Great work from Rhody's junior Senator.
Right-Wing Rags -> I would like to thank two right-wing rags - Anchor Rising and Motif Magazine - for promoting this column! Not only did they give this column front page coverage, but, in doing so, they also proved my point that Hummel is part of a larger right-wing network in Rhode Island (Hummel's board includes top Rhody conservatives Bill Felkner, Nick Gorham and Roland Benjamin). I would also like to reiterate to the Motif editor that - despite all of his many entreaties (he must be playing bad cop now) - I have no desire to write for his rag.
Ian Donnis -> Kudos to the WRNI political reporter for his astute analysis of the two "Yankees" in the gubernatorial campaign: Lincoln Chafee and Frank Caprio. Chafee, the Yankee by virtue of his birthright and Caprio, a Yankee by virtue of his well-disciplined and swagger-filled campaign.
Deb Markowitz -> This Vermont democratic gubernatorial candidate will be in Providence next Wednesday, July 14th at 830AM at Tazza in downtown for a fundraising reception. The event is being organized by her campaign manager, Paul Tencher, a Rhody native and the former chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts.
Providence City Council Candidates -> While 5 current Council members are retiring, the real story is that there will be 10 competitive democratic primaries, ensuring the largest incoming class of new Council members in recent history. Ward 11 alone has 10 candidates duking it out to replace retiring Councilwoman Balbina Young.
WHO'S NOT
John Robitaille -> Out of all of the outrageous policies pushed by Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, Robitaille had to come out and attack the only policy of his former boss that makes sense: an offshore wind farm. Despite the legitimate questions raised about circumventing the PUC regulatory process, we have a very limited window to become a national leader in renewable energy production and the green economy. Let's not get stuck in partisan bickering. Up with the turbines!
Jan Brewer -> This Republican Governor of Arizona will be in Boston this Saturday for the annual National Governors’ Conference. Thankfully, a huge entourage of Rhode Islanders will be heading up to Copley Square for a 12pm rally against Brewer's anti-immigrant policies. In Providence, vans will be leaving the office of DARE at 340 Lockwood Ave. Saturday at 9.30 a.m. and returning mid-afternoon that same day.
Thomas Tobin -> This Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Providence or his auxiliary bishop is slated to speak at a rally against marriage equality at the State House. The rally is being organized by a national organization touring the country opposing marriage equality. Tobin's prior statement that "Homosexual activity is unnatural and gravely immoral. It's offensive to Almighty God. It can never be condoned, under any circumstances" seems terribly hypocritical in light of (1) the church's preachings on love and equality and the (2) church's silence and pro-active cover-up of the sexual abuse committed by the church's leaders upon children.
Anthony Gemma -> Many people were interested to hear what this blank-slate Congressional candidate had to say at Drinking Liberally this past week about important democratic issues. The democratic crowd left unimpressed after Gemma said that he would have voted for the anti-choice Stupak amendment and would have supported tax breaks for the rich. Then, inexplicably, after spending a good part of his presentation discussing Coral Springs, Florida as the model government of America he could not even name the Congressman of Coral Springs - even though that is the office that he is seeking.
Stanton Shifman -> There is a terrible double-standard in the State of Rhode Island regarding felons. Most convicted felons can't access public housing, get a good job or catch a break, but certain convicted felons must know the right people. In this instance, Shifman, who was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in a loansharking enterprise run by members of an organized crime syndicate in Boston, is looking to win City Council approval to take over Pat Conley's failed condo-mania project on Allens Ave. and build a $400-million hospital and hotel complex. But, like Conley, this isn't about strategic and meaningful job creation. The plans for the property - in the middle of an industrial complex - call for a long-term care hospital, an extended-stay hotel, a marina, a marine terminal for ferries and cruise ships and, get this, a monorail. As they say on ESPN, "c'mon man!!!" The City Council should wake up and get to business creating jobs in the maritime sector and leave the monorail to Disney World.
Brazil, Germany & Argentina -> These primadonnas of the World Cup disappointed their fans and the world by losing critical games and missing out on the finals of the World Cup. Their prestige and pizzazz ended in surprising losses in the past week. On Sunday starting at 130PM, Spain and the Netherlands will take to the pitch to find out which of these teams will win their first Cup in their nation's history.
Politifact -> Both RIFuture and On Politics took this new political truth-o-meter task for, well, not always being truthful. While I encourage increased transparency and honesty in political campaigns, watch dogs - especially well-respected and talented reporters - need to be sure that they are indeed setting the record straight.
Email me at mjerzyk at gmail dot com with your hot/not ideas.
