Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics

Friday, May 20, 2011

Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

Each week, GoLocalProv gives an insider's look at who's on a roll and who's rolling downhill in Rhode Island politics.

Who’s Hot

Steven Pare -> As bad as things are in Providence, it’s refreshing to see the Public Safety Commissioner (at right) continue to get things done. Already he’s committed to cracking down on pension fraudsters, ended most of the take-home car privileges at the police department, and now he’s helping make late night trips to Haven Brothers safer by pushing for staggered closings at some of the city’s nightclubs.

John Loughlin & Brendan Doherty -> It’s not a surprise that both Loughlin and Doherty find themselves way out in front of Congressman David Cicilline in the latest Channel 12 poll. What is a surprise is how low their unfavorables are. Loughlin, who is pretty conservative by Rhode Island standards, is only at 16 percent negative. More impressive is Doherty, who hopes to flip and flop his way to Washington, at just five percent.

Lincoln Chafee -> The governor has been relatively quiet since Speaker Gordon Fox (and the rest of the state) put the kibosh on his sales tax plan. But for a guy criticized for being beholden to public employees, he deserves credit for calling on state workers to pay more toward their pensions.

Ken McKay -> Well, hot might not be the word. Alive is more like it. After seemingly going into hiding as his party crumbled over the past few weeks, the GOP chair is making the rounds again, blaming Democrats for everything but the potholes in Providence. McKay does deserve credit for pointing out how ridiculous yet another study on the pension system is. He’s right. The legislature seems to just be putting off another tough decision.

Karen Meyers -> Everyone ought to give the new anchor at ABC6 a big welcome to Rhode Island. No word yet if she’s already filed for her disability pension.

Frank Ferri -> Great week for Rep. Ferri. Gave an impassioned speech on the House floor before the civil unions vote, and is also calling on the state to stop relying on tuition for funding. Bottom line: If you want an educated workforce, you can’t continue to price people out of earning a college degree. It just doesn’t make sense.

James Sheehan -> Kudos to Sen. Sheehan for standing up to Steve Laffey last weekend. Sheehan was right. Why should Rhode Islanders listen to a guy who was only in the state so he could make a scene for his movie?

Who’s Not

Scott Avedisian -> Generally, when you claim to have surplus at a time when many of your residents are struggling to pay bills, raising taxes isn’t necessary. Not for Warwick’s mayor (at left), who is pushing for both a property tax hike and the car tax. So much for that Republican nomination for Senate in 2012, Mayor Avedisian.

David Cicilline -> If ever a Democrat wanted to step up to take a chance at a sitting incumbent Congressman, now is the time. At 57 percent unfavorable, calling Cicilline vulnerable is the understatement of the century. But who will run? Gemma? Segal? (Bill or Patrick) Lynch? Here’s an interesting name: How about Cumberland’s Dan McKee?

Pension Vigilantes -> There’s a new group of “civilians” trying to sniff out every fraudulent disability pension in the state. And while everyone likes a watchdog, witch hunts tend to be driven by personal agendas, and that’s not what this state needs.

Civil Unions -> Well, it passed with overwhelming support. But is there anyone out there that is actually happy about it? On one side, you have folks screaming about not getting same-sex marriage. On the other you have the “gays are icky” crowd. Nobody seems to have won here.

Bishop Tobin -> At least the cranky Bishop didn’t get his way. And as far as we know, lightning has yet to hit any of the state reps that voted in favor of civil unions last night.

Central Falls -> Nothing is going right for Central Falls and this week was just the exclamation point. And while there might not be any one person to blame, it is painfully obvious there has been brutal mismanagement of that town in every way.

Robert Phillips -> Let’s enforce new taxes, raise beach prices, issue more parking tickets and make life totally unpleasant for everyone. But we’ll drop cigarette prices so that guy a Seekonk can get his nicotine fix for a buck less. Only in Rhode Island.

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Comments:

lOUIS PRIMA

7:15am on Friday, May 20, 2011

"cranky bishop"?? mcgowan..w/that last name you must be a Buddhist?

Don Botts

10:13am on Friday, May 20, 2011

And why should we listen to Diane Ravitch when she visits the state? As a matter of fact, anyone that comes to RI from the outside with an opinion should be silenced at once. Sheehan was dead wrong. He is a protector of the status quo.

Nick Patriarca

10:26am on Saturday, May 21, 2011

commish pare appears to be doing what esserman neglected during his tenure .
esserman just hiding in the background doing less then usual awaiting to reach the 10
year mark for pension eligibility . c
the commish should investigate his job nonperformance before the city gets stuck with another overblown, undeserved pension . also a costly remnant from the cicilline administration .

Cara Mella

1:59pm on Monday, May 23, 2011

Pare might be "hot" but his hair-do isn't...

al toke

5:49pm on Monday, May 23, 2011

leave the Commissioner alone , let him do the job tht has been needed in Providence for years and let's count the days until "shiny badge" Esserman books in two years, WITH HIS PENSION OF COURSE !

Ryan Mulcahey

1:02am on Tuesday, May 24, 2011

I'm glad to see Senator Sheehan getting a little recognition for not backing down to the Tea Party crew that hijacked the OCG meeting. Even if you think he (or anyone else, for that matter) is dead wrong on the issues, there's no excuse for the kind of behavior that took place at that meeting.

jack flash

9:27am on Sunday, May 29, 2011

___________________________________________________

Here that sound? That is the sound of loyal Republicans cheering for John Loughlin when he returns from Iraq. The same loyal Republicans that gave blood sweat and money to John Loughlin when he came within 5% points of beating Cicilline last year. They are already lining up and pledging support in the background while Doherty tries to figure out which platform will give him the most support. The same Republicans who will be able to look John Loughlin in the eye when he returns, and shake his hand. Here that sound of silence? That is the sound of loyal Republicans not jumping on the Doherty bandwagon. Not falling for any of the hype for the short-term flavor of the month who was too busy voting in Democrat primaries when John Loughlin was fighting the fight in the RI legislature. The same silence we hear when Mr. Doherty shows up at Republican events and smiles and then stands in the corner the entire time.

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