Campaign Donors Fill 195 Commission
Friday, August 26, 2011
The commission comprised to help oversee one of the most valuable land development opportunities in state history is filled with members that have contributed thousands of dollars to local elected officials over the past decade, GoLocalProv has learned.
A review of state campaign finance reports shows every one of the seven members named to Governor Chafee’s I-195 Redevelopment District Commission has made donations to Chafee, Mayor Angel Taveras or House Speaker Gordon Fox in recent years, as well as dozens of other elected officials or candidates.
State law required Chafee to select three members from a list submitted by Taveras and to give “due consideration” to a list submitted by Fox. In the end, Chafee selected Colin P. Kane (Chairman); Barrett Bready, M.D.; Barbara A. Hunger (Taveras’ pick); Diana L. Johnson; John M. Kelly (Fox and Taveras’ pick); Mark T. Ryan (Taveras’pick); and Michael S. Van Leesten.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“This is a historic opportunity for our capital city and our state,” Chafee said. “The valuable land made available by the I-195 relocation is prime for job-creating development in the medical, research, and life-sciences industries. I am proud of the collaboration that has occurred between the state, the City of Providence, and the General Assembly, and that collaboration continues with today’s announcement. Each of these seven talented individuals brings with them proven records of accomplishment, commitment to service, and a common purpose: bringing economic revitalization, jobs, and future prosperity to Providence and Rhode Island.”
Top Contributors
The relocation of I-195 has made nearly 20 acres of land available in the city’s downtown and the development of the area is expected to create hundreds of jobs and generate millions of dollars for both the state and the city.
Throughout the last General Assembly session, several lawmakers voiced concern over the role the state would play in developing the land in Providence. Conversely, other Assembly members noted that the state owns most of the land and wanted to make sure the state would be able to maximize its value. Ultimately, Chafee worked with Senate leadership to pass a law that created the seven-member commission.
Included in the group are president and CEO of Meeting Street School John Kelly and Dr. Barrett Bready, whose family is known for giving thousands of dollars to top Democrats throughout the state. Bready himself donated $500 to Mayor Taveras last year and has contributed to the campaigns of Gina Raimondo, Doug Gablinske and former Mayor and now Congressman David Cicilline.
Kelly, who briefly considered running for Mayor before ultimately mounting an unsuccessful State Rep. campaign, spent $2,000 on Taveras last year and $500 on Governor Chafee. He has also contributed to dozens of Providence Democrats, including City Council and General Assembly members.
The commission’s chairman, Colin P. Kane, has also been a top contributor to various campaigns in recent years. Kane contributed a total of $650 to Chafee and $500 to Speaker Fox, as well as thousands to Raimondo, Cicilline and Patrick Lynch.
Ken McKay: Governor Lacks Vision
Not every member of the commission is a longtime political donor. Barbara Hunger has only made small contributions over the years to a health care PAC and last year donated a total of $90 to Mayor Taveras’ campaign. Diana Johnson has contributed $250 to Chafee and hundreds to Cicilline and Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts.
The other two members, Mark Ryan and Michael Van Leesten, have a long history of financial contributions. Ryan has contributed to Taveras and Cicilline, as well the Moses & Alonso PAC, which has given over $15,000 to mostly Democratic politicians over the past decade, but also to Chafee. Van Leesten donated $3,000 to Cicilline when he was Mayor and has contributed to Fox and Chafee. He has not contributed to Taveras.
Republican Party Chairman Ken McKay said the Governor isn’t sending the right message by simply appointing campaign contributors to the commission. In fact, he even questioned the purpose of the group in the first place.
“I don’t know most of the people on the commission, but I’m sure they mean well and want to do the right thing,” McKay said. “But why do we have to set up a commission in the first place? It’s because the Governor lacks vision.”
McKay said the Governor already had a number of groups that could have overseen the project, including the Economic Development Corporation.
“I’m concerned that this looks like setting up a commission for the sake of setting up a commission,” he said. “Establishing the commission is an admission that he has no vision. How could he not know what he wants to do with that land?
An Exciting Time
But others say the creation of the commission is a step in the right direction for the I-195 relocation. Fox praised the group.
“This is an exciting time for both the State of Rhode Island and our capital city,” he said. “While much hard work is in front of us, I am extremely optimistic that this announcement marks another significant step forward in both the revitalization of the Knowledge District and the improvement of our state’s economy.”
Taveras called the land a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I look forward to working with the commission to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put shovels in the ground and get people back to work,” Taveras said. “This collaboration will be vital to bringing the economic benefits of this opportunity to the people of Providence and to the entire State of Rhode Island.”
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