Cicilline Sworn in as 1st District US Congressman
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Rhode island realized a major transition in Washington as David Cicilline, former Mayor of Providence, took the Oath to serve as the 1st District's Congressman replacing Patrick Kennedy. Cicilline joins a new Congress that is dominated by Republicans. How dominated? There are 87 new GOP freshman House Members and 9 new Democrats - nearly 10-1 ratio.
For Cicilline, he is faced with the reality of replacing the scion of the most prolific political families in the history of US politics, who was a 16-year veteran and a player on the Appropriations Committee. Now, Cicilline will serve in the minority party as the GOP wave of November has created a new political reality in Washington, DC and beyond.
Cicilline captured the 1st Congressional seat based on his experience as Mayor, his hard word as a campaigner and his superior fundraising. Now, he must transition to a different role - not as the boss of a capitol city, but as an effective junior member of Congress who can tackle constituent relations issues, attack fundraising, and be relevant as a junior member of the minority party when Congress acts on major policy issues.
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Fundraising Pressure
For the personable, energetic new Congressman the political and policy challenges are real. Amazingly, Cicilline faces a congressional reality of constantly needing to raise money. His first major RI fundraiser is just over a week away and with the general cost of re-election of about $1 million dollars, Cicilline needs to average $10,000 a week for the next two years.
Cicilline's experience as a former state legislator and mayor will serve him well, but there will be pressure and there is need in Rhode Island for him to be effective in securing federal funding for Rhode Island programs and initiatives - something Congressman Kennedy was astute at.
PHOTO: Video credit, WPRI-TV/YouTube
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