Raimondo’s Office Demands “Good News” Press Conferences by Departments to Mark 1,000 Days
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Governor Gina Raimondo's press office is telling Rhode Island state departments to get their good news organized to celebrate Raimondo's 1,000 days in office.
In an email between Raimondo's Communications Director Mike Raia and department directors, he writes, "We are asking every Cabinet member to plan at least one event highlighting a specific and tangible accomplishment from these 1,000 days."
Calls to the Governor's press office regarding if this is campaign activity were not responded to.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJohn Marion, who heads RI Common Cause tells GoLocal, "Governor Raimondo's effort to highlight her "1000-day" accomplishments is clearly political. Since the beginning of the republic government officials have used public relations to bolster their political fortunes. Governor Chafee was heavily criticized for using an intern to produce YouTube videos touting his accomplishments while in office. The trend has become turbocharged in our era of social media."
"There have also been controversies around the replaying of "Capitol Spotlight" features of legislators prior to elections (though that channel is explicitly exempt under the law). My point is that this is not a new phenomenon in Rhode Island politics, but it may be that Raimondo has taken it to a new level," added Marion. He has been the leading advocate for pushing efforts to stregthen RI's ethics laws.
Read the full email below sent by Raimondo's office:
Colleagues –
As we discussed on yesterday’s PIO call, October 2, 2017 marks Governor Raimondo’s 1,000th day in office. In those 1,000 days, Rhode Island has built some incredible momentum and our state has made a lot of progress.
· We’ve created nearly 17,000 new jobs and our unemployment rate – which was the highest in America in 2014 – has been at or below the national average since January.
· Our uninsured rate, which was as high as 12 percent in 2013, is below five percent and one of the lowest in America.
· For the first time in years, we’re investing in our infrastructure: we lifted the moratorium on school construction and RhodeWorks is putting thousands of Rhode Islanders back on the job fixing our roads and bridges.
· We’re on track to double our green economy by 2020 and make our energy system 10 times cleaner.
· More than 80 percent of our students – across all grades – have access to computer science and by the end of this year, we’ll be the first state in America to offer computer science in every district and in every grade.
To highlight this progress and build on our momentum, we are planning a full day of public events to celebrate #1000DaysOfProgress. Governor Raimondo will pack a lunch and travel from Westerly to Woonsocket, holding events along the way highlighting specific accomplishments of the administration’s first 1,000 days. This schedule is still being built. I’ve asked Audrey to schedule a PIO meeting for next Friday, September 8 at 1pm to discuss this effort. Please make a point to attend that meeting.
In addition to the Governor’s events, we are asking every Cabinet member to plan at least one event highlighting a specific and tangible accomplishment from these 1,000 days. Please copy and complete the form below with two suggestions, including locations, for your agency and send it to Audrey Lucas and Mike Raia no later than 4pm on Friday, September 8. Our office will provide final guidance on events by Friday, September 15 to ensure that we have adequate coverage across the entire state.
Option One
Agency:
Cabinet Director:
Comms Staffer:
Accomplishment:
Describe Potential Event:
Location:
Time:
Option Two
Agency:
Cabinet Director:
Comms Staffer:
Accomplishment:
Describe Potential Event:
Location:
Time:
In addition to the events, the Governor will also be talking directly with residents through Facebook Live throughout the day on October 2. Our office will work with select agencies to schedule times for a number of Cabinet members to also talk to constituents via Facebook Live on the Governor’s page.
Lastly, we will be building out an aggressive push across all social media platforms, with infographics highlighting key accomplishments that correspond with the #1000DaysOfProgress theme. Our office will be working with the Governor’s policy team to build this out, but we will also be looking to all of you to provide suggestions for infographics.
Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation with this effort. This will be an exciting day that celebrates so much of the great work we’ve done together over these nearly 1,000 days.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.
--mike
----
Mike Raia
Communications Director
Office of Governor Gina M. Raimondo
State House, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Desk: 401-222-8134
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MikeRaia
Sign up for updates from the Governor’s Comms Office
This story was updated on Monday at 11:00 PM.
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