Republican Fung Gave Thousands to RI Democratic Candidates
Friday, November 01, 2013
Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, who is expected to run for the Republian nomination for Governor, has given to many of the most prominent Democrats in Rhode Island, including William Irons, David Cicilline, Steven Costantino, Gordon Fox, and as recently as 2010, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.
Fung, who is expected to make his official announcement on Monday, will face Ken Block in the GOP primary. Block, the former Moderate Party founder and candidate for governor in 2010, announced earlier this week he was joining the Republican ranks in his bid for the office.
Former Chairman and Executive Director of the Rhode Island Republican party Jeffrey Deckman thought that some in the party might take issue with the contributions.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"That's feeding the evil empire, as far as the GOP is concerned," said Deckman. "Those people he gave to are the standard bearers of the party that's been bankrupting the state."
Deckman continued, "It's Benedict Arnold like. It's flipping notes to the opposition. A lot of Republicans have been fighting long and hard, and he's giving the Democrats the bullets to shoot them with."
According to records, Taveras gave Fung more than $1500 in contributions between 2002 and 2008, as well.
"The Fung/Tavares mutual contributions came about because they are friends from high school. There is nothing unusual about that. Fung's other contributions aren't significant enough to be a big issue. $500 is not $5,000 or $50,000," said Jennifer Duffy with the Cook Political Report. "Fung could certainly argue that he has been reaching across the aisle, but he probably has better examples. If Block wants to use this as an issue, he can do that, but I suspect he will be busy with his decision to run as a Republican and some of the things he has said about the party in the past.
Fung, Block Contributions
According to the Rhode Island Board of Elections records, in 2002, while a paid lobbyist for MetLife, Fung gave $200 to then Democratic Senate President Irons and $250 to then Providence State Representativ Cicilline; in 2007, Fung gave $200 to former Democratic State Representative Costantino and $150 to then-candidate for Attorney General Patrick Lynch; and in February 2008, gave $150 to Democratic Speaker of the House Fox.
In 2010, Fung gave $1000 to Mayor Angel Taveras.
"As counsel for MetLife, the Mayor attended democratic events in which he donated to individual candidates on behalf of his client. In 2006, prior to becoming Mayor, Angel Taveras served as Mayor Fung’s attorney during his recount and in 2010, Angel did not have a Republican opponent," Fung's campaign spokesperson Pat Sweeney told GoLocal.
"Over the last decade, [Fung] has made 81 donations to various Republicans totaling nearly $20,000. Further, he has continuously funded the Republican Cranston City Council candidates and also the Cranston Republican Headquarters. Moreover, the Mayor is now approaching 3,000 total donations for his committee, with over ninety four percent (94%) of his donations from within the state. This only goes to show that the Mayor has strong Rhode Island grassroots support, particularly from Republicans. Our potential opponent would like to make an issue out of this because he has no record to run on at all as a Republican because he just became one on Monday and is trying to run against a very popular Republican."
Ray McKay, President of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly, said however the Democratic contributions could "raise questions" within the party about Fung's allegiances.
"Donating to whomever a person wants, it's an American right," said McKay. "Fung was a lobbyist with MetLIfe, they give to both sides, it's part of their job." Regarding the most recent contribution to Taveras, he said, "It could be quid pro quo...I know they're both friends."
"I don't know all the facts, however, if it comes out that [Fung] has given to the Democrats when we've had Republican candidates, I would find that extremely disappointing," said McKay. "If you had resources, and didn't give to your own, and gave to the opposition, again, I would be disappointed."
Block's campaign records with the Board of Elections showed donations predominantly to Moderate Party candidates, as well as Republicans David Bates and Robert Paquin, and Democratic Central Falls Mayor James Diossa.
Giving to Both Sides - Asset or Liability?
Darrell West with the Brookings Institution offered his thoughts on the contibution situation. "If Fung has a hard-right opponent in the GOP primary, it would be an issue over who is the real Republican. Giving money to Speaker Fox and Mayor Taveras would be a fighting issue for conservative voters. They would see that as a sign of RINO behavior and not a serious party person."
West continued, "But if Fung’s only GOP opponent is Ken Block, I don’t think this will be a big issue. Block himself moved from the Moderate Party to the Republican Party so he won’t be in a very strong position to argue that GOP voters shouldn’t trust Fung."
Brown Professor of Politics Wendy Schiller said, "I think Fung can sell it as an effort to be bi-partisan; and he has the benefit of having his chief opponent, Ken Block, just switching parties. So the choice for GOP voters as it stands now would be two candidates who have each shown an independent streak when it comes to the Republican Party."
"In a political atmosphere in which poll after poll demonstrates the public’s distaste for hyperpartisanship and party maneuvering, the fact that the Mayor has donated to Democrats may ultimately be viewed by the public as an asset, rather than a liability," said Rhode Island College Professor of Communications Val Endress. "One might look upon his record as proof that he is capable of establishing a meaningful, working relationship with members of the opposing party. This is particularly important in this state in which a Republican Governor must seek the cooperation of a state legislature dominated by Democrats. At least as far as the public is concerned, there’s very little political capital to be gained by demonstrating strong party allegiance."
On the issue, John Robitaille, former GOP gubernatorial candidate, had the following to say.
"Regarding the campaign contributions, Mayor Fung has friends on both sides of the political aisle, as does Ken Block. Is anyone questioning who Ken has supported financially in the past? Neither contributed to my campaign and I hold no grudges," said Robitaille. "I think we should focus on who can best get the job done and break off the rear view mirror. We have bigger issues to face and much more probing to do before we decide who the Republican nominee will be."
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