Caprio Goes After Robitaille Over Work for Carcieri
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Democratic candidate for governor Frank Caprio took on Republican opponent John Robitaille yesterday, questioning his credibility as an “outsider” given his work as communications director for Gov. Don Carcieri, earning more than $250,000.
“Mr. Robitaille fashions himself an outsider, but he was paid over a quarter of a million dollars to be one of the Governor's top political operatives,” Caprio said. “He can say whatever he wants, but make no mistake about it: John Robitaille knows how to get state taxpayer money into his pockets.”
Robitaille worked as communications director from 2008 to early 2010, earning $129,705. Before that, his public relations firm, Perspective Communications, was paid $20,902 over 2004 and 2005 to work on two initiatives for Carcieri—“Fiscal Fitness” and “Governor Carcieri: Communication Strategy.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The contract was never sent out to bid, depriving other Rhode Island companies the chance to apply for the job, and potentially costing the state more than it should have,” Caprio’s campaign said in a statement.
Robitaille Says Criticism Is ‘Ridiculous’
Robitaille spokesman Mike Napolitano called Caprio’s statements “ridiculous” and a “distraction.”
He said Robitaille started out as a volunteer for “Fiscal Fitness” and “Governor Carcieri: Communication Strategy.” He said Robitaille was later informed by the Department of Administration that he had to be paid for the work.
He noted that Robitaille had been a state employee for just two years. “It is certainly a far stretch to compare an employee of the public sector to a career politician who has been involved in politics all of his adult life,” Napolitano said. “Frank Caprio spent almost 20 years in the Statehouse as an elected official. Using this logic every person who works for state government or a local municipality would be considered a political insider.”
Caprio 'Nervous' after 'slipping in the polls'
He said Caprio was trying to draw voters’ attention away from his record of voting to raise taxes.
“It clearly shows that John Robitaille is focused on creating jobs and lowering taxes while Frank Caprio is getting nervous now that his liberal tax and spend voting record has been exposed along with the fact that he is slipping in the polls,” Napolitano said. “It also shows that the voters are not buying Caprio's conservative pro small business act and they won't buy it in November.”
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