Gerald Carbone was a Democratic candidate for Mayor of Warwick. He was endorsed by the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America (RIPDA). Now, he is making some statewide news by endorsing the GOP candidate for Mayor -- selecting the person over the party.
Here is his statement:
I first voted in 1980 when I chose Jimmy Carter over Ronald Reagan, and for nearly 40 years I have remained a registered Democrat. Occasionally I could be convinced to vote for a Republican candidate, usually at the local level, such as when I voted for Scott Avedisian as mayor of Warwick.
This year, this life-long Democrat will once again be casting a vote for the Republican candidate in the Warwick mayoral race, Sue Stenhouse. I like that she has strong ties to the former administration and could draw on Scott for advice and support. But I also know Sue well enough to know that her administration will not just be a continuation of Avedisian’s 18 years – she is a strong, independent person who will draw on her many years of experience at multiple levels of government in order to do what is best for our city.
When my wife and I lived in Pawtuxet Village, Sue was our councilwoman and we always found her to be responsive to our observations and concerns. She knows the city from a councilwoman’s perspective, but she understands that the mayor’s office is not merely an extension of the city council’s role. Sue has served in the State House as director of emergency preparedness and has demonstrated an ability to carry out large-scale public policy, an important function of the mayor’s office.
Sue and I have agreed to disagree on party politics – she has endorsed Bob Flanders for the U.S. Senate, while I happen to like Sheldon Whitehouse both personally and professionally. But at the local levels, party designations in Rhode Island have become meaningless. We have a Democratic State Party Chairman from Warwick, Joe McNamara, who in one House Race gave the party’s official endorsement to a Trump-supporting man over a woman who is a Democratic incumbent. And the Warwick Democratic Party’s City Committee recruited a conservative corporate lawyer, Mark McKenney, to defeat Jeanine Calkin, an incumbent Democratic woman in the Senate District 30 race. In many ways, our city and state Democratic committees are more right-leaning than are the few Republican candidates for state and local seats, so please do not be fooled by local party labels.
All things being equal, I would vote for a woman candidate over a man, just in the interest of leveling the playing field. But in our current mayoral race, all things are not equal – Sue Stenhouse is the stronger candidate regardless of gender.
This summer I invested time and money to run in the Democratic primary to be the mayor of Warwick, and if the more than 1,500 people who voted for me would now cast their ballots for Sue Stenhouse, that investment will have proven a good one. Sue is the one brave person who stands between a Super Majority – a putatively Democratic political machine bent on bulldozing its way into every phase of government in order to serve its masters – and its ultimate goal, the mayor’s office. Sue Stenhouse provides us with a strong, independent candidate whose track record proves that her allegiance is not to a machine but is instead devoted to good public service.
The choice is clear. Please join me in voting for Sue Stenhouse, mayor of Warwick.
Gerald M. Carbone is a former reporter with the Providence Journal, columnist for GoLocalProv, staff member at Brown University and author.
Related Slideshow: GoLocal Statewide Poll - FULL RESULTS, Conducted by Harvard’s Della Volpe Oct. 2018
Sponsor: GoLocal Prov
Sample: N=502 Rhode Island General Election Voters
Interviewing Period: October 5 – October 9, 2018
Directed by: John Della Volpe, Harvard University, SocialSphere, Inc.
Slideshow: responses are not in the order of the questionnaire
This question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).
What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?
When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?
In November, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election? Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Will ensure that we have high-quality affordable health care.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Will make government more accountable to the people.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Is committed to improving education in public schools.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Gina Raimondo, Republican Allan Fung and Independent Joe Trillo, for whom would you vote?
Attorney generals in several states have begun investigating sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, opening investigations and issuing subpoenas for documents.
Do you favor or oppose the Rhode Island Attorney General opening an investigation into the Archdiocese of Providence on issues related to possible sexual abuse of children?
If the election for the U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and Republican Robert Flanders, for whom would you vote?
Recently, it was announced that state officials approved a fast-track regulatory review of Massachusetts based Partners HealthCare’s proposed takeover of Care New England, Rhode Island’s second-largest hospital system, and operator Women & Infants, Butler and Kent Hospitals. [RANDOMIZED]
Do you believe the quality of care for Rhode Islanders will:
Recently, it was announced that state officials approved a fast-track regulatory review of Massachusetts based Partners HealthCare’s proposed takeover of Care New England, Rhode Island’s second-largest hospital system, and operator Women & Infants, Butler and Kent Hospitals. [RANDOMIZED]
Do you believe the number of jobs available to Rhode Islanders will:
Earlier this year, legislation was filed in the General Assembly that would require that all Rhode Island public schools have a school resource officer on the premises -- if a school has over 1,200 students -- two school resource officers would need to be present.
Do you support or oppose expanding Rhode Island’s free college tuition program at the
Community College of Rhode Island to the state’s two four-year colleges so that the last two
years of tuition at Rhode Island College and URI would be free for those recent high school
graduates, who are in a solid academic standing, and on track to graduate in four years? It is estimated that the cost of the program would be $35 million.
Do you support or oppose an Educational Bill of Rights for students and parents in Rhode Island that includes:
1) The right to be taught by effective teachers.
2) The right not to be taught by teachers who, after due process evaluation, fail to meet standards established by state and local education officials.
3) The right to appropriate academic materials and resources.
4) The right to safe, clean and environmental-friendly school facilities.
5) The right to emotionally supportive schools that do not tolerate harassment, discrimination or abuse.
6) The right to attend a school where funding is based on student need with the goal of providing
access to adequate educational opportunities.
7) The right to a pathway out of a failing school.
8) The right to a fair, accurate and transparent assessment system that measures student
performance and need.
9) The right of parents to current and reliable information about their child’s progress and performance.
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