Guest MINDSETTER™ Tina McKendall: Why I’m Running for State Senate
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Rhode Islanders are passionate about our state. From the Blackstone River Valley and Narragansett beaches to the Creative Capital of Providence, Rhode Island offers a unique combination of natural beauty and big city feel. But many of the talented kids that grow up here leave because there are no jobs for them. They flock to Boston and New York in search of jobs in new industries like biotechnology and tech startups.
I want to change that. As a mother of three incredible children, I know firsthand how their jobs and schooling have taken them elsewhere in this country. Also, as a small business owner, I know the stifling effects of high taxes and business over-regulation.
I decided to run in this race because we've seen enough of the status quo. Decades of high taxes and ineffective government have led this state to the pinnacle of anti-business -- 50th in new business growth for the second year in a row and an unemployment rate of 11.25%. In order to change this and put Rhode Island back on the path to fiscal health, we need to take two actions: Reduce regulation and litigation on businesses; and lower the overall tax burden on Rhode Islanders, both residential and commercial.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWe can't wait any longer for the economy to pick up and for our State to grow economically by chance. We need to be proactive and take a firm fiscal initiative that will drive new business to Rhode Island and stop the domino effect of failing municipalities. I'm running for State Senate because State government needs people who know how to handle money and grow business and create jobs. The federal government can live with growing debt because they have several ways to regulate money and economic policy. State governments must run balanced budgets. They must be responsible to the taxpayers. And they must work effectively. I can do this.
Many of the residents of North Kingstown and Narragansett that I’ve talked to agree that change is needed on Smith Hill. In fact, I submitted to the Secretary of State’s office 334 signatures to get on the ballot, far and away the most for any General Assembly candidate and well above the required 100 signatures.
I was born in Naples, Italy and came to the United States as a little girl. I have three wonderful children and am happily married to my high school sweetheart, Don. I also love Rhode Island. I resent that its economic woes have sent my kids looking elsewhere for jobs. I want them and the next generation of Rhode Islanders to have families here and build businesses. I want them to have the same opportunities that I had in this State. That’s why I’m running for State Senate and that’s why I’m going to win.
Tina McKendall is a Republican candidate for State Senate in District 36.
