House Finance Chair Abney Moving Closer to Run for RI General Treasurer
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Rhode Island House Finance Chair Marvin Abney is moving closer to making a decision on whether or not he is going to run for General Treasurer in 2022.
Abney, who has represented District 73 in Newport and Middletown since 2012, spoke with GoLocal on Thursday about what it will take for him to make the move to look at statewide office.
“I’m weighing a decision, but I haven’t made one yet,” said Abney, who was at Midway Airport in Chicago, flying back from a conference of state fiscal leaders in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “When enough people are asking me the question [if I’m running], I’m thinking about. But it’s a lot bigger than me.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAbney, who grew up in Texas, is a retired Major of the United States Army after a 20-year military career, which included a stint as the company commander at NATO Headquarters in Belgium.
He is also retired from the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he held the position of executive assistant to the commissioner.
Not Looking for "Fame and Fortune"
“What I’m weighing right now though, is first and foremost, family is number one,” said Abney, noting, “if my wife says don’t do it, I probably won’t.”
What Abney, who has served as House Finance Chair since 2016, is thinking about, however, is the “big picture.”
“I think about the broader picture and Rhode Island’s economic picture,” said Abney. “There’s a step-by-step process to making this decision. Where can I help?”
Abney -- who has over $163,000 cash on hand according to his last campaign finance report -- said that a decision is not “imminent," but will be forthcoming soon.
“There’s not a lot of people I’ve talked about it with right now,” said Abney. “My first love is my district, and my job I do right now.”
“Could I be useful in another position? Those first two [loves] weigh heavily on me. At some point, you ask can you be helpful somewhere else. I’m sure there are other people looking at it.”
Other potential candidates for the Democratic primary for General Treasurer — for the seat being vacated by term-limited Seth Magaziner, who is running for Governor — include former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, whose war chest currently stands at just under $30,000; State Senator Ryan Pearson -- who has over $134,000 cash on hand, and Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor.
“For me, it’s not for the money or the fame — it’s could I be of more value to the state,” Abney added.
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