Meet the candidates this election year. GoLocal is featuring the candidates for General Assembly, those running for Mayor in cities across the state, and the Congressional candidates. This feature allows each candidate the opportunity to express their views on the issues. Meet candidate Laura Perez. She is running in House District 11.
1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?
National Grid, which now owns KeySpan LNG, the company that planned the gas terminal, wants to build an LNG production facility that will instead truck the concentrated gas to storage tanks in Cumberland and Exeter. The Providence waterfront has the highest concentration of polluting businesses, according to the report. EJL believes the nearby neighborhoods of South Providence and Washington Park are two of the most polluted in the state. Residents are routinely exposed to industrial emissions and pollution from traffic on Interstate 95. This new toy that the national grid wants to build in the port of providence, caused us a series of diseases such as asthma, diseases of the lungs, skin, ect. in a cubic area within 14 miles we have enough industries that generate toxic around our communities we do not need more industries that are killing are communities. We have around major hospitals, RI hospital, Hasbro Hospital, and Woman and Infants Hospital. 313 also have attend 313 schools in which 110,000 children attend.
2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?
The establishment of RI forget that those who give them the political position are the voters. The politician has no power, has influence, power has the voters, who can remove and put in whomever they want. Today we have a series of representatives who have years occupying the same positions without doing anything that can bring benefits our neighborhoods. We need to change RI guidelines, creating a new revolution, a future to believe. We need a comprehensive Immigration reform; licenses for our undocumented, 15 dollars minimum wage, expand funding for job training programs, support small business so they can create more jobs, bring good companies (and jobs) to Rhode Island. We need to end insiders politics now, we cannot afford another 38 Studios.
3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as state?
The 38 study a electronic game company that was supposed to create jobs opportunities, basically what generated was more debt, which now the tax payers have to pay this debt. Wells Fargo agreed that would pay 26 millions of dollars, but my question is this, the rest of that money and interests, who are going to pay it? Voters need to go out to vote to change the RI Establishment especially in the House of Representatives this debt and perhaps other more we are going to pay it. So residents of the 11th district need to create a unified agenda to unify a political criterion and put a stop to all these abusive laws that go against the development of the social, political and economic of our neighborhoods. September 13, voters need to go out to vote and vote for Laura Perez district 11, together we can make changes.
4. Why are you running for office?
Since 1988 with several people I roll up in community activities, I saw the urgent need to help the residents of my neighborhood. In Rhode Island we have all kinds of agencies and resources that help new residents especially those who are going through some difficult situations. These agencies have been created in order to help the needy, but unfortunately the language barrier prevents this information reach many communities. Today I see how politics has become cheaper because of these so-called leaders who seek in politics one way of wealth. Politics is not a contest of beauty, fashion shows and much less a play. Politics is a branch of human services where it is our duty to create, build, help our constituents to achieve the American dream. I have been helping my community from outside, now I want to help from the inside .
5. Who is your inspiration?
Many years ago a neighbor called me at 2: 00am to tell me that a water pipe exploited and her basement was getting full of water because of the low temperature, and she did not know what to do. Had fallen more than five inches of snow that night, but I could not say no to her. I got up and went to my neighbor's house to fixed the pipe. After I solved the problem I was getting ready to go back home, my neighbor asked me, Laura, how much I owe you? I said, you just have to pray nice things for me, my family and friends is the most good pay of the world. Help people is one of the greatest satisfactions that I have. My inspiration have been the same people in need. The problems of my constituents I make them mine, we live in a world in which it is difficult to find a helping hand, because we all have our own concerns of daily living. I want to be that helping hand to my neighborhood.
Related Slideshow: 10 Primaries to Watch in RI in ‘16
Rhode Island political primaries on are September 13 -- here a just a few key races to watch out for.
The path to square off against Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello in Cranston starts in the Republican primary. Republican National Committeeman Frias — who twice ran for State Senate unsuccessfully in his early 20s in Providence — has consistently set his sights on the Speaker, and not his primary opponent, founder of Rhode Island Alliance for Vaccine Choice challenger Shawna Lawton.
The cohort of Republican voters that the candidates are looking to woo aren't high. In the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary, 4065 votes were cast city-wide when Allan Fung squared off against Ken Block — and the recent GOP Presidential Preference primary saw just over 5,100 votes cast for GOP candidates city-wide in Cranston this past spring.
Mattiello won in the general election unopposed in 2014 with almost 4200 votes. And come the general election, independent Patrick Vallier waits in wings along with Mattiello, making for an always difficult cross-cutting three-way race.
DeSimone, the tax-beleaguered House Majority leader, recently shook off an ethics complaint filed by the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats for his failure to disclose his indebtedness to the City of Providence, as well as income derived from the city and state for his role in United Providence, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars.
First elected in 1992 and chosen as Majority Leader in 2014, DeSimone is facing a strong challenge from Progressive Democrat and Providence school teacher Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. “Our community needs someone who will fight for us. For too long, we’ve had politicians who are only helping themselves and their well-connected friends,” Ranglin-Vassell said when she announced she would be running back in June.
She faces a formidable candidate in DeSimone, who despite his need to pay over $18,000 in back taxes, landed in the #6 slot on GoLocal’s list of legislators with the biggest war chests back in June, when he reported having over $111,111 cash on hand through the first quarter of the year. The question now is will deep pockets and leadership machinery be a match for Ranglin-Vassell who has the backing of an energize Progressive Democrat operation this year.
Pawtucket resident Norton has been campaigning long before he declared officially declared his candidacy this past January. Norton had been one of the main organizers in the effort to keep the PawSox at McCoy, when the effort arose in 2015 by the new owners to move the AAA team to a new, taxpayer-subsidized stadium in Providence.
After notching that win — for now — Norton joined forces with City Councilor Sandra Cano to hold a series of “Crash Pawtucket” events to bring residents to a different establishment each month, to rev up support for small business in the city.
Opponent Coughlin was first elected in 2014 when he ran unopposed, which Norton said was “handed” to him by House leadership. Coughlin recently fired back at Norton’s position on the plans for a new train station in Pawtucket.
“This train station will raise the quality of life for Pawtucket’s residents and businesses and it will breathe new life to an area that is still recovering from the Great Recession. Combined with his opposition to the millions of dollars to fix Pawtucket’s roads and bridges, and our state investments to find ways to rebuild and renovate McCoy Stadium, my opponent does not seem to be in touch with the needs of the people and businesses of Pawtucket,” said Coughlin.
Incumbent Rep. Bill O’Brien and progressive challenger Bill Deware have been trading barbs throughout the summer in North Providence, with the Progressives going after O’Brien about missing ethics filings, and O’Brien releasing a video of his campaign signs being stolen in the district — and questioning Deware’s voting record, having voted in Johnston while living in the district.
"I think people should be more concerned on the issues than worrying about signs and petty politics, when there are policy issues to debate,” said Deware following the sign incident. O’Brien, meanwhile hit out at Deware on this issue of his voting. "I am deeply disturbed by this revelation. My opponent admits to committing voter fraud multiple times. People have fought and died to protect the right to vote fairly and I have a colleague from Pawtucket who lost an election by one vote," said O'Brien.
Deware, who is endorsed by the Progressive Democrats, recently came back from a hospitalization from meningitis that had left him in a coma — but said in a statement that full recover is expected.
Who: Matt Fecteau v. Mark Theroux v. Sen. Jamie Doyle
What: Dem Primary
Where: Pawtucket
The three-way Democratic primary in Senate District 8 in Pawtucket which features six-time incumbent Jamie Doyle; Matt Fecteau, who ran against United States Representative David Cicilline in the 2014 primary; and Mark Theroux, is one of the top races to watch this primary election.
In 2014, Fecteau, a political newcomer, was able to snag 37% of the vote in the primary in the first Congressional district against Cicilline, with 22,447 votes to Cicilline’s 38,186. Meanwhile, Doyle needed to amend his ethics filings after admitting he failed to disclose tens of thousands of dollars in personal and business debts. WPRI reported Doyle filed the amended the amended ethics reports after he had “not disclosed multiple liens on his home and business properties related to unpaid taxes.”
Meanwhile, the Valley Breeze reported that Theroux’s wife, who is on the Democratic Committee for Senate District 8, voted to endorse…Doyle.
Incumbent Malik, who was first elected to the House in 1996, is facing a fierce challenge from primary opponent Jason Knight.
Sam Bell with the Progressive Democrats highlighted the race back in June. "Malik has been extremely ideologically conservative, with an 'A plus' rating from the NRA. He voted against marriage equality and his district isn't extremely right wing -- it's very liberal on social issues. And Warren is a place where you saw two successful progressive town council primaries last cycle, knocking out established [Democrats]," said Bell.
The East Providence battle pits a former State Representative against a Democratic candidate who is currently under investigation by the State Ethics Commission.
In 2004, outgoing District 64 State Representative Helio Melo challenged then-incumbent Coogan in a four-way Democratic Primary, winning with 970 votes (62.1%) and then prevailing in a three-way general election. Now, Coogan is seeking a return to his former seat.
This past July, GoLocal reported that Cunha, who current serves as East Providence Assistant Mayor, had been been barred from trading in the futures industry by the National Futures Association, the industry-wide, regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry. Then earlier this month, East Providence Mayor Thomas Rose filed an ethics complaint against Cunha, which the Ethics Commission voted to investigate.
Senator Frank Ciccone, who was first elected in 2002, is being challenged by Doris De Los Santos, who garnered the endorsement of the Progressive Democrats.
“In 2012 Governor Chafee appointed Doris as the director of the Office of Municipal and External Affairs. Her opponent, Frank Ciccone, has been involved in several scandals, including threatening a police officer who had pulled over conservative Senate Majority Leader Dominic Ruggerio for drunk driving,” wrote the Progressive Democrats in their release.
Michael Gazdacko, a West End resident and member of the City Plan Commission, announced his candidacy in June as a Democrat for State Representative in District 9 — to take on incumbent Rep. Anastasia Williams.
In May of this year, GOP Chair Brandon Bell filed an ethics complaint against Williams for failing to disclose her employment with the city of Providence on her state financial disclosure form.
In 2014, the ousted Executive Director of the John Hope Settlement House alleged that Board President Rep. Williams had used the house for political purposes, without compensating the organization, including holding a campaign event for then-Democratic candidate for Governor Gina Raimondo.
GoLocal reported that Williams appointed former discredited head of ProCAP, Frank Corbishley, to serve as the interim Executive Director in the wake of former Director Taino Palermo's sudden departure, when Palermo challenged Williams' leadership.
