Russell Moore: Elorza Lacks Accountability

Monday, September 22, 2014

Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

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Democratic Mayoral candidate Jorge Elorza just can’t be pinned down on anything. In this year’s election cycle, Elorza has the distinction of being the least accountable candidate for anything he’s ever said or done.

Whenever something is revealed that he wishes he’s never said or done, he simply blames someone else or changes the subject. That might be fine for his friends and supporters who stand to benefit from all the city work and jobs he’ll be doling out if he is able to skate by the general election—but it’s bad for the residents of the city without connections to the regime that’s been running the city since 2002.

Accountability Matters

For instance, when it was reported by GoLocalProv that Elorza was arrested for shoplifting as an 18-year-old, the campaign and its allies argued that the revelation was a non-issue considering that he was a youngster back then and that he had sent out a heartfelt, genuine apology letter to 7,000 voters. It didn't matter that even the most stalwart followers of Rhode Island politics had no clue this man had been arrested for stealing—the fact that he allegedly told 7,000 people meant it was disclosure enough to these folks.

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But that all changed when GoLocalProv later revealed that portions of the letter were plagiarized, word for word, from a letter that Central Falls Mayor James Diossa sent to his constituents prior to his mayoral election a couple years ago. 

The story changed. Then, according to the Elorza campaign, the letter was no longer some heartfelt mea cupla, but instead was drafted by someone else that worked for Elorza. Oh, and just who was it? Elorza ain't saying. How convenient!

So here's Elorza's idea of leadership for anyone paying attention: get caught doing something wrong, blame someone else, but refuse to say who. And he's gotten away with it.

Municipal Income Tax

That's far from Elorza's only example of getting cute with reality. This guy dances more than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

Elorza has literally been caught on tape saying that he is “very much in support of a municipal income tax,” and that it’s a much fairer system than the current system that’s in place. Yet when the video was exposed by GoLocalProv, Elorza claimed that he’s actually not proposing a municipal income tax, but that he merely likes it. Why wouldn’t he propose it if he supports it? If you’re confused, you’re not alone.

And then God came into the fray. Elorza reportedly wrote a law review article in which he argued that “science has disconfirmed the claim that the theist God has the power to violate the laws of physics”, and that “teaching that the theist God does not exist would not violate any of the underlying values” of the constitution.

God enters the fray

In this instance, a standup guy would admit that he’s an atheist and let the chips fall how and wherever they may. But that’s not Elorza. Instead, Elorza reverted to his rhetorical gymnastics yet again. Elorza claimed that he was referring to the definition of God in a narrow sense and that he believes there is still room for belief in some other definitions of God.

In light of Elorza rhetorical gymnastics, there’s no wonder why the general public has become so apathetic to politics. For this reason, the Rhode Islanders I speak with increasingly feel like politicians will say anything to get elected, care more about the power that's associated with political office than the good of the people, and are financed by well-heeled special interest groups that they'll be forced to answer to as opposed to the people they're supposed to represent.

It’s well past time for the voters to demand more from politicians. If we did Elorza might find, come November, that getting cute with rhetoric and taking evasive actions when confronted with issues he’s rather not discuss is not the way to earn the trust of Rhode Islanders.

As Providence goes, so does Rhode Island. That's why this mayoral election is the most important race in the state right now, even more than the race for Governor. Given that fact, it's important that voters give Elorza a closer look. They might not like what they see.

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A native Rhode Islander, Russell J. Moore is a graduate of Providence College and St. Raphael Academy. He worked as a news reporter for 7 years (2004-2010), 5 of which with The Warwick Beacon, focusing on government. He continues to keep a close eye on the inner workings of Rhode Islands state and local governments. Find Russell J. Moore Twitter @russmoore713.

 

Related Slideshow: Questions Jorge Elorza Must Answer to be Providence’s Next Mayor

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Experience Necessary?

Elorza's the quintessential Providence kid-made-good -- and clearly has the education success story of CCRI to Harvard Law going for him.  He's toiled in the legal trenches, and risen through academic ranks. 

But does that translate to a business acumen and know-how to turn the city around?  Brett Smiley counts starting a successful consulting company.  Although a double-edged sword, Michael Solomon's got the city council experience. 

Elorza's managed cases, and students.  Can he oversee a staff of hundreds -- go toe to toe with the unions?

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Money for Plans?

Opponent Brett Smiley might have dubbed himself the man with the plan, but Elorza's right up there with a litany of proposals for the capital city.  Schools, jobs, public safety, neighborhoods, transportation, diversity, arts and culture, ethics -- Elorza's got plans for it all.

And like Smiley's grand amibtions, the burning question is how will these be funded?  Elorza has a plan to double the city's exports in the next five years, with mentoring opportunities and trade missions as part of the strategy.  Those cost money.   Where will it come from?

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Fundraising prowess?

At the end of the first quarter of 2014, Elorza posted a small lead over Smiley in the cash balance department, with $217,082 in his campaign coffers as compared to Smiley's $191,000 and change.  Both, however, were a distant second and third to Solomon's war chest over over $600,000

As the Democratic candidates duke it out, second quarter filings due at the end of the month will show were the money race stands with less than eight weeks to the primary. 

Of course, whoever wins will have to face a Buddy Cianci waiting in the wings, who told GoLocal he raised over $200,000K in one week -- and expects to have $1 million by the time the primary arrives. 

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Primary Factor?

For the Democrats in the race, the primary is, in fact, the primary concern of the campaigns at the moment, with Harrop and Cianci waiting in the wings for the winner. 

Will Elorza's campaign, based strongly on his Cranston-street upbringing and focus on ethics, differentiate him from political operatives Smiley and Solomon? 

The first test on the path to the Mayor's office will be to best his two top adversaries in September.  Will Elorza's deep city ties and campaign aparatus translate into a get-out-the-vote effort enough to take the Democratic title?

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Final Hurdle?

All of the Providence Mayoral candidates, whether they like it or not, have to address to Buddy card. 

So far, Brett Smiley's been the most vocal -- publicly, at least -- in criticizing former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, attacking him on his corruption charges and conviction.  Harrop and Elorza have been highly critical, but as aforementioned, the Democrats are focused primarily on the task at hand -- making it past the primary.

If Elorza does advance, can he count on the support of his former Democratic opponents and their backers -- or will there be a mass exodus of those who see Cianci as the more viable candidate?  Republican Dr. Daniel Harrop provides an X factor in the genera election, of course, but a three-way race is vastly different animal than a four-way one before Adrain dropped out.  The winner will need to secure a greater chunk of the electorate. 

 

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