Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, October 03, 2014
Every Friday, Russ Moore breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Rhode Island politics. Check out who made the lists this week.
Hot
Allan Fung: The Republican Gubernatorial candidate had a good week on the campaign trail, the highlight of which was airing an ad that ties Raimondo to Chafee and questions why she retained the state's Financial Advisor, First Southwest, as General Treasurer. Fung has already proved to his doubters that he's not to be underestimated and to do so again would be foolish. Make no mistake: the popular Cranston mayor could win this race.
Dan McKee: High-level Democratic sources say that a McKee commissioned poll has the Cumberland mayor and Democratic Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate polling at roughly 57 percent. This, despite the fact that teachers' unions loathe McKee for this education reform effort, is a tremendous sign for his campaign.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLupus Foundation of New England: The organization dedicated to finding a cure for the horrific disease will host its sixth annual Runway for a Cure event on Tuesday, October 21, at the Providence Biltmore Hotel from 6:30 to 10:00 PM. The group will raffle off items such as Celtics tickets, helicopter rides around Newport, and gift certificates to our state's best hotels and restaurants.
Leah Williams Metts: Metts, who helped lead the fight to reopen the Davey Lopes Pool in 2013, was recently named to the board of the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority. Additionally, Metts was honored by the YWCA for being a "woman of achievement" in 2014. Metts is also a campaign chairwoman for the Buddy Cianci campaign and is considered a rising star in Rhode Island politics.
3: The number of schools in which were named Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education, the highest honor awarded by the department. The schools were Barrington Middle School, Fort Barton Elementary School in Tiverton, and Stephen Olney Elementary School in North Providence.
Providence Waterfront: It was nice to see the Providence mayoral candidates debate how the city should develop the waterfront on Allens Avenue during their Tuesday night debate this week. It seems like the candidates agree that it's an underused resource with better uses than gentlemen's clubs and scrap yards.
NOT
Lincoln Almond: Rhode Island's great obstructionist is in the news yet again, this time for bad-mouthing Buddy Cianci to a Boston reporter. What Almond didn't say was that, unlike himself, Cianci actually got things accomplished, like opening the Providence Place mall despite Almond's opposition. And let's not forget, if it weren't for Almond's shortsightedness, Rhode Island would be the home of the New England Patriots.
Michael Corrente: The filmmaker who made some awesome movies in the '90s including "Federal Hill," is so not hot. Corrente, who is a leader of the so-called "Anybody But Cianci" movement, is being sued for allegedly welching on a $2 million dollar loan he received roughly 10 years ago.
Boston Sports Teams: It hurts to admit it, but man Boston Sports teams are struggling right now. The Red Sox went from first to worst, the Boston Celtics are again going to the lottery, the Boston Bruins lost and failed to add pieces in the offseason, and it pains me to say it, but the Patriots are in a funk like we haven't seen since Pete Carroll was in charge in the '90s.
William Conley: Only in Rhode Island would the Chief Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island Ethics Commission accept a no-bid contract to perform legal work on behalf of the Attorney General's Office. Then throw in the fact that he's a sitting state senator and you've got a major conflict of interest.
Ebola and Enterovirus: News broke this week that a child in the Cumberland School District tragically died of Enterovirus last week. Further, the dangerous Ebola virus has also reared its ugly head in America, as a patient in Dallas tested positive. The national and local health agencies need to prevent outbreaks of these diseases.
The Providence Journal Editorial Board: Look, the Providence Journal Editorial Board can't stand Buddy Cianci. OK, we get it. But, do they really have to run several editorials ranting, raving, and rehashing the Plunder Dome Trial every week? There is other stuff going on, believe it or not.
Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s History of Political Corruption
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- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of The Rhode, Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of The Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of The Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of The Rhode, Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?