Side of the Rhode: Who’s hot and who’s not in RI Politics?

Friday, July 23, 2010

by Matthew Jerzyk

 

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Read Side of the Rhode - Who's Hot and Who's Not in RI Politics - every Friday only at GoLocalProv.com!

WHO'S HOT

Former Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer  -> Few would disagree with the need for the actions that Judge Pfeiffer has taken and for Central Falls Mayor Chuck Moreau to step aside in light of the multiple corruption investigations of his administration as well as the financial bankruptcy causing havoc in Rhode Island's smallest city.  But, I join the ACLU and Justin Katz in wondering if this is how accountability should truly operate in a democracy.

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RI Federation of Teachers  -> Coming off a great couple of weeks for Frank Caprio - including a Democratic Party endorsement and the dropping out of Attorney General Patrick Lynch - the powerful teachers union dumped a bucket of cold water all over him in crossing the party lines and endorsing the Independent candidate for Governor: Linc Chafee.  With sagging fundraising numbers, Chafee can certainly use the resources and the foot-soldiers of the powerful 10,000+ member union.

Superior Court Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney  -> PJ Gibney moved swiftly to review older cases sitting around the Court House upon being sworn in as only the second woman to lead the Superior Court.  As a result of her actions, since last October, over 50% of 1,080 older civil cases have resolved, settled or been dismissed.  These are incredible results, thus ensuring that Rhode Islanders have swifter and fairer access to their day in court.

Congressman Jim Langevin  -> Historic news for Rhode Island's soon to be senior Congressman.  Langevin appeared at a press conference this week with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer who announced that - on Monday, July 26th - the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act - Langevin will become the first Member of Congress in a wheelchair to preside over the House of Representatives.  Time and time again, Jim has proven that a physical impairment can't stop one person from making a real difference.

Erin Donovan  -> This past week Democratic Secretary of State Ralph Mollis announced that Erin Donovan to manage his campaign for re-election.  What's unique about this announcement is that Donovan is a former Republican school committee member from Smithfield.  GOP politics aside, Donovan is an experienced political operative who served six years served as vice president of the Mayforth Group - the lobbying firm of prominent Democratic consultant Rick McAuliffe.  No doubt Mollis' campaign will be in good hands.

Bill Clinton  -> Awhile back, I asked the question of which RI pol would have the chutzpah to bring Big Bill to Rhode Island after his successful run of winning races - most recently for Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas.  Well, the answer is Frank Caprio.  Clinton will join Caprio on Thursday, July 29 at 2:00pm at the Rhode Island Convention Center to pump up campaign volunteers and supporters about the November 2nd general election.  Will the Clinton magic continue to build momentum for the Caprio campaign or will a possible picket kickstart a tumultuous gubernatorial campaign between Caprio and Chafee?

Luis Aponte & Michael Solomon  ->  These two City Councilmen - both trying to line up 8 votes to become the next City Council president - blew a collective sigh of relief when their opponents failed to return 50 signatures to get on the ballot.  Both of them were set up to have rematches from tough 2006 elections.  Solomon versus Patrick Butler and Aponte versus Pedro Espinal.  Now, expect to see Solomon and Aponte using their newly-found free time to throw resources around in other wards as they try to build their leadership teams.

David Segal  ->  Kudos to this young progressive for holding a press conference this week and outlining a bold platform in favor of clean elections: (1) overturning the Supreme Court’s recent Citizens United decision – which allows corporations to spend unlimited money on elections – by amending the Constitution; (2) passing the Fair Elections Now Act, which would provide public funding to candidates who qualify so they can compete with candidates receiving corporate PAC money and wealthy self-funded candidates; and (3) passing the Lobbyist Reform Act, which would address the “revolving door” between Congress and corporations; require transparency and reporting of meetings between lobbyists and government officials; and eliminate gifts and free travel from lobbyists.  Segal also deserves props for raising a respectable $140k in the 2nd quarter - outraising the former Democratic Party chairman BIll Lynch.

Bob Walsh  ->  This executive director of the NEA of RI took the political world by surprise when he came out against the 'master lever' which allows voters to vote for all the candidates on the ballot from one political party by simply marking off the name of the party they are supporting.  The NEA may have particular reasons for this position: disappointment with a Democratic legislature that has balanced the budget on the backs of teachers and a recent party endorsement of Frank Caprio for Governor - someone who has historic antagonisms with the teacher unions' key issues.

WHO'S NOT

Chris Young  -> This right-wing prima donna outdid his prior mayoral feat of flipping over a debate table by planting a 3 foot statute of the actual madonna on the debate table and refusing to move it - in obvious violation of the debate rules prohibiting props, propaganda, etc.  The result of Young's stunt was that 100+ civic-minded Providence residents had to wait over an hour for the debate to start while Young was arrested.  Oh, and Chris, Jesus wasn't a big fan of idolatry.  Just sayin.

City Councilman John Lombardi  -> For the second straight debate, this 26-year Councilman received lackluster reviews for his debate performance.  His awkward debating style was noted on RIFuture as was his answer about the First Source ordinance - a bill designed to give preferential hiring to Providence workers.  Lombardi promised to enforce the ordinance, but what's interesting is that the ordinance was passed into law the same year as Lombardi was elected to the Council: in 1984.  For 26 years, Lombardi has had an opportunity to enforce this ordinance - as a Councilman, as Council President and, for 4 months, as Mayor.  What does he need?  26 MORE years?  C'mon man!

The Procaccianti Group  -> The owners of the Westin Hotel continue to stick a needle in Providence's eye with their treatment of hotel workers.  Now, the huge Netroots Nation conference has officially bypassed Providence as their 2011 convention site because of the ongoing Boycott of the Westin.  Who needs 3,000 of the nation's most experienced techies, geeks and hipsters, $20 million in economic activity and 250 media outlets from around the world covering the event?  It's not like the economy in Providence needs a boost or something.

Providence Absentee Landlords  -> Boo hoo to the absentee landlords who are crying about a 33% tax break that they get for being, wait for it, absentee landlords.  I'm not sure who passed this ridiculous law, but kudos to Providence City leaders for taking it away.  The research is clear: owner occupied homes stabilize neighborhoods and absentee landlords destroy them.  It is ridiculous that one of these landlords had the cajones to say that absentee landlords are "the backbone of this city."  WTF?!  Backbone?  More like breaking the back of Providence.

Chuck Moreau  ->  For obvious reasons.  What's most disconcerting about this terrible fall from grace are City Hall employees saying that they haven't seen him around City Hall in almost two months.  What?  There's no fight left?  Just collect your paycheck, use your city vehicle and city phone and hang out at home?  Really?

DCYF  ->  A national report recently concluded that Rhode Island is "the child warehousing capital of America."  Whoa.  In other words, RI is the quickest state in America to pull the trigger and pull a child from a home and put them in the state's care.  Not only is the state taking children away from their parents, but they are putting them in group homes like the one that was recently shuttered in Johnston for having deplorable conditions. Someone needs to change this broken system.

Thom Deller  ->  This longtime planning director was caught lying about development in Providence by Politifact.  He claimed that the I-Way and the combined sewer overflow project were ushered in by his boss's initiative... come on!  And, how's this for a response?  "If this were 2005 and I thought there would be a Truth-O-Meter sometime in the future, I might not have put it that way."  Accountability's a bitch, eh Thom?

Paul Campbell  ->  This Buddy Cianci former deputy policy director is back at City Hall - this time in charge of the City Archives.  You might recall that Campbell was convicted for public corruption and served 6 months for a kickback scheme involving Pawtucket Mayor Sarault.  Question. Why on earth would you put someone convicted of public corruption in charge of essential city hall public records?!  What damning Buddy-era documents will conveniently get lost?!  Hmmm....

 

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