Side of the Rhode: Who’s HOT and Who’s NOT in RI Politics
Friday, September 03, 2010
Read Side of the Rhode - Who's Hot and Who's Not in RI Politics - every Friday only at GoLocalProv.com!
WHO'S HOT
Peter Kilmartin, Steve Archambault, Joe Fernandez -> The Democratic Primary in the AG's race is the most entertaining race of the Primary election. Each of these three candidates has now released tough, aggressive ads against his opponents in these finals weeks: Kilmartin, Fernandez and Archambault. Judging by pure weight of the punch, Kilmartin easily wins the battle of the attack ads.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCurt Schilling -> Who knew that the "bloody sock" could be outdone? Not me! What is the new game called: Massive Boondoggle Attack?
Earl -> Storms always have a way of mixing up the political debate in Rhode Island! New rule: all baby boys born nine months from today must be named Earl. Or, if born before then, Early. (h/t CM).
The Fake David Segal -> While the CD-1 race hasn't been as tenacious and bitterly fought as some thought it would be, a terrific moment of levity happened when the "fake" David Segal in Bill Lynch's punchy political ad endorsed the "real" David Segal - claiming that he only did the Lynch ad because he was out of work!
Angel Taveras -> Had his strongest week yet at a critical point in the Mayor's race: winning the endorsement of the largest environmental group in Providence - Clean Water Action; the endorsement of all three East Side Councilmen - most recently, Seth Yurdin; releasing a new TV ad; releasing a comprehensive Op-Ed on his jobs plan; and holding a press conference challenging Finance Chairman Steven Costantino to reconvene his committee to prevent federal education funding from being used to plug a budget deficit that he created several months ago - before jettisoning the State House to run for Mayor. I'm a fan of Taveras, but most pundits agree that he won the week - by alot.
Straight Party Voting -> A legal challenge brought by Cool Mooser Bob Healey was rejected by federal judge William Smith who did not find any evidence that straight party voting unduly influenced the elections process. Bad news for Indy candidates come November. See Linc Chafee.
Wynnel Wilson -> This insurgent candidate for State Representative is taking on a powerful State House incumbent: House Labor chairwoman Anastasia Williams. But, the AFL-CIO, the RI Latino PAC and the liberal RIFuture blog have thrown in their support to WIlson. She's certainly a long-shot, but even long-shots have a change in this upside-down election year.
Tom Sgouros -> Those who thought that this one-time Democratic candidate for General Treasurer would tuck his tail between his legs and go home have another thing coming. This long-time analyst of state budgets penned a scathing Op-Ed of the decisions of House Finance chairman Steven Costantino full of citations and research. Rhode Island's scribe who speaks truth to power is back in top-form!
David Bennett -> Al Gemma is certifiable. The guy is the energizer bunny of crazy talk in the General Assembly. Even his hometown paper calls him "longwinded." Now, a nurse, David Bennett, is taking on the gadfly Gemma in the hopes of delivering real change for the working families of Warwick. Bennet is hot and signs are popping up like wildfire in Greenwood, Hillsgrove, Natick, Norwood and Apponaug.
WHO'S NOT
Frank Caprio -> Caprio was for the Schilling deal and then for it with some conditions and now he is against it. Perhaps a poll was done somewhere in there? Certainly the worst week in what has been a very disciplined campaign to date.
Leo Medina -> This House Democratic candidate is in some deep doo-doo - facing a Supreme Court disciplinary complaint that he is illegaly practicing law as a non-lawyer and that he owes over $55,000 in fines to the Board of Elections. Tough news for a candiate seeking to be elected in less than two weeks by the voters.
Robert Kando and Larry Flynn -> Kando oversees the state elections board but has political signs outside of his residence? Larry Flynn runs elections in the City of Providence but gave a $250 contribution to Steven Costantino? Shouldn't elections officials stay politically neutral so that the public has faith that the elections are being run fair?
David Cicilline -> Cicilline has been on our 'hot' pages quite often, but this week he gets a not for asserting in the recent ABC6 debate that he signed a MoveOn.org pledge regarding fair elections. Sources indicate that he actually has not signed it nor does he intend on signing it. Will the public be getting a correction on that? Editor's Update: Cicilline sets the record straight here.
Anthony Gemma -> During that same debate, Gemma claimed that he would forego a salary if elected. Isn't this the typical line for those who are way back in the polls? Unless Gemma is another Doug Flutie, this will be just another faiied Hail Mary. And then there is that broken campaign promise about taking money from lobbyists...
Anthony Carcieri -> This chairman of the East Providence School Committee pulled over a bus full of Wheeler school kids and screaming at them for allegedly throwing garbage out of the school bus window. Not exactly, leadership by example! Tony, you're in timeout!
Steve Laffey -> Thank you Colorado! Good riddance!
Send me your HOT and NOT tips to mjerzyk at gmail dot com.
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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?
