The Scoop: Buttigieg Endorses Matos and Smiley

The Scoop: Buttigieg Endorses Matos and Smiley

 

Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, announced Monday that he endorses Sabina Matos for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island and Brett Smiley for Mayor of Providence.

Buttigieg created some controversy when he visited the Washington Bridge in 2024. READ MORE BELOW.

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“Sabina’s story of coming to America, working her way through college while learning the language, and dedicating her life to giving back through public service are a testament both to her resilience and to the enduring promise of our nation,” said Buttigieg. “She and I got our start together as young municipal leaders striving to revitalize our working-class cities for a new era. Over the decade I have known her, she has continued to show that same tenacity and vitality that brought her to this country. Everywhere she goes —whether she’s in the streets standing up to the chaos of the Trump administration, or at the State House passing laws to protect small businesses and lower grocery prices—Sabina is the leader that Rhode Island needs as Lieutenant Governor.”

“From the first time I met Pete, he was an inspiration: even as a mayor, he was clear-eyed about the ways in which our political systems are broken without ever losing his optimism that we could fix them. Today, he’s our nation’s most prominent advocate for uniting people across divides to tackle big problems together,” said Matos. “He continues to inspire me to believe that the real source of power in politics is people, not wealth or connections to the old boys’ club. I am proud to have his support as I fight for fair housing and grocery prices for Rhode Island’s citizens, and I am looking forward to working with him for years to come.”

Buttigieg's press release also praised Smiley.

“As the Trump administration continues to fail the American people on issue after issue, it has been local leaders like Mayor Brett Smiley who have stood up to the cruelty coming out of Washington and actually delivered results for people,” said Buttigieg. “From standing up for Providence's immigrant community, to fighting back against Republican cuts to food assistance programs, Mayor Smiley has been demonstrating his leadership through action. Our nation needs more tough, focused leaders like Mayor Smiley right now, and I am proud to be in his corner as he runs for reelection."

“Secertary Buttigieg knows firsthand the critical role of mayors as the first line of defense for our communities, and I’m honored to have his support,” said Smiley. “Over the past four years, we have shown that we can improve public safety, achieve universal pre-K, and build new homes and schools in spite of a federal government intent on pulling us into the past. I’m proud of what we have accomplished together, and I’m ready to keep building on our progress.”

 

GoLocal reported in 2024:

 

United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was in Rhode Island on Tuesday to tour the failed Washington Bridge — which last week, officials said would take hundreds of millions of dollars to tear down and replace, and take years to do.

 

Now, the blame game has a new twist.

Buttigieg, when questioned by GoLocal as to who was ultimately responsible for what had transpired that led to the closure of the westbound portion of I-195, blamed the original designers of the bridge — from over 60 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration had approved - twice - making appropriations for repairs to the bridge in 2018 and 2021 and had not suggested taking it down. The 2018 repair work cost $25 million and was approved by the Federal Highway Administration and in 2021 another $78 million was approved for this ongoing project.

“Secretary, as you know, some Rhode Islanders have said they might not survive this — especially small businesses. Where does the responsibility ultimately lie — from the USDOT, to the Federal Highway Administration, to Rhode Island government. The failure of this bridge — who’s ultimately responsible for this, Secretary?” asked GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle. READ MORE