Political Scene: New Year's resolutions from R.I. leaders include more ice cream, exercise and jobs

Sunday
Dec 24, 2017 at 7:17 PM Dec 24, 2017 at 7:17 PM

In other news, Democrat Bob Walsh, executive director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, is "toying" with the idea of running for governor.

Katherine Gregg Journal Political Writer kathyprojo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With New Year's Day just around the corner, Rhode Island pols are finalizing their New Year's resolutions. 

One promises to eat healthier foods, another to eat more ice cream, and a third to make nice — a promise no one, and I mean no one, expects him to keep. So let's start with former House Republican Whip Joe Trillo, the honorary Trump campaign chairman who is bolting the GOP to run for governor as an independent.

Right out of the gate, he called all of his probable opponents "pansies," but Trillo told Political Scene last week that this is his New Year's resolution: "I promise to not pick on our week [sic] leaders as much."

Cranston Mayor — and GOP gubernatorial candidate — Allan Fung also sprinkled his resolutions for election-year 2018 with a dose of humor. Fung's list: "To try every flavor of ice cream at Sundaes, to cycle every mile of bike path in the state, to choose the right tie to match the outfit on the first try, to keep Kathy Gregg happy (almost) all the time, and to become your Governor."

Count Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, of Westerly, among those who say, "I do not make New Year’s resolutions." Ditto Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin: "I resolve to not make New Year's resolutions. I prefer to continuously evaluate myself as a person and professional and hopefully continue to learn, improve and grow."

But others, facing a busy 2018 on the campaign trail, sprinkled their resolutions with varying degrees of fun, family and — dare we say it? — campaign rhetoric:

A spokesman for Democrat Gina Raimondo, who is seeking a second term as governor, told Political Scene, "The Governor’s New Year’s Resolution is to keep working to create jobs and opportunity so all Rhode Islanders can keep up and get ahead in 2018. In her personal life, the Governor is setting a goal to exercise more regularly and spend time outdoors with her family as often as possible."

Ditto House Minority Leader — and GOP candidate for governor — Patricia Morgan. "I make the promise to myself and hardworking Rhode Islanders: To work hard every day for their best interests and to make their lives better and their futures brighter."

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello resolved to "eat healthier foods and to exercise daily," which he fully expects will include "chasing after my two golden retriever puppies, Duke and Scout. I will also strive to enjoy more weekend time with my family at many of the beautiful places in our state."

He continued, "I am optimistic that 2018 will be a year in which we can all work together for the betterment of the quality of life for Rhode Islanders." 

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio's resolve: "to spend more time with his grandchildren." Senate Finance Committee Chairman William J. Conley: "To keep the PawSox in Pawtucket."

State Rep. Aaron Regunberg, a recently married 27-year-old Democrat running for lieutenant governor, told Political Scene:

"My wife Katie and I have a shared resolution this year to make sure we're setting aside enough quality time with each other each week, no matter how busy things get. I also have a resolution to do everything I can to ensure our state government is protecting working families and seniors and young people in our state from all of the assaults coming out of D.C."

Regunberg is challenging a fellow Democrat seeking a second term, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee. 

McKee: “My resolution is to stay healthy, stay positive, value every minute, count my blessings and do my part to help Rhode Island thrive. I also resolve to go to as many URI basketball games as possible with my daughter Kara and my son Matt."

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea was all business when first asked: “Now that we’ve modernized elections with online voter registration, an accessible voter information center, and electronic poll books, I would love to see more eligible Rhode Islanders get engaged and be voters. I’ll continue my efforts to pass early in-person voting and make elections work for our working families across the state.”

The mother of three girls. ages 14, 12, and 7, she later added: “To make sure I balance the demands of my job as Secretary of State and the reelection campaign with those of being a good mom and a supportive spouse.”

Bob Walsh for governor?

An avowed Democrat, Bob Walsh confirms that he is "toying" with the idea of running for governor next year as an independent.

Walsh, 56, has been the executive director of one of the state's largest teachers' unions, the National Education Association of Rhode Island, since 2001, and was a long-ago candidate for Congress. His union represents public school teachers, higher education faculty and staff, and pockets of state and municipal workers.

Earlier this year, he advocated for "sticking with the team we've got," telling Rhode Island Public Radio in March 2017 that the NEARI was likely to support Governor Raimondo, and the reelection of R.I.'s Democrats in Washington, for "pragmatic" reasons. 

While many teachers are still fuming about the pension overhaul that then-state Treasurer Raimondo championed in 2011, he said, "I am not advertising for alternative candidates to Gina Raimondo ... [because] the election of Donald Trump significantly changed the game in this state .... The Republicans are going to drop money in this state and go after us as a package, so it's imperative that the team stays in place."

In July, however, after Raimondo vetoed a labor-backed bill — strenuously opposed by municipalities — to keep expired contracts in place indefinitely, Walsh served notice that organized labor was actively recruiting a candidate to run against Raimondo in 2018. “The classified ad is out: ‘Real Democrat wanted for governor of Rhode Island,’ ” he said.

Apparently, there were no takers. "I don't have a candidate for governor," Walsh said last week.

"I don't think anyone viable has come forward, so I think that there is an opening for progressives and pro-labor Democrats and independents ... and some enlightened Republicans for a fourth choice, or fifth choice I suppose, if the Moderates decide to put somebody up."

"There's a model out there that looks a lot, ironically, like the model that got Linc Chafee elected [governor, in 2010] with a plurality of the vote." 

Why not stick with Raimondo? "I don't think right now, with a large part of the Democratic coalition angry with her .. .[that] despite her money, Gina Raimondo is a highly viable candidate." (That, he acknowledges, is his gut talking.)

His talking points: the veto of the continuing-contract bill, disclosures about "what's going" on at the Department of Children, Youth & Families, and the number of people — most recently pegged at 3,525 — with applications for benefits snagged in the state's trouble-plagued computer system known as UHIP. 

"I think, generally, we should be talking about that every day until it's fixed," Walsh said.

Walsh said he will decide if he is running for governor by early in the second quarter of next year, and seek public matching funds if he does.

FYI: Bill Gilbert, the chairman of the R.I. Moderate Party, says he has put $100,000 of his own money into his personal account, and will mount his own candidacy "if I cannot lock down a firm commitment from those I am trying to recruit ... to ensure that the Moderate Party [has] a voice in the 2018 election — specifically in opposition to PawSox stadium type giveaways. "

Mattiello signs lease for headquarters

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello told Political Scene: He is absolutely running for reelection in Cranston's House District 15, and has signed a one-year lease for a home-city campaign headquarters at 713 Oaklawn Ave.

And he sees little threat from the group R.I. Progressive Democrats, which came up with a "Progressive Values Pledge" for candidate seeking its backing.

The top items: a pledge not to vote for Mattiello's reelection as speaker and Dominick Ruggerio's election as Senate president in 2018. Mattiello characterized the group as the "extreme, extreme left" within the party that wants lawmakers to agree with them "on every single issue and leave your mind at home when you go to work at the General Assembly."

"Those are not the progressives in my chamber," he said, with a tip of the hat to the lawmakers who fought and won passage of a phased-in paid-leave mandate, for example.

Mattiello said: "The Democratic Party is not going to have a litmus test."

Sunday
Dec 24, 2017 at 7:17 PM Dec 24, 2017 at 7:17 PM

In other news, Democrat Bob Walsh, executive director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, is "toying" with the idea of running for governor.

Katherine Gregg Journal Political Writer kathyprojo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With New Year's Day just around the corner, Rhode Island pols are finalizing their New Year's resolutions. 

One promises to eat healthier foods, another to eat more ice cream, and a third to make nice — a promise no one, and I mean no one, expects him to keep. So let's start with former House Republican Whip Joe Trillo, the honorary Trump campaign chairman who is bolting the GOP to run for governor as an independent.

Right out of the gate, he called all of his probable opponents "pansies," but Trillo told Political Scene last week that this is his New Year's resolution: "I promise to not pick on our week [sic] leaders as much."

Cranston Mayor — and GOP gubernatorial candidate — Allan Fung also sprinkled his resolutions for election-year 2018 with a dose of humor. Fung's list: "To try every flavor of ice cream at Sundaes, to cycle every mile of bike path in the state, to choose the right tie to match the outfit on the first try, to keep Kathy Gregg happy (almost) all the time, and to become your Governor."

Count Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, of Westerly, among those who say, "I do not make New Year’s resolutions." Ditto Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin: "I resolve to not make New Year's resolutions. I prefer to continuously evaluate myself as a person and professional and hopefully continue to learn, improve and grow."

But others, facing a busy 2018 on the campaign trail, sprinkled their resolutions with varying degrees of fun, family and — dare we say it? — campaign rhetoric:

A spokesman for Democrat Gina Raimondo, who is seeking a second term as governor, told Political Scene, "The Governor’s New Year’s Resolution is to keep working to create jobs and opportunity so all Rhode Islanders can keep up and get ahead in 2018. In her personal life, the Governor is setting a goal to exercise more regularly and spend time outdoors with her family as often as possible."

Ditto House Minority Leader — and GOP candidate for governor — Patricia Morgan. "I make the promise to myself and hardworking Rhode Islanders: To work hard every day for their best interests and to make their lives better and their futures brighter."

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello resolved to "eat healthier foods and to exercise daily," which he fully expects will include "chasing after my two golden retriever puppies, Duke and Scout. I will also strive to enjoy more weekend time with my family at many of the beautiful places in our state."

He continued, "I am optimistic that 2018 will be a year in which we can all work together for the betterment of the quality of life for Rhode Islanders." 

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio's resolve: "to spend more time with his grandchildren." Senate Finance Committee Chairman William J. Conley: "To keep the PawSox in Pawtucket."

State Rep. Aaron Regunberg, a recently married 27-year-old Democrat running for lieutenant governor, told Political Scene:

"My wife Katie and I have a shared resolution this year to make sure we're setting aside enough quality time with each other each week, no matter how busy things get. I also have a resolution to do everything I can to ensure our state government is protecting working families and seniors and young people in our state from all of the assaults coming out of D.C."

Regunberg is challenging a fellow Democrat seeking a second term, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee. 

McKee: “My resolution is to stay healthy, stay positive, value every minute, count my blessings and do my part to help Rhode Island thrive. I also resolve to go to as many URI basketball games as possible with my daughter Kara and my son Matt."

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea was all business when first asked: “Now that we’ve modernized elections with online voter registration, an accessible voter information center, and electronic poll books, I would love to see more eligible Rhode Islanders get engaged and be voters. I’ll continue my efforts to pass early in-person voting and make elections work for our working families across the state.”

The mother of three girls. ages 14, 12, and 7, she later added: “To make sure I balance the demands of my job as Secretary of State and the reelection campaign with those of being a good mom and a supportive spouse.”

Bob Walsh for governor?

An avowed Democrat, Bob Walsh confirms that he is "toying" with the idea of running for governor next year as an independent.

Walsh, 56, has been the executive director of one of the state's largest teachers' unions, the National Education Association of Rhode Island, since 2001, and was a long-ago candidate for Congress. His union represents public school teachers, higher education faculty and staff, and pockets of state and municipal workers.

Earlier this year, he advocated for "sticking with the team we've got," telling Rhode Island Public Radio in March 2017 that the NEARI was likely to support Governor Raimondo, and the reelection of R.I.'s Democrats in Washington, for "pragmatic" reasons. 

While many teachers are still fuming about the pension overhaul that then-state Treasurer Raimondo championed in 2011, he said, "I am not advertising for alternative candidates to Gina Raimondo ... [because] the election of Donald Trump significantly changed the game in this state .... The Republicans are going to drop money in this state and go after us as a package, so it's imperative that the team stays in place."

In July, however, after Raimondo vetoed a labor-backed bill — strenuously opposed by municipalities — to keep expired contracts in place indefinitely, Walsh served notice that organized labor was actively recruiting a candidate to run against Raimondo in 2018. “The classified ad is out: ‘Real Democrat wanted for governor of Rhode Island,’ ” he said.

Apparently, there were no takers. "I don't have a candidate for governor," Walsh said last week.

"I don't think anyone viable has come forward, so I think that there is an opening for progressives and pro-labor Democrats and independents ... and some enlightened Republicans for a fourth choice, or fifth choice I suppose, if the Moderates decide to put somebody up."

"There's a model out there that looks a lot, ironically, like the model that got Linc Chafee elected [governor, in 2010] with a plurality of the vote." 

Why not stick with Raimondo? "I don't think right now, with a large part of the Democratic coalition angry with her .. .[that] despite her money, Gina Raimondo is a highly viable candidate." (That, he acknowledges, is his gut talking.)

His talking points: the veto of the continuing-contract bill, disclosures about "what's going" on at the Department of Children, Youth & Families, and the number of people — most recently pegged at 3,525 — with applications for benefits snagged in the state's trouble-plagued computer system known as UHIP. 

"I think, generally, we should be talking about that every day until it's fixed," Walsh said.

Walsh said he will decide if he is running for governor by early in the second quarter of next year, and seek public matching funds if he does.

FYI: Bill Gilbert, the chairman of the R.I. Moderate Party, says he has put $100,000 of his own money into his personal account, and will mount his own candidacy "if I cannot lock down a firm commitment from those I am trying to recruit ... to ensure that the Moderate Party [has] a voice in the 2018 election — specifically in opposition to PawSox stadium type giveaways. "

Mattiello signs lease for headquarters

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello told Political Scene: He is absolutely running for reelection in Cranston's House District 15, and has signed a one-year lease for a home-city campaign headquarters at 713 Oaklawn Ave.

And he sees little threat from the group R.I. Progressive Democrats, which came up with a "Progressive Values Pledge" for candidate seeking its backing.

The top items: a pledge not to vote for Mattiello's reelection as speaker and Dominick Ruggerio's election as Senate president in 2018. Mattiello characterized the group as the "extreme, extreme left" within the party that wants lawmakers to agree with them "on every single issue and leave your mind at home when you go to work at the General Assembly."

"Those are not the progressives in my chamber," he said, with a tip of the hat to the lawmakers who fought and won passage of a phased-in paid-leave mandate, for example.

Mattiello said: "The Democratic Party is not going to have a litmus test."

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