Plenty of heat at the LPR Political Barbecue
By Steve Klamkin Latino Public Radio
The gloves came off in a number of races as most of the candidates running in Rhode Island’s August 9 Statewide Primary Election appeared during Saturday night’s Political Barbecue on Latino Public Radio.
The candidates sat down for interviews with LPR’s Steve Klamkin and a cast of questioners – there were no face-to-face match-ups. That didn’t stop some from throwing heat at their opponents.
“I’m not satisfied with where things are, I’m frustrated on behalf of Rhode Islanders,” said gubernatorial challenger Helena Buonanno Folkes, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Governor Dan McKee in the Democratic primary.
“We’re the 50th worst economy in the country, we’re the most expensive place to live,” Foulkes said.
“When I became governor in the middle of COVID, I opened up the economy faster than what we thought,” McKee said.
“When we talk about the choice here, it is very clear. First of all, my opponent denies that all this progress is being made, and it’s really dangerous,” McKee said. He countered with metrics of his own.
“We just finished 57 months in a row of lower than 5% unemployment rate, and 37,000 private sector jobs” (created), McKee said.
““In fact, in the last three years, we’ve outpaced every state in New England in terms of adding jobs except for one, and my opponent’s telling you we’ve added no jobs. You’ve really got to dig into the information, and you’ve got to push back. Just like, all my data is pushed back on me every single day. My opponent has not been tested in terms of her data. It is very dangerous,” McKee said.
McKee lashed out at Foulkes as “an out of touch corporate executive, and someone, you know we need to know. Someone who… donated to Senator (Mitch) McConnell (R-Kentucky), then McConnell went on and stacked the Supreme Court and took away Roe v. Wade, and that’s why Planned Parenthood is supporting me and not my opponent.”
My support we have is based on a lot of working families and people that actually understand that I represent them,” McKee said.
Foukes defended her TV ads targeting McKee.
“I think that what I have really tried to do is send a message of what the future could look like for people. I do know that people are struggling and suffering, but I want to give them my message of hope and optimism.”
Foulkes says the lack of and cost of housing is the top issue she’s heard about from Rhode Islanders during the campaign. She blames McKee for Rhode Island’s position as “dead last” among states on housing production.
“The governor’s plan, and I voted for the last ($120 million) housing bond, where we paid $70 million in interest to Wall Street, we only produced 600 affordable homes. That’s not enough. We need 20,000 new houses and apartments,” Foulkes said.
“So, I want to use the millionaires tax and invest in housing, and do many things, like bring modular homes and change a lot of the regulations that get in the way of moving fast enough.”
Republican Aaron Guckian faces Elaine Pelino in the primary for governor, and said Rhode Island is in need of “massive change”, people tell him the state is suffering from, “too many taxes, too many fees, too many speed cameras, too much traffic.”
He proposes bringing the nearly $15 billion state budget into line with its population of about one million people, in part with encouraging state and local front-line workers, vendors and others to suggest cost savings in what he calls an anonymous online portal that would reward participants.
Providence Mayor’s race
Much as the race for the governor’s office has taken shape in the form of TV ads, the race for mayor of Providence has also been marked by notable advertising.
Mayor Brett Smiley defends his ads targeting Democratic challenger David Morales. One ad states that Morales would “defund the police,” although Morales’ campaign says he has no plans to do so.
A more recent ad makes use of video from a New York fundraiser, during which a supporter says Morales would turn Providence into “a laboratory for municipal socialism,” as Morales nods approvingly.
“I’ve got a track record that I’m proud of, and my opponent … doesn’t shy away from the fact that he’s a Democratic Socialist. What he does shy away from is his positions have changed when he’s behind closed doors or out in public,” Smiley said.
“There’s a pattern and a track record here of him reversing his positions when it no longer is politically expedient.”
Morales stressed the importance of working with and listening to the police brass and rank and file members, adding he would retain Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ll talk about the importance of stability within our public safety departments, and I think that starts with ensuring Chief Oscar Perez stays in his role”, Morales said. “And as a part of that, we continue to think through different types of reforms to ensure that every neighbor who calls Providence home, especially unhoused neighbors.”
“I’ve spoken very publicly about the fact I think we need a new Director of Public Works, one that is centered around merit and ideally, I would like someone with a background around traffic engineering. And, having some relevant experience around city services and administrating in a way that we can ensure moving forward, day to day, we have someone who can deliver city service,” Morales said.
“The voters of Providence know me,” Smiley said. “They know my track record. They know what we’ve been able to do to make the city safer, to meet the moment of the housing crisis and really the housing shortage, and the progress we’ve made on education, particularly on early childhood education … and with school buildings.”
Democratic race for Attorney General
First-time candidate Keith Hoffmann has caused a bit of a stir, calling into question Kim Ahern’s use of a plaque … given to most assistant attorneys general upon leaving the office … in her campaign ads and literature. Both served in the AG’s office, both received the plaque, a tradition that dates back for many years.
“I don’t think that anybody has used a plaque like that in sort of a political message. I think that many folks felt it sounded like an endorsement of some kind,” said Hoffman.
While not directly addressing the plaque, Ahern said she was proud of her record in the Attorney General’s office.
“If you’re focused on the “district attorney” role, prosecuting violent felony cases, then I have more prosecutorial experience than each of my opponents combined,” she said, adding that she worked on civil rights, hate crimes and environmental crimes.
State Rep. Jason Knight said the AG’s office “does a pretty good job” about putting criminals behind bars, but can do more to reduce the state’s 70’s recidivism rate.
“Obviously, we’ve got to hold the line against the terrible policies coming from the Trump administration,” said Knight, who represents parts of Barrington and Warren.
He added that following the more than $17 billion settlement with most states’ Attorneys General over teenage social media addiction, “the AG needs to be there, fighting for consumers from some of those predatory practices,” Knight said.
Warwick Representative Joseph Solomon said “getting people to the table” would be an example of fresh ideas he would bring to the AG’s office to solve an ongoing court backlog of cases.
“Getting discovery to move quickly, getting dates on the calendar to move more quickly. Just getting people on the same page,” Solomon said, adding he would also move to curtail recidivism.
“Most people will not serve life in prison. Most people get out at some point in time, and we need to ensure that those individuals who are getting out have the ability to succeed, because it costs a lot more to imprison someone than it is to see someone succeed and contribute to society,” he said.
Rhode Island Second Congressional District
Separate appearances by Democrat Seth Magaziner and Republican Victor Mellor may well presage a November match-up, neither have primary opponents who appeared at Saturday’ Latino Public Radio Political Barbecue.
Magaziner said corruption and the high cost of living are the top-of-mind issues he hears from voters across the 2nd District.
“People are frustrated by it. And I think that people understand that, the high inflation and high costs are not just happening for no reason. It’s happening because of the war. It’s happening because of the tariffs. These were mistakes that the president made, that the Republican Congress enabled. These are mistakes that can be undone, and should be undone,” Magaziner said.
Republican Victor Mellor pledged that should he be elected, “there’s going to be a friendly channel that brings resources here” to Rhode Island. “And, that’s going to be me.”
Mellor drew sharp questioning from Paige Parks, Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count, the children’s advocacy agency who asked about the fear of deportation that many immigrant families feel under President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants, despite a Supreme Court ruling that upheld birthright citizenship.
“When you think of illegal children, illegals that have American children… those kids will have to follow the illegals if something happens to them. I mean it just is what it is. I’m sorry,” said Mellor, who describes himself as a strong backer of President Trump and feels birthright citizenship should be revoked.
Mellor faces a primary opponent in Dr. Stephen Skoly, who declined the invitation to appear at the Political Barbecue.
Several candidates for Lieutenant Governor fielded questions, but incumbent Democrat Sabina Matos also declined to participate.
Outgoing Providence Councilor Sue AnderBois offered detailed plans to use the office to promote energy savings. Outgoing State Senator Cyndy Coyne pointed to her work as a retired former state police officer as beneficial to advancing public safety initiatives. Newport Councilor and former mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong pointed to his executive experience, including chairman of the Providence Water utility. All said that they are qualified and ready to step in, should the governor vacate, or be unable to serve in the office.
Also taking part in the Barbecue but facing little if any primary opposition were U.S. Senator Jack Reed, First district Congressman Gabe Amo, Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa and Secretary of State Greg Amore, who predicted about a 14% voter turnout next Wednesday, about typical, he said, for a primary election.
Pawtucket Democratic Mayor Donald Grebien defended his record over eight terms in office. His primary opponent, Adam Greenman’s campaign said he did not want to participate in the Political Barbecue.
