CDTC
calls on town Democrats to support endorsed slate in the September primary
By
Will Collette
I
wear two hats in Charlestown, and not just because I’m bald. One hat is as
co-editor of Progressive Charlestown. The other is as a member of the
Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC). This is one of those occasions where I am reporting on decisions that I was part of making. It may not make for the best journalism, but so it goes.
After
interviewing nearly every candidate running as a Democrat for state office, the
CDTC finalized its list of candidates it recommends to Charlestown voters who
go to the polls in September’s primary:
- For Governor: Clay Pell
- For Lieutenant Governor: Ralph Mollis
- For General Treasurer: Seth Magaziner
- For Secretary of State: Guillaume deRamel
- For Attorney General: re-elect Peter Kilmartin
It
was easy to endorse Peter Kilmartin’s re-election bid as Attorney General. He
doesn’t have an opponent in the Democratic primary. We appreciated his decision
to come to Charlestown and directly ask us for our endorsement, despite the
fact that he was running unopposed.
He
and I grew up in the same gritty working-class neighborhood in Pawtucket. I
knew his father and I knew about Peter’s distinguished career as a Pawtucket
police officer. He has been a good Attorney General, even though I would have
liked him to be more aggressive in attacking consumer fraud, wage theft and
environmental crime. Plus, he could have been helpful in last fall’s recall
battle in Exeter. But he’s been a good prosecutor and ran a good, clean
operation. He’s a great guy and he was critical in helping
Rep. Donna Walsh to get the Colin Foote bill enacted into law.
The
CDTC endorsed Ralph Mollis largely on the great job he did in improving the
operation of the Secretary of State’s office. He is term-limited as Secretary
of State, thus his effort to move into the Lieutenant Governor’s position, one
that he acknowledges has few official duties, but one where you have the
latitude to create your own portfolio. He plans to do that with a focus on jobs
creation.
My
only beef with Mollis was his ill-advised decision to push the General Assembly
to adopt a statewide Voter ID law, even though there is no evidence that such a
law is needed and that it is a centerpiece of the national Republican push to
suppress voting rights. I challenged Mollis head-to-head when he came to
Charlestown and was not entirely satisfied with his answers. But on the merits
of his otherwise good work, I voted with my Committee colleagues to endorse
him.
It
helped that his opponent, Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee seems to have no other
issue he cares about except pushing charter schools. It also helped that McKee
has a bumbling campaign that led him to ignore two invitations to talk to the
Committee. Finally, after the Committee had endorsed Mollis, McKee asked to
come and speak, saying that he hoped he might turn one or two Committee
members. The CDTC response was faggedaboudit.
Three picks you
can trust
For
the other three picks, the Committee went against the common wisdom and picked
three political novices who have never held
elective office - Clay Pell, Seth Magaziner and Guillaume deRamel.
I
am pretty excited about all three of them because I think all three are smart,
progressive and, most importantly, trustworthy. None of them come with the
baggage that their opponents are carrying.
I
am so sick and tired of having to hold my nose and pick the person who seems to stink the least.
It was less a matter of comparing Clay, Seth and Guillaume
to their opponents (although we certainly did do that) but judging them on
their own merits. In each instance, we found them to have the qualities we need
to tackle Rhode Island’s problems. It will be a pleasure to work for their
victory in the September primary and November general election.
All
three of them have produced detailed, thoughtful positions on the key issues
they would face in office. They’ve all come down to Charlestown, often more
than once, and stayed in regular contact.
They may not have held elective office before, but so what? Each brings valuable life experiences that qualify them to lead and excel.
They may not have held elective office before, but so what? Each brings valuable life experiences that qualify them to lead and excel.
I
am also excited about Clay, Seth and Guillaume because I like their values and
how steadfastly they are holding to their values. As hard as you push them on
those values and positions, they don’t waiver or waffle.
By contrast, their opponents seem to change their principles and positions as often as they change their underwear.
By contrast, their opponents seem to change their principles and positions as often as they change their underwear.
Because
of their backgrounds and lack of baggage, I trust Clay, Seth and Guillaume and
believe they will give their utmost to the state. While they will almost
certainly not have all the answers nor handle every situation perfectly, I
believe we will never have to doubt their motives or honesty. I firmly believe they will not embarrass us....and these days, how often can you say that?
Unfortunately,
I can’t say the same about their opponents. Two of them – candidate for
Governor Gina Raimondo and Frank Caprio who wants to return as General
Treasurer – skipped coming to meet with the CDTC after initially expressing
interest.
Indeed Frank Caprio had a date to meet with the CDTC on April 21, but
begged off earlier that day saying he was sick. But the funny thing is that I
saw him the following day at a meeting in Pawtucket, and he seemed the picture
of health. I guess it must have been a miracle cure. Or perhaps he never got better from that case of Pinnochioitis he developed in 2010
Caprio,
Raimondo and the hapless Dan McKee were the only major candidates who did not
meet with the CDTC.
The
most disturbing thing I’ve seen in Raimondo and in Angel Tavares who is also
running for Governor, and in Caprio and Ernie Almonte who is also running for
General Treasurer, is their willing to switch positions on key issues and
change their principles to pander to target audiences.
Raimondo ran in 2010 as
a progressive but then turned into a classic Wall Street DINO and is now once
again tacking hard to the left, willing to say whatever she has to say to win,
even if she has no intention of honoring her commitments. Same with Caprio.
Tavares
started out as a progressive candidate, but then dumped all his respected left-wing
advisors and, after taking a hit in the polls, has hired replacement left-wing
advisors. Almonte has taken a 180-degree turn on positions he publicly declared
in 2012.
I don't want to support candidates I can’t trust. Conversely, I am prepared to give
my all to support candidates who stand up for principles I believe in, even if
they are long-shots. I am sick of simply settling for “the lesser of two (or
three) evils.”
I’ll
be saying more about each candidate as we get into the season. The field is shaping
up, the polls are being run and the pundits are telling us who is up and who is
down. Every election year is an important one, and 2014 is no different. There
will be a lot on the line as we get ready to do our civic duty so pay
attention, ask questions and choose wisely.