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| Clay with CDTC member Ginger Glander and Charlestown Town Council Vice-President Paula Andersen |
The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats announced today they are
endorsing Clay Pell in his upstart bid to beat both Angel Taveras and Gina
Raimondo in the Democratic primary for governor.
“It was abundantly clear to the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats
that Clay Pell is the progressive choice for governor in the Democratic
primary, said RIPDA State Coordinator Sam Bell in an email from the Pell
campaign.
“From his strong commitment to public education and educators, his
opposition cutting a property tax relief program for low-income Rhode Islanders
in order to raise the estate tax exemption for the wealthiest in our state, and
his call to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 immediately, Clay is the candidate
who has consistently stood on the side of working Rhode Islanders and embodied
our progressive values,” Bell said.
“We were also impressed by his
comprehensive plan to revive our struggling economy through investment – with
his Infrastructure Replacement and Rehabilitation program, his commitment to
Health Source RI, and his belief that state government can be a force for good
in the lives of Rhode Islanders.”
“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats. To me, being a Democrat means two things – opportunity and justice. The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats are a strong voice for a progressive vision for our state that embodies those twin aspirations. I am committed to being a champion for a more equitable future for Rhode Island, and to ensuring working families in our state have access to a world-class education and an economy built to last.”
Taveras’ campaign declined to comment.
The release comes one day after a WPRI / Providence Journal poll shows
Pell’s popularity surging. He’s still in third place, with 26 percent compared
to Taveras’ 27 percent and Raimondo’s 32 percent, but his campaign operatives
have been adamant that he can pull ahead with less than three weeks before the
primary.
Bob Plain
is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a
reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and
across the country.