CHARLESTOWN: Get out and vote tomorrow

Important local Senate race, plus Congressional District 2 and crucial state offices on the line

By Will Collette

There are 6,748 registered voters in Charlestown – 100 new registrations just in the past week! Many of those voters have a stake in the Democratic or Republican primaries which are being held tomorrow, Tuesday September 13. You can vote in person at Town Hall.

As of this writing, 237 of Charlestown’s voters have already sent their primary ballots in by mail or voted early at Town Hall (116 by mail, 131 in person).

The final step in the process to choose the slate for the November 8 election takes place tomorrow when you can turn out at Town Hall to vote in person.

The main local race is the choice of which among three qualified Democrats will become the Party nominee for the Senate District 38 seat that became open upon the retirement of long-time Senator Dennis Algiere.

All three Democrats – Victoria Gu, Michael Niemeyer and Sharon Ahern – strike me as serious candidates who would make good senators, but I favor Victoria for her positions on sensible gun legislation and a woman’s right to choose. Her main opponent Sharon Ahern is backed by the gun lobby and Right to Life.

The winner will face long-time Westerly politico Caswell Cooke, a former Republican who is running as an independent and maybe Westin Place representing the Republicans. Place has yet to file required campaign finance reports (CF-1) as required by law, so it’s unknown whether he is running any sort of campaign. 

Also on the ballot is Congressional District 2 being vacated by Rep. Jim Langevin. Leading in all the polls is term-limited state General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. There are four other active candidates: Joy Fox, Sarah Morgenthau, David Segal, and Omar Bah. The winner will face Trumplican Allan Fung in November.

All of the Democrats running for state General Offices have primary challenges, except for Attorney General Peter Nerohna. 

However, some races are hotter than others. The Governor’s race is red-hot with our hapless accidental Gov. Dan McKee facing strong challenges from term-limited Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes.

I’ve already voted for Nellie.

The winner will face a carpetbagging Trumplican Ashley Kalus Weinzweig who may also be registered to vote in Florida and Illinois – that’ll take some serious investigation.

The Lieutenant Governor race also features a toss-up among three contenders. Sabrina Matos is running as Dan McKee’s running mate (nuff said); Cynthia Mendes is running as Matt Brown’s running mate and may be polling better than Brown’s single digits in his second bid for Governor. Then Deb Ruggiero is running by actually campaigning on her long and impressive legislative history.

General Treasurer is also a pitched battle and toss-up between former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa versus a stuffed shirt narcissist Stefan Pryor who is, according to himself, the single-handed savior of every mess he’s gotten into. James Diossa simply saved Central Falls after everybody had written it off, but is too modest to claim the full credit he deserved. Obviously I’ve voted for James.

Finally, the Secretary of State opening left when Nellie Gorbea was term limited has East Providence school teacher and long-time legislator Greg Amore versus virtually unknown novice Stephanie Beaute.

As a progressive Democrat, I will probably support the whole Democratic ticket that is chosen by the voters tomorrow, but obviously I have my favorites, as I’m sure you do too.

But as the saying goes, if you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain.