Republicans

Smiley: RI GOP Intends to Field a Candidate Against Reed Next Year

Ian Donnis — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:54:03 +0000

State GOP chairman Mark Smiley says his party "absolutely" intends to run a candidate against US senator Jack Reed next year.

A few politically active Republicans privately say they consider a challenge against Reed -- or the other Democrats in Rhode Island's congressional delegation -- an utter waste of time. Resources would be better used, they say, in trying to build the 11-member GOP presence in the 113-member General Assembly.

Algiere, Bates join RI Senate GOP bloc in backing bill favored by same-sex marriage supporters

Ian Donnis — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:29:00 +0000

All five Republicans in the 38-member Rhode Island Senate - including Minority Leader Dennis Algiere of Westerly - plan to support the same-sex marriage bill backed by supporters of the issue, RIPR has learned.

Bonus Q+A: Fung Explains Why He's a Republican

Ian Donnis — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung joins Bonus Q+A to talk about why he's a Republican, his potential race for governor next year, and what Rhode Island should do to improve its economy, among other issues.

Political Roundtable: Fung Talks Pensions, 2014, and the Attack on the Boston Marathon

Ian Donnis — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung joins the Roundtable this week to discuss the aftermath of the attack at the Boston Marathon, the merits of negotiated pension settlements, his potential gubernatorial campaign next year, and other issues.

GOP Reps Invite Gun Makers to RI from "Hostile Territory"

Ian Donnis — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:59:25 +0000

With state officials due to release their proposal Tuesday for curbing gun violence, Republican House lawmakers are inviting gun makers to relocate to Rhode Island in response to changes in Connecticut and Maryland. A legislative news release says the changes render those two states as "hostile territory":

TGIF: 10 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:00:00 +0000

If April is the cruelest month, as T.S. Eliot wrote, perhaps it's due to the chilly weather greeting the start of the baseball season. Welcome back to my weekly column. Your thoughts and tips are always welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.

Narragansett Police say Michael Riley Touted his Run for Congress During Arrest

Ian Donnis — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:19:46 +0000

Michael Riley, the investment manager who ran a losing Republican campaign last year against Congressman Jim Langevin, was arrested in Narragansett early Wednesday and charge with resisting arrest, operating under the influence of alcohol, and refusing to take a chemical test.

TGIF: 14 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:18:33 +0000

Welcome back to my weekly column. Spring is starting to pop, and there's never a shortage of news hereabouts, so let's get to it. As always, your thoughts and tips are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.

TGIF: 15 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:33:53 +0000

Welcome back to my weekly column. A 12-hour legislative committee meeting on the same night when the RI GOP invalidates a vote for chairman? Just another day in the Biggest Little. Your tips and thoughts are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.

1. Perception is important in politics. That's why either side in the intense same-sex marriage debate is loath to write off a big presence when the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the issue.

Doherty Dismisses AG Run in 2014; Expects to Decide on Gov within 2 Months

Ian Donnis — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:18:36 +0000

Brendan Doherty says he has "absolutely, positively no intention" of running as a Republican candidate for attorney general in 2014, although he's still considering a campaign for governor.

Some Republicans hope that Doherty, the former superintendent of the state police, would represent the GOP as an alternative to Democratic AG Peter Kilmartin in next year's race for attorney general. But Doherty sounds distinctly uninterested in the idea.