Allan Fung

TGIF: 12 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:29:53 +0000

With the aftermath of this week's Boston Marathon attack remaining in the forefront of headlines, we're keeping the focus on politics in my Friday column. Thanks for stopping by; as always, your tips and thoughts are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.

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.

Fung Hires Former Director of RI Republican Party

Ian Donnis — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:19:55 +0000

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has hired an experienced campaign operative as a consultant. Fung is considered a likely Republican candidate for governor next year.

Patrick Sweeney is a former director of the Rhode Island Republican Party and he ran Barry Hinckley’s losing GOP challenge last year to US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Sweeney started work as a consultant for Fung April first. The veteran GOP staffer was guarded when asked if this signals a gubernatorial run for Fung.

Cranston Mayor Makes "Breakthrough" Pension Deal

Ian Donnis — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:30:05 +0000

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung announced an agreement Monday to improve the condition of one of the worst funded municipal pensions in the state.

Fung says the deal will save Cranston $6.5 million in pension costs over the next fiscal year while solving a lingering problem.

“This issue has been an albatross over the city for decades, close to half a century, and this agreement shows the progress that can be made when all parties come together in a spirit of cooperation,” said Fung.

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.

Stable Taxes in Cranston Budget Proposal

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:20:24 +0000

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has submitted a new budget proposal with no tax increases. Fung says Cranston has stabilized city finances with help from public safety contract concessions and careful spending. He points to the growth of businesses like the Alex and Ani jewelry company as proof that Cranston is now seeing an economic expansion.

"The city of Cranston is not only stable from the initiatives we have put into place these last four years, but now we are experiencing real growth," Fung says.

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.

Avedisian and Fung Paint the Town for Gaspee Days Fundraiser

John Bender — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:24:05 +0000

Gaspee Days, is a time honored tradition for the towns of Cranston and Warwick each summer, but fundraising has begun early for the mayors of the respective towns.

In order to raise the $5000 needed to paint the parade stripe, mayors Scott Avedisian of Warwick and Allan Fung of Cranston, will be racing each other to paint a ten foot strip of the roadway.

Avedisian is happy to be in a race other than political.

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.