On Politics

With a series of organizations calling for more urgency in jolting Rhode Island’s under-performing economy, Governor Lincoln Chafee says the state needs to remain focused on a long-term approach. 

Speaking during a news conference highlighting $110 million in federally-backed improvements at T.F. Green Airport, Chafee said:

Yours truly will be part of a panel discussion at Rhode Island College tomorrow (11 am, Room 110, Alger Hall) examining the local political impact of talk radio.

The chat, sponsored by RIC’s American Democracy Project, is entitled, “Does talk radio still rule?” The lineup for the panel includes WPRI.com reporter Ted Nesi, WPRO evening host Matt Allen, Josh Fenton from GoLocal, and Tim Staskiewicz from CBS Radio Boston. The moderator is Gene Valicenti from WJAR-TV.

WPRI’s debate this evening between Congressman David Cicilline and Republican challenger Brendan Doherty comes as the First Congressional District race remains up for grabs. Just consider last week’s Brown University poll: it showed Cicilline with a lead of slightly less than 6 percentage points.

Five mayoral candidates have qualified for the November 6 mayoral election in Central Falls, according to the office of Secretary of State Ralph Mollis.

Here’s the order of the hopefuls as they appear on the ballot:

Bruce M. CORRIGAN

James A. DIOSSA

Thomas LAZIEH

Joseph P. MORAN, III

Tia RISTAINO-SIEGEL

Brendan Doherty wrote a somewhat thoughtful, albeit in the end partisan, op-end piece that ran in this morning’s ProJo. Doherty, Republican candidate for 1st District U.S. House against incumbent Democrat David Cicilline, outlined the fiscal cliff the nation faces as a result of the partisan gridlock on financial and budget matters in Washington, D.C.

Members of `Democrats for Doherty’ according to the latest release from Brendan Doherty’s campaign for Congress in the 1st District.

Chairwoman of the Democrats for Doherty campaign is former State Rep. Joanne Giannini of Providence.

Other members of the group: Kevin Stacom and Ernie DiGregorio, both standout Providence College basketball players from Dave Gavitt’s legendary 1973 Friar team that went to the Final 4 of the NCAA. Stacom and Enrie D. both went on to NBA careers.

State Treasurer Gina Raimondo is focusing attention on her newly branded financial-literacy initiative, “Empower RI,” starting with an event tomorrow at the Comprehensive Community Action Program in Warwick:

Via news release:

Lovegov, a Providence startup with three employees, is looking to link would-be political supporters with actual candidates and causes. As MassHighTech.com reports:

Former Rhode Island congressman Edward Beard gets a shout-out in today’s New York Times as an example of something quite rare: a one-time blue-collar worker who won election to Congress.

Nicholas Carnes, a professor of public policy at Duke University, uses his op-ed piece to argue that we really don’t get to choose whether we’re governed by the rich:

It’s time for the second rendition of my new Friday column. Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to send me tips or thoughts at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.