Tagged: Gina Raimondo

We remain stuck in the pit of winter, judging by the forecast for the latest in a string of storms. Yet things are already percolating for our next massive political season, so let's get to it. As always, your thoughts, tips, and reactions are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.

Pablo Rodriguez joins the panel this week as we discuss the 10th anniversary of the Station fire disaster; why Rhode Island's Democratic congressman are helping independent Governor Lincoln Chafee stage a DC fundraiser; whether it's appropriate for Treasurer Gina Raimondo to hire a campaign operative as her chief of staff; and the local impact of the latest federal budget showdown.

State Treasurer Gina Raimondo is hiring Andrew Roos, an experienced campaign operative who helmed Myrth York's 2002 gubernatorial general election campaign, as her chief of staff, RIPR has learned. The move is the latest signal that Raimondo is very likely to run for governor in 2014.

Raimondo's chief of staff since 2011, Joe Pratt, will reportedly get a different job within her office.

Governor Lincoln Chafee tells anyone who will listen that he is running for reelection in 2014, despite poll numbers that show him lagging behind other aspirants, including Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. Well, Chafee, an independent is getting back into the fund-raising game with a big-ticket fund-raiser in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25, when Chafee is scheduled to be in the nation’s capitol for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.