The Phoenix endorses Patrick J. Kennedy and James R. Langevin.
General Assembly
A more competitive two-party system is long overdue in Rhode Island, where Democrats have more or less had the run of the General Assembly since the “Bloodless Revolution” of the 1930s. The RI Republican Party, however, bears considerable blame for this situation since it has yet to prove itself capable of running a competitive slate of legislative candidates in successive election cycles.
This year, the local GOP is running more candidates, although not enough. While some Rhode Islanders might understandably desire change for change’s sake, the party, on the whole, has struggled to offer a unified message.
It will take considerably more efforts at the grassroots, and consensus around an appealing platform, before Rhode Island Republicans will be able to make serious progress.
In contested races, the Phoenix endorses the following candidates:
Senate District 2 Juan Pichardo
Senate District 11 Charles Levesque
Senate District 28 Josh Miller
Senate District 35 J. Michael Lenihan
Senate District 37 Susan Sosnowski
House District 10 Thomas Slater
House District 11 Grace Diaz
House District 15 Chris Frappier
House District 18 Art Handy
House District 22 Frank Ferri
House District 29 Ray Sullivan
House District 35 Michael Rice
House District 36 Donna Walsh
House District 39 Rod Driver
House District 72 Amy Rice
House District 74 Deb Ruggiero
Cranston-Pawtucket-Warwick
Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns are on the frontlines of the fiscal crisis gripping the state. Local governments in those communities are faced with the challenging prospect of doing more with less.
The mayoral races in Cranston and Pawtucket pose particularly tough choices, since Cynthia Fogarty and Donald Grebien, respectively, could be expected to do solid jobs. However, in Cranston, we believe the time has come for Allan W. Fung, a moderate Republican who projects a sense of quiet competence. In Pawtucket, the experience and steady manner of incumbent mayor James Doyle explain our support. And in Warwick, incumbent Scott Avedisian, a centrist Republican, continues to offer a worthwhile model to other members of his party.
