By THOMAS GREENBERG Aaron Regunberg has been trying to create change in Rhode Island as a state representative for the past three years. Now the Democrat from Providence will look to continue this work in a different position - Lieutenant Governor of
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“I am running for Lieutenant Governor to be an advocate for the people, a voice for all the families who can’t afford a lobbyist at the state house,” Regunberg said in an official announcement speech at Aspray Boat House in Warwick.
A graduate of Brown University, the current representative from the 4th district of Providence has been involved with Rhode Island politics even before he was elected to office. In 2010, he co-founded the Providence Student Union, a nonprofit focused on infrastructure repairs, ethnic studies, curriculum and putting an end to high-stakes testing in Providence schools.
In his time as state rep, Regunberg has focused on issues including Rhode Island’s clean energy economy, climate action, raising minimum wage for tipped workers and mandatory paid sick leave for workers.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the legislature,” he said. “I’ve been in state government long enough to know the system needs change and I’ve seen how often Rhode Islanders are ignored.”
He now looks to focus on these issues, and more, as Lt. Governor.
“I’ve seen real change is possible, but there’s so much more we must do,” he said during the speech. “We can guarantee healthcare as a fundamental human right. We can rebuild our crumbling public schools and make sure the top 1 percent pay their fair share. We can launch a Green New Deal and put thousands of Rhode Islanders to work expanding clean energy.”
Despite running in the Democrat primary, Regunberg understands that he is not exactly part of the establishment, but takes pride in his independence and said he has many supporters at the state and city levels through his time in office.
“I’m running this race to try to shake up the status quo,” he said. “In a lot of ways it will look like an outsider race, not an establishment run. I do have a lot of support from the colleagues I’ve worked with on different campaigns, a number of them were there yesterday [at his announcement].”
As for funding, the campaign “won’t be getting any money from billionaires or super PACs,” but will focus on grassroots efforts and face-to-face fundraising around the state. Regunberg said he’s “confident we’ll be able to raise the resources necessary.”
The Chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, State Representative Joe McNamara, praised Regunberg, but also talked about current Lt. Governor Dan McKee, who he expects will be a candidate for a re-election.
“I also know Lieutenant Governor McKee and have worked with him as well on a variety of issues,” McNamara said. “Both [McKee and Regunberg] are highly regarded in the Democratic Party.
McKee is expected to make an announcement of future plans on Nov. 7th at Dean Warehouse in Warwick, a location he selected to spotlight the importance of small businesses to the state.
McNamara said that no endorsement will be made by the Democratic Party until after meeting in the spring, when members of the state committee, which includes “a man and woman from every house district,” will meet to hear candidates speak, which he said is “an open process that gives everyone a shot.” The committee will then vote on which candidates to endorse.
Regunberg said he’d “love as much support as I can earn, so I’ll be looking for support everywhere I can get it,” but understands his status as an independent advocate may hinder his chances at party endorsement anytime soon.
As Regunberg begins his campaign and McKee is set to announce his own plans, the Democrat primary race for Lt. Governor is still early in the process but quickly heating up.
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Justanidiot
We have a Lt. Governor? Wow. I think that would be a perfect job for Mr. Corrente.
Friday, October 27, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Justanidiot,
Thank you for the kind words...I think.
I have often been asked if I had an interest in state politics. I have been inside the state house about 50 or 60 times in my life and not once, was it a pleasant experience. I testified there, several times against the car tax, and when I left I honestly wanted to go home and take a shower. What goes on in that building works for some people. I'm not one of them. I love Warwick. I have absolutely no interest in state politics.
Thanks for thinking about me though.
Happy Halloween Justanidiot.
Happy Halloween everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, October 27, 2017 Report this
CrickeeRaven
"[N]ot once was it a pleasant experience... when I left I honestly wanted to go home and take a shower."
At least the fake "mayor" knows how the majority of readers feel after seeing his comments.
Friday, October 27, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
Once again to correct the falsehoods of the failed mayoral candidate Corrente, where he states: "I testified there, several times against the car tax, ".
Mr. Corrente testified on the car tax issue once. 1 time, uno. At that meeting he sat next to me at the table and testified prior to my testimony. I was completely humiliated sitting next to him as he told the chairman of the finance committee, Jon Brein, and I quote, "that there is another organization that collects monies the same way this state collects car tax. You might know them, they go by the name of the MAFIA"!
His exact words as he sported the Gilbert Godfried smile. I was completely humiliated to sit next to someone that could say something so insanely stupid and have it reflect on a cause I worked so hard on. Needless to say, he was not invited back to any other car tax associated meetings or hearings.
Sunday, October 29, 2017 Report this
JohnStark
Can we come back to Mr. Regunberg, who labels himself an "outsider" while miraculously maintaining a straight face. If I understand his positions, he's for ending competency testing in schools, and increase in the minimum wage, something called "climate action", and my personal favorite: "ethnic studies". And of course, there's the requisite mention of "...top 1% paying their fair share", as if 39.6% to the feds + 6% to the state + property taxes + sales taxes simply isn't enough. As a state rep from Providence, he has seen his policies result in high illiteracy rates among high school graduates, shuttered businesses, and the predictable flight of producers from the city. These types of policies have already yielded similar outcomes state-wide, but Mr. Regunberg apparently wishes to double down. He appears to have mastered Lesson #1 in RI politics: Tell your lemming constituency you'll give them free stuff. In marked contrast to an "outsider", Mr. Regunberg appears to have written the book of how to decimate a state.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Report this
patientman
John Stark, Exactly
Thursday, November 2, 2017 Report this