Endorsements

The Phoenix casts its ballot in the 1998 election

York for Governor

As we did four years ago, the Phoenix endorses Myrth York for governor. Out of all the statewide candidates, she has the most keen vision for Rhode Island -- a vision that extends far beyond the next election. The thoughtful details of her education plan, from reducing class size to encouraging National Board certification of teachers, are unparalleled, while smaller initiatives like her "Smart Buyer" Health Care Plan, which would create a buying pool big enough to guarantee Rhode Island and its cities and towns the lowest possible rate on health care, reveal the time and effort she has put into her campaign.

As a state senator, York displayed similar zeal, from her avid support of a gay civil rights bill to her lashing out against then-Governor Bruce Sundlun for lopping thousands of disabled Rhode Islanders off General Public Assistance. Indeed, York does seem to have the "energy" and "vision," as she is fond of saying, to make a difference.

As we've noted in our news columns, we understand York's need to run a more pragmatic campaign this time, to appeal to a broader base of constituents with more mainstream issues. We only hope this leads to victory and that, if elected, the more adventurous York will emerge once again to take the helm.

Unfortunately, Republican incumbent Lincoln Almond hasn't been a very aggressive governor. Of course, under the state Constitution, Rhode Island's governor is one of the weaker in the nation. And Almond's virtues are those of a quiet man -- i.e., in terms of politics, he maintains the "Watch what I do, not what I say" method. Still, we admit we would have liked to see him mount the bully pulpit more often.

And rhetoric aside, we do have some differences. For instance, whoever wins the election in November will need to pay more attention to the state's cities, with their populations of working families and newly arrived immigrants. While we are pleased Almond signed the gay civil rights bill a few years ago, we also have a more expansive knowledge of what gay rights means. Our view includes legalizing gay marriage.

Finally, it's a shame that Cool Moose gubernatorial candidate Robert Healey, Jr. says this will be his last campaign. In 1994, more than 32,000 people -- or nine percent of the electorate -- voted for Healey for governor. And this year, according to recent polls, he seems to be maintaining almost the same level of support. This could be read two ways -- as testament to the public's desire for an open and honest discussion of the issues or, more cynically, as a protest vote against politics as usual.

Johnson for Lieutenant Governor

As we did four years ago, we endorse Jeff Johnson, the Green Party's only candidate for statewide office, for lieutenant governor. Johnson has managed to set himself apart in this race as a man with an agenda. A high-school science teacher who also works in a group home for troubled adolescents, Johnson is committed to using his outsider, third-party status to tackle some politically unpopular issues.

He is 100 percent in support of gay rights, including the right to marry, while he favors a plan that the state offer free public transportation to all Rhode Islanders -- a key factor in the Green Party's agenda of sustainability. Often harping on social and environmental injustices, Johnson also took a stand in calling for the resignation of the state Department of Environmental Management's director for, among other evolving scandals, sloppy hazardous-waste enforcement and hundreds of backlogged cases.

The truth is that the job of lieutenant governor is important -- if something were to happen to the governor, the second-in-command would take charge. Johnson is the only candidate who seems to understand this, as the bickering between the two major-party candidates -- Charles Fogarty and incumbent Bernard Jackvony -- has allowed few important issues to emerge in their campaigns.

Whitehouse for Attorney General

Former US Attorney Sheldon Whitehouse likens his decision to run for attorney general to a "fireman going to a building with smoke pouring out of it." As the Attorney General's Office sunk deeper into scandal last year, first with the unfolding federal investigation of its Strike Force and then with the bungled case against former governor Ed DiPrete, Whitehouse says he heard a call of duty. That may sound like political rhetoric, but in this case, Whitehouse seems sincere. And the Phoenix endorses him as the man for the job.

As former legal counsel to Governor Bruce Sundlun, he knows State House politics, while his time as the state's top business regulator trained him in the subtle art of dealing with powerful influences. What's more, Whitehouse is Rhode Island's former US Attorney, a job that is quite similar to attorney general, although on a smaller scale.

We certainly admire all that his Republican opponent, Nancy Mayer, has done as general treasurer. But because Mayer's background doesn't parallel the duties of attorney general as closely as Whitehouse's, she would need to rely on others -- and her own judgement -- to see her through. And if her campaign is any indication, Mayer could be in trouble. Indeed, we can't help but wonder why she would run such a negative election bid after being so soundly defeated by Jack Reed for US Senate for the same tactics two years ago. Obviously, it isn't working, as Mayer continues to fall further behind in the polls.

Kennedy for Congress

The one thing you can say about Patrick Kennedy is that when he takes a stand, he really takes a stand -- even at the expense of some political capital. Agree or disagree with his politics, he at least gives you the opportunity. Witness his outrage against the proposed impeachment inquiry of the president -- and his outrage against his fellow state congressman, Bob Weygand, for supporting it. More risky, Kennedy was one of the first politicians in Rhode Island (and the only member of the state's congressional delegation) to stand up for the Narragansett Indians and what some consider their sovereign right to build a gambling hall on their land.

Bucking the clubby gentlemen's mentality that has come to characterize Rhode Island's DC delegates, Kennedy has liberated himself from concern over alienating other powerful pols and has become more of his own man since taking office. No doubt, we'd like to see him in Rhode Island more, running a legitimate reelection bid and allowing voters to confront him on the issues. On the other hand, he has brought big bucks to the image-plagued Democratic Party over the last year, as Kennedy is one of the biggest draws at fund-raisers across the nation. This certainly could help the state more in the long run as Kennedy gains more clout. The Phoenix endorses him.

Weygand for Congress

Incumbent Robert Weygand is anti-choice. He is in favor of a Republican-led impeachment inquiry of the president, and he has done little during his first term to define himself beyond his image as "the guy who wore a wire and busted Brian Sarault." What's more, after the Latino community threw their support behind Weygand, fearing his rival's alleged immigrant-bashing platform, the congressman has failed to actively lobby for minority interests on even a symbolic level.

In fact, the only time we've seen any life in the former Eagle Scout is when Weygand fought against Congressman Patrick Kennedy's attempts to repeal the so-called Chafee amendment, which requires the Narragansett Indians to get voter and state approval for any high-stakes gambling plan. Weygand's response to Kennedy's initiative was sanctimonious and petty. (Kennedy was the only member of the state's congressional delegation who was not allowed to sit on the stage during a recent visit from Vice President Al Gore that Weygand helped organize.) We know Weygand is a freshman congressman, but we still feel he is ruled more by caution than conviction.

Unfortunately, Weygand's Republican opponent, John Matson, is a less appealing alternative, so voters are faced with two less-than-perfect candidates. The Phoenix cannot endorse either one.

Langevin for Secretary of State

Given the presumed scope of his job, it's amazing what Secretary of State James Langevin has accomplished in four years -- and the applause he has received from reform groups because of this. Indeed, Langevin seems so committed to the essence of his job -- making records available to the public -- that he has pushed the office far beyond its record-keeping duties.

At the expense of angering members of his own party, Langevin has placed himself and his administration squarely on the side of the public in almost all open-records debates during his term. Most recently, in January he released his controversial "Access Denied: Chaos, Confusion and Closed Doors" report about how the General Assembly was violating the state's Open Meetings Law -- a hard-hitting expose that led to serious change.

Langevin's Republican opponent, Ed Lopez, just doesn't seem committed to actually winning this election, apparently seeing his campaign instead as a stepping stone to a higher profile should he decide to run again. That's unfortunate, because Lopez, who hopes to become the first Hispanic elected statewide, could lose so badly that it may ruin his political credibility in the long run. The Phoenix endorses Jim Langevin.

Bennett for General Treasurer

Filling Nancy Mayer's shoes will be a big task. She has been an excellent general treasurer. But we believe James Bennett has the potential to be as good. An entrepreneur who now serves as president of Mitkem Corp., a Warwick-based environmental laboratory that tests the pollution content of soil, he is smart and ambitious and will bring a fresh face to the office, as Mayer did.

Also, we believe that part of the reason why Mayer has been so successful is her status as an outsider: she is a Republican in a state full of Democrats, and she doesn't buy into the state's good-ol'-boy mentality. Well, Bennett, too, is a Republican with few chummy ties to the powers that be in Rhode Island.

Indeed, his campaign has aggressively attacked his rival's insider starts at the State House, as state Senator Paul Tavares (D-East Providence) has long basked in the glow of General Assembly leaders. We think Rhode Island's investments need to be protected by someone who will make sure that Democratic honchos don't try to regain control of the General Treasurer's Office. The Phoenix endorses James Bennett as the man for the job.

Cianci for Mayor of Providence

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci's reelection campaign this year is downright humble -- in essence, he says that while he may not have any opposition, he'd appreciate your vote. His campaign signs say that he is "proud to be mayor of America's greatest city," and he hopes that voters are proud of the work he's done. He wants their vote of confidence, an overwhelming nod of approval. And we think he deserves it.

Indeed, Cianci has poured his heart and soul into Providence's renaissance, and he wants to be around to put the frosting on the cake. If that takes another 20 years, Cianci says he'll be here -- and not run for governor no matter how many pollsters and consultants say he should. During his next term in office, we'd like to see the mayor more vehemently tackle the woes of inner-city schools. But remember -- this is the man who managed to move rivers. And Cianci says that his next goal is indeed to improve education in Providence. If he succeeds, he'll truly pull off a renaissance for everyone. The Phoenix endorses Buddy Cianci.