The three front runners in Rhode Island’s race for governor, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo, Republican challenger Allan Fung, and independent Joe Trillo, came out swinging Thursday during the first televised debate, on WPRI-TV, of the general election.
The initial question went to Raimondo, about the troubled implementation of the state’s IT system for human-service benefits UHIP.
“It was a bungled IT rollout,” she conceded. “There’s no way around that and I’ve owned that mistake.”
She said improvements are being made with UHIP and that her support of the Affordable Care Act separates her from Fung and Trillo.
Fung attempted to draw his own contrast when asked about serious problems in the Cranston Police Department. He said he resolved the issue, while problems with UHIP have continued over time. Raimondo fired back by saying the troubled IT rollout was a less severe issue than how State Police said in a 2015 report that the Cranston PD had been “run like the Mafia, and the mayor himself interfered into police business on behalf of his friends.”
Trillo, a Republican turned independent, tried to distance himself from both Fung and Raimondo. He said the way he’s funding his own campaign makes him less beholden than Fung or Raimondo to special interest groups.
“What they do is run for fundraisers for people,” Trillo said. “They raise $50,000 for them, because we can only give $1,000 per person. They are both bought and paid for by every special interest group, and that’s why nothing gets done in the state.”
Fung responded by saying Trillo’s 16 years as a state representative contradict his message of being a political outsider.
Raimondo emphasized job growth during her time in office. She said that shows she’s been a good advocate for working Rhode Islanders.
The WPRI debate was hosted by investigative reporter Tim White, who asked questions along with political reporter Ted Nesi. The event took place at Roger Williams University in Bristol.
The controversial proposal for a power plant in Burrillville was another of the topics discussed by candidates.
Fung and Trillo say they oppose the proposal, while Raimondo said the state regulatory process should determine the outcome.
Raimondo responded to Fung when he said campaign contributions influenced her stance on the power plant.
“I don’t take free rent from the largest developer in the city of Cranston through my campaign headquarters,” she said. “One thing is crystal clear. I’ve worked hard every day for four years for the people of Rhode Island. I answer to the people of Rhode Island.”
Fung had perhaps the funniest line of the night when he pushed back an accusation from Trillo that he had benefited from reduced rent at a campaign office owned by the Carpionato Group. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is we need to invest in K through 3 stronger reading, because apparently Joe has not read the Board of Elections’ finding” that left Fung off with a warning on the issue.
Fung evaded the question when asked if he would wear now a Trump hat that has become fodder for supporters of Raimodo’s campaign. He said he did not support the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from immigrant families.
While Trillo has been perceived as a potential spoiler who will draw votes from Fung, Trillo said he hopes to attract support from Democrats who don’t identify with an energized progressive movement.
Asked about how Amgen executives have cited the Trump tax cuts as a reason for why the company is expanding in Rhode Island, Raimondo said, “They could have gone anywhere … They chose Rhode Island over other states because of what we have going on. Actually, they mainly chose us because of our job training programs.”
All three candidates agreed that there should be a pause and an outside investigation before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination.
But the candidates clashed last night over the best way to promote school safety.
Raimondo said she opposes using metal detectors and armed guards in schools. She said fewer guns will make students safer.
But Fung called raising security at schools a matter of common sense.
“Are you talking about the state capitol that has capitol police and metal detectors should be safer than our kids going to school?” he said. “Take a look at when we fly in airports – what’s protecting all of us? TSA agents, security, metal detectors.”
Trillo said he supports a training program that would qualify some school employees to serve as armed guards.
Voters will choose between Raimondo, Fung, Trillo and three lesser-known candidates, Bill Gilbert of the Moderate Party, Anne Armstrong of the Compassion Party, and independent Luis Daniel Munoz, on November 6.
