Candidate, Rhode Island State Senate, District 9, 2014

Senator, Rhode Island State Senate, 2008-2012

Candidate, Rhode Island State Senate, District 9, 2012

No caucus information on file.

Wescott Baking Company, Incorporated

Member, National Rifle Association

Member, Operation Clean Government

Member, Rhode Island Common Cause

Member, Rhode Island Statewide Coalition

Priority Issues:

1) Fiscal Responsibility -- The state needs to establish sound, long-term fiscal planning. This will accomplish stability and sustained growth in the RI economy. A 5-year budget plan should be developed for our state. One time fixes such as the squandering of the Tobacco Settlement funds and other stopgap measures have brought us to the current fiscal crises. That MUST change!

2) Responsible Budgeting -- The General Assembly must adopt a truthful and realistic budget. This budget should not contain unspecified savings. The Providence Journal has indicated the latest FY09 budget has a potential $158 million deficit built into it! My opponent, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, has stated that he believes it is 99.9 percent likely that the state will face a supplemental budget of at least $100 million next year (Warwick Beacon July 2008). Rhode Islanders are likely to face other financial challenges in early 2009 such as a supplemental tax increase. What do you think the General Assembly will do after the election?

3) Remove the "Cloud of Corruption" -- The State House and the town of West Warwick are under suspicion and investigation due to insider, self-enriching deals. We need greater transparency in the General Assembly and more aggressive enforcement by the RI Ethics Commission.