Lincoln Chafee - Independent Candidate for Rhode Island Governor

Lincoln D. Chafee: My vision for Rhode Island's recovery

October 29, 2010

Projo.com
By Lincoln D. Chafee

I love Rhode Island, and know that our state has a bright future.

What we need to realize our full potential, however, is the right leadership, a pro-active leader with the experience to govern and the courage to speak the plain truth. Rhode Islanders deserve a leader who is independent, free from politics as usual and the partisan maneuvering that brought about our dire economic situation. The way we will recover is to come together and build consensus among Democrats, Republicans, Moderates and independents — to move Rhode Island on a new way forward.

Our state confronts substantial challenges. Some 65,000 of our citizens are unemployed. Tens of thousands more women and men are anxious — about our future and whether our children will be able to find good jobs here. The state’s budget deficit is projected to exceed $300 million next year. Federal stimulus money is exhausted. The tobacco-settlement money was squandered. Because of poor leadership we have fallen behind.

We also have an ethical crisis in Rhode Island. Each day we hear about corruption, cronyism and pay-to-play schemes that let insiders secure state business and provide no-bid jobs to friends and family. This is wrong and must stop. There is a direct connection between Rhode Island’s unacceptable economic condition and the disappointing reality that some of our public officials betray the public trust.

If we are going to move our state forward — create new jobs, fix the budget mess, improve our schools, repair our roads and protect our environment — Rhode Island must take advantage of its assets. My plan is centered on job-creating investments targeted at the following areas:

• Investing in public education: Better education of Rhode Islanders results in better-qualified workers, improving our opportunities to attract new employers to the state.

• Investing in the Knowledge District in Providence: I plan to be directly involved in working to bring thousands of new jobs to Providence as a result of Route 195 being relocated — health-care jobs, life-sciences jobs and high-tech manufacturing jobs.

• Investing in green, environmentally friendly technologies: I have a national reputation as a strong environmentalist and will use it to put the power of the governor’s office behind making Quonset a center for wind-power development, creating new jobs while increasing energy independence.

• Investing in the Station District in Warwick: T.F. Green Airport is being connected to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor rail line. Already a $300 million private development project with a retail, hotel and office complex has been approved next to the station, with the promise of creating hundreds of new jobs for our state. I conceived of this project as mayor, helped fund it as senator and will work every day as governor to make it a success.

• Investing in defense and high-tech manufacturing, tourism, marine industries and entrepreneurial enterprises: As governor I will make the expansion of, and support for, these vital home-grown industries a priority.

Throughout my career I have consistently demonstrated the core elements of effective leadership. Courage: I opposed the Iraq War, which has killed more than 5,000 brave U.S. servicemen and -women and wasted hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars. Foresight: I rejected the false promises of President Bush’s reckless tax cuts for the wealthy that have hurt our economy. Building consensus: I alone called for mediation to end the Central Falls teachers dispute. Independence: I called for an open and fair opportunity for our small businesses, instead of the risky gamble with 60 percent of the state’s small-business investment portfolio on a single company with no track record of success — the Curt Schilling deal.

I have always stood up for what I believe. I have a proven record of principled, independent leadership. Every day I do my best to demonstrate thoughtful, balanced and moderate leadership — to do what I believe is best for the people of Rhode Island.

Yes, our great state has tremendous potential. It is untapped, just below the surface, waiting for the right leadership to move our state forward. Rhode Island’s greatest asset has always been its people.

I know that our best days are ahead — with the right leadership team implementing common-sense solutions to the challenges ahead. Together we can make Rhode Island a great place to live, to raise a family, to build a better future for our children.

My dad taught me a valuable lesson: Tell the truth and trust the people. That is what I’ve done in this campaign, and what I will do every day as your governor.

Lincoln D. Chafee is a former U.S. senator and former mayor of Warwick running as an independent for the Rhode Island governorship.

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Linc Chafee is a tested leader of unquestioned integrity and a strong independent voice. As Governor, he will work hard to create new jobs, rebuild our economy, solve our chronic budget problems, end corruption, and forge a new way forward for Rhode Island.