Sen. Dist. 35 Forum Candidates Spar Over Unions, Truck Tolls; Agree on Energy, Abortion

by | Oct 2, 2018

By Elizabeth F. McNamara

The two political newcomers vying for the open Senate Dist. 35 seat agreed on several items at the candidates forum at New England Tech Monday – from the need for a gubernatorial line item veto and protection for abortion rights to focusing on “green energy” and gender pay equity.

But Dana Gee, a Republican running for the seat being relinquished by her husband, Sen. Mark Gee, and Bridget Valverde, a Democrat, differed on some issues, including truck tolls, universal health care, and the state’s education aid formula.

While both candidates said giving the governor the line item veto was among their top priorities, Gee said unions had fought hard to defeat it, then noted Valverde had taken campaign union campaign money.

Bridget Valverde

“I have a problem with that,” Gee said.

“Our unions are incredibly important,” Valverde countered. “‘Union’ is not a dirty word.”

The two differed on universal health care, with Valverde in support, saying Medicare was “the model we should be following.”

Gee said, with the Affordable Care Act, nearly all Rhode Islanders had health insurance and that now was not the time for universal health care.

Gee was forceful in her response about whether or not she would support Senate President Dominick Ruggerio in the next session, saying he was the epitome of the “old boys network,” having been in the General Assembly for more than 35 years.

Dana Gee

“He’s worked for unions his entire life,” Gee said, also mentioning two arrests for which Ruggerio was not formally charged. “Ethically, I have a huge problem with that.”

Valverde refused to say if she would support Ruggerio, but did not rule it out.

On a question about taxes prompting people to move to lower tax states like Florida or New Hampshire, Valverde said she disagreed and thought people were moving into the state. Gee, in a contrary GOP response, said she wasn’t too worried about the “death tax,” since it only applies to those people who die with an estate worth more than $1.5 million. That, she said, was not going to be her problem.

They both agreed on the importance of gender pay equity. Valverde said she thought the issue was important for all women, but particularly for women of color. Gee said she thought the reason a bill didn’t pass the House last session was because it wasn’t clear enough on “comparable work.”

On protecting abortion rights, Gee said she “fully supported” Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case making abortion legal; Valverde said she wanted the General Assembly to pass the Reproductive Health Care Act, which would guarantee abortion rights in Rhode Island.

Valverde said she would want to be on the Senate Judiciary Committee if elected; Gee said as an owner of a small business she would be more comfortable on the Senate Finance Committee.

Truck tolls brought out one of the bigger differences between the two candidates, with Valverde supporting the tolls and Gee saying she thought it was “unAmerican” to toll just trucks.

Gee also railed against the state aid for education formula (East Greenwich does not get much state aid compared to other municipalities) and said the Caruolo Act – which allows School Committees to sue Town Councils for increased funding – ”needs to go.”

Valverde, alternatively, said she thought the funding formula was “quite fair.”

The forum, which was attended by more than 80 people, was presented by East Greenwich News and the EG Chamber of Commerce and hosted by New England Tech. It was moderated by RIPR’s Chuck Hinman, an EG resident. There will be one more candidates forum on Monday, Oct. 15, a two-part evening with School Committee candidates up first, followed by Town Council candidates.


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Yaohua Zhang
Yaohua Zhang
October 3, 2018 8:56 am

It is very clear that Valverde DOES NOT represent East Greenwich residents’ interest. Please note:

Gee also railed against the state aid for education formula (East Greenwich does not get much state aid compared to other municipalities) and said the Caruolo Act – which allows School Committees to sue Town Councils for increased funding – ”needs to go.”

Valverde, alternatively, said she thought the funding formula was “quite fair.”

Glenn Valentine
Glenn Valentine
October 3, 2018 9:44 am

I found Valverde’s inability to address the high cost of living in RI due to having such high taxes jaw-dropping. All those other issues mean nothing when our local economy tanks.

Marie C Hennedy
Marie C Hennedy
October 3, 2018 11:54 pm

How does one define “East Greenwich residents’ interest”? Are we talking about “Does the amount of money that this town’s taxpayers pay to the State of Rhode Island equal the amount of money that our schools receive back from the state”? Or are we taking about East Greenwich taxpayers wanting their state tax money to be spent on enabling all Rhode Island students to try to attain the same level of education that our children receive?
In other words, does getting less school aid money back than we pay in taxes for all state services mean we EG residents are sliding down the slippery slope to “Socialism”? Or are most taxpayers in East Greenwich willing to pay their fair share for the use of the hall?

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