NEWS: Block blasts Raimondo for “misuse of taxpayer dollars”

By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News

It’s been less than a week since General Treasurer Gina Raimondo announced that she’s hired Andrew Roos as her chief of staff, but Riamondo has been under fire since, with allegations that the Treasurer is getting a jump on her predicted gubernatorial campaign with taxpayer dollars.

Roos comes to the Treasurer’s office from Washington, where he worked in Google’s Election and Issue Advocacy Division. Before that, Roos had a lengthy political career, working on six gubernatorial races – four of which he managed.  Roos’ crowning achievement as campaign manager was securing former Democratic Governors Association Chari Jack Markell’s win in Delaware in 2008.

Roos attended grad school at Brown University’s Department of Philosophy, and then managed Myrth York’s unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2002.

Ken Block, the Moderate Party chair and a potential gubernatorial candidate himself, called Raimondo’s hiring of Roos a “checkers move.” He believes Raimondo will use Roos as her campaign manager and has brought him on early as her chief of staff as a means to hold on to him. 

He said those in political office should not have a financial advantage over those who are not, and called Roos’ hire a “misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

“I like the treasurer,” Block told WPRO’s Dan Yorke, adding, “This is a status quo political move.”

Block said people should stand up and speak out against Raimondo’s move and ask politicians to “put an end to this monkey business and do things the right way.”

Raimondo’s spokeswoman, Joy Fox, said in an email Tuesday that, “The Treasurer is committed to having the strongest, most diverse team possible to help deliver results for Rhode Islanders. The dedication of Andrew, Joe and Ashley [two other new hires] coupled with their mixture of private and public sector experience will help Treasury continue to build on its record of results and to find better ways to serve the people of Rhode Island.”

Block said people, even Raimondo’s potential opponents, are “reluctant” to challenge the “political status quo.”

“None of these other likely candidates are probably jumping up and down to say too much because they’re planning on doing the same exact thing when the time comes,” he said.

Block said he’s frustrated that the same tactics are being used over and over again by Rhode Island polticians.

 “It’s hard to claim you’re going to be an agent for change when you’re playing the game the way all the other been-there, has-been folks have been doing it,” he said.