Democratic nominee for governor Gina Raimondo stops to get ice cream on the East Side of Providence with her children, Cece and Tommy. Photo by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News.
By Sam Wroblewski, reporting by Steve Klamkin WPRO
Gina Raimondo says she is reaching out to labor unions after her victory in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary for governor.
Raimondo was out with her family celebrating her primary victory and spoke about trying to unify the labor community with the Democratic party.
“I do have a lot of support from unions, all the building trades were behind me and that’s a big part of organized labor,” said Raimondo, “But I have already talked to George Nee who is the head of the AFL-CIO, we’re going to be sitting down later this week and I would love to have their support; it’s time to come together, get this done, win, and get Rhode Island back to work.”
Raimondo also said she has reached out to the National Education Association Rhode Island Executive Director Bob Walsh.
Some in the organized labor community have already expressed their doubts about a Raimondo governorship. Phil Keefe, President of the SEIU Local 580, says supporting Raimondo would be political suicide.
Raimondo also spoke about her new Republican opponent Allan Fung, saying he was a good man but has a very different vision for the state.
“He sounds a lot like Governor Caceri, ‘lets cut, lets cut, lets cut,’ and as I’ve said many times, we’re not going to cut our way out of this, we’re not going to tax our way out of this. What Rhode Island needs is economic growth.”
Raimondo will be facing Republican Allan Fung in the general election.
