Moderate Party candidate Bob Healey, Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Allan Fung at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce debate. Photo by Kim Kalunian, WPRO News.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
In their last debate before Election Day, the three major candidates for governor kept things mostly cordial, but retained their senses of humor in the final days of the campaign.
The Friday morning debate was hosted by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, and focused mainly on business issues like tax plans, economic development and job creation.
But when it came time to ask each other questions, the candidates let their hair down.
“My question is for Mayor Fung,” said Democratic Treasurer Gina Raimondo.
“Surprise, surprise,” laughed Republican Mayor Allan Fung.
Moderate Candidate Bob Healey joined in by saying he was surprised no one would ask him when he was dropping out of the race.
But once the laughs faded the candidates pivoted back to the issues.
“I was going to be nice and ask what you were going to be for Halloween but now I’m going to ask you a real question because you weren’t nice to me,” said Raimondo.
Raimondo and Fung took shots at one another – Raimondo questioned how Fung would make his proposed tax cuts work with an already hefty deficit, while Fung criticized Raimondo for her absence from the Rhode Island Housing Board.
Fung responded by saying his experience would help him make the numbers work; while Raimondo said she hired the best people to work in her stead on the Housing Board.
Healey also chose to question Raimondo during their candidate question-and-answer period, asking about her husband’s work at consulting firm McKinsey and Company, saying the firm likes to plant “moles” in certain levels of government.
“His role is: he’s my husband, and he’s a fabulous husband,” said Raimondo. “But I’m running for governor, he’s not running for governor. And you know, it’s hard, running for office is tough, because everyone throws mud at you and smears you, and that’s ok to do to me but leave my family out of it.”
The trio said they’re looking forward to Tuesday, and while Fung and Healey stuck around after the debate to tell WPRO News they’re feeling good, Raimondo rushed off to join President Barack Obama at Rhode Island College.
