Gov. Lincoln Chafee and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. Photos by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Governor Lincoln Chafee and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo shared a stage Monday in what may be a preview of the 2014 race for governor.
They both spoke to a gathering of finance professionals in Providence at a symposium on distressed communities, sponsored by the finance industry trade publication The Bond Buyer.
Chafee, an independent who is more than midway through his first term as governor may face a challenge from Raimondo, a Democrat in her first term as treasurer, who is considering challenging Chafee in 2014.
“Yes,” Chafee replied, when asked by reporters whether he thinks he will be running against Raimondo in 2014.
“I’m considering running for governor, I’ve made no choices, and I’m working hard as treasurer,” Raimondo said.
“The Bond Buyer chose Rhode Island for this symposium because of our leadership in fixing our fiscal fundamentals,” Raimondo said in a statement.
Her efforts to fix Rhode Island’s problem pensions have made her a much sought-after guest in the world of finance and pension professionals, while she has been vilified by some public employee unions.
More than 100 sign-carrying firefighters and other public employees picketed Monday morning across the street from the Omni Providence Hotel where the conference was held. They booed loudly when she emerged after speaking, climbed into a car, and rode off.
In a statewide poll conducted last month by the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University, voters expressed a dismal view of Chafee, who’s approval rating stood at a mere 25.5%. Of the 595 Rhode Island voters polled by phone from Feb. 21 to 23 56% felt that Raimondo was doing a good or excellent job. She was the second most popular Rhode Island political leader in the poll, second only to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, whose approval rating stood at 63.7%.
Raimondo and Taveras are Democrats; Chafee is a former Republican, now an independent who is considering running for reelection in 2014 as a Democrat. Former Rhode Island Auditor General Ernie Almonte, a Democrat, has already announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014. No Republican has come forward as of yet.
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Steve Klamkin
