Applying the logic that Democratic candidate for mayor Richard Corrente is really a member of the Tea Party attempting to unseat incumbent Republican Scott Avedisian, the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats announced their support of
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
|
Applying the logic that Democratic candidate for mayor Richard Corrente is really a member of the Tea Party attempting to unseat incumbent Republican Scott Avedisian, the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats announced their support of Avedisian last Thursday.
Corrente shrugged off the accusation, denying he is a member of the Tea Party and saying he and Warwick residents have been T-BARed – taxed beyond all reason.
In a release, the Progressive Democrats say Corrente was a registered Republican and publicly aligned himself with the extreme fringe of the Tea Party movement. It goes on to say that Corrente used the slogan “TEA” (“Taxed Enough Already”) in a campaign booklet and praised Donald Trump.
“The Corrente campaign is an audacious and deeply cynical ploy by the extreme right. They are attempting to unseat Avedisian from the right by running a Tea Partier as a Democrat, tricking Democratic voters into supporting someone with nutty values abhorrent to liberals, moderates and vaguely sane conservatives. We must take a stand against this deplorable tactic,” the release reads.
Corrente said he was asked who he would vote for when interviewed by the Warwick Democratic City Committee. At the time, neither Trump nor Hillary Clinton had selected a running mate, and he answered Trump. He explained he registered as a Republican so that he could vote in the 2014 Republican primary for Stacia Petri (now Huyler) because “someone has to beat this guy [Avedisian].”
Corrente affiliated as a Democrat after the primary. He said he has been running for mayor as a Democrat ever since December 2014.
The Progressive Democrats also took Warwick Democratic City Committee Chairman Robert Farrell to task.
“We believe it is time to question the leadership of Warwick Democratic City Committee Chairman Rob Farrell. We find Farrell’s failure to recruit an acceptable candidate for mayor deeply embarrassing for our party, and we have grave concerns with his decision to allow an endorsement of Corrente, even though Corrente told the City Committee that he is voting for Donald Trump,” reads the statement.
Reached Friday, Farrell defended Corrente, saying, “If you were in the room and talked to Rich, you would understand his views.”
“We feel we have a good candidate,” Farrell added. “Let the voters decide Tuesday.”
Asked about those comments directed at him, Farrell said, “I feel the Progressive Democrats should take a look at themselves before talking about real Democrats.”
As for Avedisian, the statement reads the mayor has “avoided doing major damage to the city” and scandals that have plagued neighboring Cranston.
“Avedisian is far from a perfect candidate, but our concerns with so-called ‘Democrat’ Richard Corrente are far more severe. If we wish to remain true to our principles, when our party nominates a wholly unacceptable candidate, a candidate who is actually worse than the Republican, we cannot remain silent. We must speak out, however painful it may be. That is why we are calling on Warwick Democrats to cross party lines and vote for Scott Avedisian. We do not issue this statement lightly, and we are greatly saddened that it has become necessary.”
In response to the endorsement, Avedisian said, “I am happy to receive support from all interested parties.”
10 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Ward5resident
The Democrats in this City are so concerned with squabbaling for the scraps from King Avedisian's table, they cant even see they have a real shot at winning this election.
The Progressives endorsing Avedisian, while bashing Corrente, Farrell, and the rest of the party is as hypocritical as it gets. But its not surprising...this is what this party has been for the past 2+ decades.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Finally, the disaster of a campaign run by the Democratic candidate is over: http://warwickpost.com/avedisian-dispatches-another-opponent-defeats-corrente-by-nearly-2-1-margin/
Rather than admit his errors, develop something resembling a coherent platform, and clear up a tax delinquency on his property before trying to take on one of Rhode Island's longest-serving mayors, this candidate instead persisted in pushing his false narratives, attacked and bullied commenters on this site, and wasted $40,000 in trying to prove himself the better steward of taxpayers' money.
This is in addition to his disdain for any opposing viewpoints, his abject silence when caught in blatant lies, and his arrogance in believing that he had anything approaching reasonable plans for resolving the contract dispute in the school department.
As I said repeatedly in replies to this candidate's boorish comments, thousands of voters in Warwick were going to reject his candidacy — and that's exactly what happened.
His efforts, while entertaining, were futile. His campaign was a failure, as many reasonable and intelligent people knew it would be.
Goodbye and good riddance, DICK Corrente.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Ohh Rick Corrente....maybe it was the outstanding tax issues he failed to honestly address with voters? Maybe it was the vague plan of "cut taxes" "cut spending" with ZERO substance? In the debate you were asked "what 2 line items in the budget would you cut?" You couldn't name ANY...talk about a Rick Perry "oops" moment. Your sign says "CUT SPENDING" and you can't name 1??? What a fraud!!!!
You started 2 years ago but:
- Couldn't tell us what a 50% car tax cut for seniors and veterans would cost taxpayers immediately
-Couldn't say what a freeze on building permit fees would cost in the budget
- Had no data for his proposed "pension buyout" which would certainly have upfront costs. He also had no estimate of savings. He couldn't even say if 10 retirees take the buyout it could "potentially save X". All he said was "Texas saved $1 billion" Never taking into account the size, population etc
There was no plan to cut taxes, only spend the people's money. That type of campaigning is fraudulent, dishonest, as well as beneath the office of mayor.
I'd also like to thank CrickeeRaven for his hard work during this campaign. You did the voters who read this website a HUGE service by bringing facts and numbers and i commend you for it.
Finally Rick, I said when you got in I give you credit for putting your name out there. In a very Trump like way you were nice and cordial to me....until I asked tough questions. Then you stated I only had an "agenda", and that I asked questions to "pick you apart". That's when it became clear to me you were an empty suit. You can't handle criticism and you say you listen but don't!!! I was a voter with no agenda looking for information to pass on to other voters. All I could share were negatives
I voted for the Mayor because I felt of the 2 of you he was the better candidate for our city. The fact you had all these "plans" to spend money without saying how to pay for anything was troubling. All while saying you would "cut taxes". That just isn't true and until you acknowledge that it's not true, or come up with more defined, factual plans with numbers you will never have my vote.
PS: To the taxpayers of this city you owe an explanation on your tax situation. Totally unfair to campaign on the cities high taxes while masking the fact that you were being evicted for tax delinquency. Complete hypocrisy!!!!
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
I told you very early on that by aligning yourself with those that you did you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
I told you that if you hadn't championed any cause for the people that you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
I told you that you needed to be vocal in a public arena on issues or you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
I told you that not confronting issues during the budget hearings that you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
I told you that by pandering to the unions and ignoring the people you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
I told you to take the microphone and make a cognizant argument or you would get 35% just for putting your name on the ballot.
You didn't listen
You didn't study
You didn't argue, and
You didn't win.
But, at least you gave it a shot and exercised your right as an American. Everyone should take note of that.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 Report this
Kammy
There is nothing wrong with attacking your political opponent during a race as long as you keep to the issues and back it up with solid facts or plans. There is something wrong with attacking the constituents that you want to vote for you when they ask questions about those facts and plans that you failed to expand upon. Oh Richard, if only someone told you to stay off the comment section of the Warwick Beacon like they did for Trump on Twitter.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Hello again, Scal1024:
Thank you, first, for your kind words. Like you, I "suffer" from a condition whereby I can not sit idly by while office-seekers spout lies, or to paraphrase a dear departed relative, "I won't let someone pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."
I admire your patience as you repeatedly asked the Democratic candidate [what was his name again? Corruptee?] for details on his so-called plans, only to receive the same kind of derision as he obviously felt toward the city's voters in general.
Thank you again for joining me and the 23,000+ voters who saw through the candidate's false claims and rejected his candidacy.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
PLEASE tell me this means we won't be seeing him in the comments section for a while, please.
Thursday, November 10, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Ward5resident,
Thanks for your kind words.
I think my campaign helped improve the hypocrisy you referred to. Let's hope.
Rick
Dear CrickeeRaven,
You say I have a "disdain for any opposing views". You never once suggested any "opposing views". You just bashed mine. Not a single suggestion to improve Warwick. Not "and here is a better idea". Just bashing me. Hey if you ever have an idea to IMPROVE live in Warwick I'm sure the readers would LOVE to hear it. If you have a better plan, let's hear it! If not...
Dear Scal1024 (your birthday?),
I feel I've answered these questions for you before. OK, let's do it again. The 50% tax cut would depend on how many seniors and veterans applied for it. Attracting new taxpayers would increase our entire tax revenue thus reducing the taxes for each of us. The money generated would easily offset the discount to seniors and veterans (as i have stated numerous times before Scal). The building permit freeze would cost far less than the permanent additional real estate taxes would add. (remember Scal?) The voluntary pension buyout would also depend on how many participated in it but for every check Warwick paid out it would receive a greater savings to the taxpayer so it really would make money, not cost money, and the more retirees that participated, the more the savings would be. I said this before too Scal. You might not remember, but there was a lot more than "zero substance". In either event you voted for Avedisian because you say I wouldn't give you a detailed plan. I offered to meet you or speak on the phone but you didn't and still haven't even acknowledged who you are. Can't do more than that Scal. I tried.
Dear Kammy,
I am sorry you felt I "attacked". I thought I was "defending" my position.Comparing my comments to Trump on Twitter? That's harsh. Some might even say an "attack". And you don't even give your name.
Dear ThatGuyInRI,
You can choose not to read the comments you know.
What you ended up with is Avedisian. You have had 16 years of exposure to him and his effect on the taxpayers, the schools, and the decreasing population. If you like what's happening , give the credit to him. If you don't...
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Rick
Monday, November 14, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
I assume that since there was no commentary directed at me that I was correct on all counts.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
And here I thought we would finally get to the end of hearing from the losing mayoral candidate.
But no, the losing candidate had to again post attacks against other commenters, trying again to enforce standards for the use of this site [twice in this comment thread he questioned people using screen names], and proving again how thin-skinned and clearly unfit he was to run for office.
Take his claim that I "never once suggested 'opposing views,'" that I "bashed" him and didn't "have an idea to improve life [not "live," as the losing candidate wrote] in Warwick."
In fact, I did have an idea of how to improve life in Warwick: Make sure this candidate didn't get elected. Expose his lies about his property taxes versus Mayor Avedisian's. Ensure that he didn't have an unchallenged forum on this site to continue pushing his debunked talking points and tired attack lines.
And guess what? It worked. Warwick is much better off with this candidate losing. Voters are much better off knowing the truth about his fraudulent campaign claims.
The readers DID hear my plan. I don't owe any further explanation to the losing candidate of what I'd like to see happen; you know why?
Because IT HAPPENED.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Report this