NEWS

Brewing one-on-one with Governor McKee

Posted 5/18/22

By PETE FONTAINE

It’s called “Beer with the Governor” and features a menu that has varied from pizza at The Guild Brewery in Pawtucket to the one last Wednesday night at …

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NEWS

Brewing one-on-one with Governor McKee

Posted

By PETE FONTAINE

It’s called “Beer with the Governor” and features a menu that has varied from pizza at The Guild Brewery in Pawtucket to the one last Wednesday night at O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill in Pawtuxet Village.

Laurie O’Rourke, long-time owner of the eating and drinking spot, put together an impressive offering of shrimp cocktail, bruschetta, beef wellington puffs and her signature dish Irish Nachos to welcome Gov. McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos with an audience that included Democratic City Council members, Party Chair Kim Wineman and Mike Carreiro, president of Warwick’s fire union.

“Tonight’s event here is part of a series of events that the Governor is hosting across the state talking with local leaders about the issues their communities are addressing and how he can be their ally as Governor,” said Brexton Isaacs, McKee’s campaign manager. “As a former Mayor, Gov. McKee knows first-hand how critical local leaders are in the success of the state, that’s why he’s made partnering with municipalities a top priority for his administration.”

Isaacs, who noted “our first event in Pawtucket was a huge success and we feel the same way about tonight. The Governor is committed to working with local leaders to grow the economy, raise incomes and support small businesses.”

To which City Council President Steve McAllister added: “Gov. McKee is a great partner for Warwick. He has been a councilman and Mayor, so he knows the issues we work on at the city level. Having a Governor with that experience is an asset to all the cities and towns in the state.”

McAllister also emphasized: “I am happy to bring together a number of Warwick leaders so they could hear directly from the Governor and get some one-on- one time with him. We were able to talk to him about their priorities on education, infrastructure, healthcare and supporting our small businesses.”

The Governor and Lt. Gov. – who was accompanied by her husband Patrick Ward  -- sat at small tables talking with local leaders talking about everything from re-opening the economy to putting shots in the arm, the latter recently receiving number one ranking among states in the northeast.

Said Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur,  “I want to thank Council President McAllister for inviting me to attend this event and also Gov. McKee for taking the time to meet with us. I believe Gov. McKee is a pro business guy and a strong supporter of the housing authority to name a few. As a local business person, a two-term past president of the Rhode Island Builders Association and a member of the City Council, those qualities are very important to me. I want a Governor that will walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk and also shares the same vision and goals for Rhode Island that I have here.”

Meanwhile, Carreiro offered: “This is a great turnout of ward committee members and leaders to talk one-on-one with Gov. McKee who has focused strategies to improving schools, infrastructure, the economy, our veterans and public safety. He is also committed to keeping our community moving forward.”

Carreiro thanked McAllister “for inviting Gov. McKee to Warwick to discuss plans for our city’s future.”

McAllister also invited all members of the Warwick City Council to the event, however, Councilman Jeremy Rix and Vincent Gephart could not attend “because they were feeling the weather.”

O'Rouke's, McKee

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