US Representative Jim Langevin joined Steve Aveson, Jen Lawless, and myself for a taping this morning of WPRI/WNAC-TV's Newsmakers. I noted how the four-term congressman has about $230,000 in his war chest -- more than 10 times the amount of Mark Zaccaria, his Republican opponent -- and that he benefits from being a well-known incumbent. So I asked: isn't agreeing to Zaccaria's call for 20 debates the least that Langevin can do to make this a fair contest?

Langevin dutifully responded, saying there will be some quantity of debating with his GOP opponent, although he declined, of course, to specify a number -- and you can bet it won't be anywhere near 20.

Some might say that this situation shows the power of incumbency and the problems with our campaign-finance system. Both are valid criticisms.

The more fundamental problem, though, is how people like Zaccaria and Jon Scott run quixotic races for Congress, instead of pursuing General Assembly contests in which they would have a more realistic chance of success.

In 2006, after Lawless challenged Langevin in the Democratic primary, it marked the first time in more than 100 years when there wasn't a Republican opponent in that congressional district. For all intents and purposes, it's not much different this time. I wasn't there when Zaccaria appeared on Newsmakers a month or so ago, but Lawless says he touted plans to raise $200,000. He's not even close so far.

Yet as one local political observer tells me, "The problem with the Republican Party in this state is that everyone wants to start in Congress."

It's instructive that Jack Reed -- who already had a West Point-Army Ranger-Kennedy School-Harvard Law background -- began his political career by winning a General Assembly seat.

This is a lesson that remains lost on too many Rhode Island Republicans.

8/15/2008 10:59:00 AM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |  

 

Joining the recent migration of political staffers, West Warwick native Paul Tencher, former chief of staff for LG Elizabeth Roberts, sends word that he's headed West:

I have accepted an offer from Judy Baker, a wonderful woman running for Congress in Missouri's 9th Congressional District. Judy is one of the top open seats in the country and last week won a contentious three-way primary to become the nominee. She has been targeted by the DCCC as a top red-to-blue pick up seat for 2008. She has been endorsed by EMILY's List and will fight very hard especially to reform our broken health care system.

Now that the campaign commercial is over, I want to tell you how thankful I am for my home state and everyone here. I will miss the final weeks of the summer and fall in New England, but I will be back and can't wait to see you all again.

8/12/2008 1:28:00 PM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |  

 

Rachael Bornstein is filling the legislative director role for US Representative Jim Langevin in his DC office, succeeding 10-year veteran Brian Daniels, a Warwick native, who plans to pursue an MBA at Yale. Daniels formerly worked for former US Representative Robert Weygand.

Bornstein, who hails from Maryland, comes from the office of US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, having most recently served as senior health policy advisor.

Marla Greenberg, Langevin's legislative assistant, is also departing, after two years, to chase a law degree.

7/31/2008 8:42:00 AM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |  

 

Neither Robin J. Costello or the office of US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy is in a rush to talk about it, but Costello is the latest press secretary for Kennedy to move on. Sources tell N4N that Costello, previously the communications director for Day One - the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center, is taking a new gig with Warwick-based Plan USA.

Like Representative Jim Langevin, but unlike Senators Reed and Whitehouse, Kennedy has maintained a Rhode Island-based press secretary.

Larry Berman, now with the House leadership on Smith Hill, holds the recent Kennedy longevity record, with an eight-year run. Others who've run media interference include Dave Sanders and Ernie Anguilla, the brother of former Representative Fausto Anguilla. 

Costello hasn't returned a phone message left earlier today at her home, and as of now, there's no comment from the Kennedy camp.

About the changes, one observer says, "I don't think it's any reflection on Patrick."

7/30/2008 4:34:00 PM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |  

 

From today's Washington Post. Thanks to Tommy from Queens for the tip.

When Jim Langevin first rolled his wheelchair onto Capitol Hill in 1984 as a young Senate intern, barriers to the disabled in this city were even more common than the bollards that now circle its monuments.

Langevin, a quadriplegic since a gun accident when he was 16, could not get his chair through the doors of many meeting rooms or Capitol Hill offices. It was a challenge to find a restroom he could enter, much less a shower.

Now a congressman, Langevin soon will have access to a long-unattainable spot: the speaker's rostrum at the front of the House chamber. The House leadership announced last month that it will reconstruct the built-in wooden chair on the podium and build lifts to provide accessibility for wheelchairs.

Eighteen years after Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, the move will allow Langevin, the only permanently disabled member of the House, to preside over sessions for the first time. Though there are no records on the subject, that could make him the first person in a wheelchair ever to lead a session of the House.

"Yes, I'm the first quadriplegic to serve in House, but I certainly won't be the last," said the Rhode Island Democrat, who was elected in 2000. "I'm excited for the people after me. It shows once again that people with disabilities can lead and serve just like anybody else."

Andrew J. Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities, cheered the symbolic importance of the change, saying it will demonstrate the limitless possibilities for people with disabilities.

7/8/2008 9:40:00 AM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |  

 

Republcan Jonathan Scott, who opposed US Representative Patrick Kennedy in 2006, is taking another bite at the apple. Anyone going up against a Kennedy can count on two things: a tough time (as former Navy SEAL Dave Rogers learned in two tries), and a built-in base of support from Kennedy-haters. Scott's run, at minimum, gives the RI GOP someone who promises to be hard-working candidate, at a time when the party often struggles to find challengers for federal races.

Here are excerpts from Scott's release:

Jon Scott plans to announce his second bid to retire Patrick Kennedy from office on Monday night, June 8th at the Providence GOP City Committee meeting.  The meeting will be held at the Columbus Theatre, on Broadway in Providence at 7:00 p.m.

Scott, a relative newcomer to politics, who challenged Kennedy in the 2006 election, is driven by the belief that our nation’s founders did not design our government to be run by career politicians.  Scott who was rumored to be challenging Jack Reed for his Senate seat brings to this race the same convictions of representation for the common man in government that drove his 2006 congressional bid.

Scott sums up his motivation for running with the following words:

“You may have heard that this election cycle will be about change; my idea of change prioritizes action from outsiders over the hollow and empty rhetoric of insiders.  This type of change is about revolution not evolution. The system needs to be changed, the people in power need to be shown the door and the way of doing business needs to be overhauled.”

“George Washington set a precedent by which members of government were to serve for a brief period of time before returning to private life.  Today our system is broken, and Patrick Kennedy, whether you like him or not, is part of that system.” 

6/9/2008 9:12:00 AM by Not For Nothing | Comments [0] |