Can GOP shock Dems in Aug. 5 special election to succeed Ruggerio in RI Senate?

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3 days ago

The first test of how Rhode Island Republicans' message is playing in the state during the second Trump administration comes Aug. 5 in the special Senate election to replace the late Dominick Ruggerio.
The GOP's Alex Asermely takes on Democratic nominee Stefano Famiglietti in the race to represent Senate District 4, covering most of North Providence and a section of northwest Providence.
Republicans face an uphill battle in the Senate district, which Democrat Ruggerio represented since 1984 and which has been controlled by his extended family for more than half a century. And Ruggerio hadn't had a general election opponent since two independent candidates were on the ballot in 2012.
Famiglietti, with support from the state's Democratic establishment and businesses, outspent Asermely in the campaign by more than three to one, about $32,000 to $9,000.
Asermely may benefit from the fact that the district has become somewhat more conservative in recent years, in part due to boundary changes that made it more difficult terrain for Democratic primary challengers.
And North Providence is among the suburbs that have tilted red since 2016.
Both Asermely, 39, and Famiglietti, 33, are attorneys and residents of North Providence.
Famiglietti defeated three other Democrats in the July primary. Asermely was unopposed for the GOP nomination.
Where do they stand on the issues?
Asemely is running on business friendliness and cutting taxes.
Famiglietti's top priority is bringing back more state aid to North Providence.
Gun control, a big issue in the recent General Assembly session, has not been a top issue in this race, with both candidates saying they opposed the recently passed ban on sales of assault-style weapons.
And, unlike Famiglietti's primary opponents, neither candidate is calling for Mayor Charles Lombardi to step down over allegations that town employees did work on his property.
"At this junction, Mayor Lombardi is facing just civil accusations and not any criminal charges," Famiglietti said. "While the accusations are severe and bears watching, we certainly cannot solely allow such accusations to determine guilt or innocence."
Asermely said it's a town rather than a State House matter.
Truck tolls
They do, however, differ on some other big issues.
The state budget assumes the truck toll network will relaunch sometime next year and provide $10 million in state revenue, although details remain scant.
Is Gov. Dan McKee right to turn the tolls back on?
"No, absolutely not, as it is an impediment to commerce," Asermely said. "It is an unfair burden on small businesses that gets passed on to the consumers."
Famiglietti: "Yes, I am in favor of turning the truck tolls back on, as it is the most effective way to raise revenue to repair our roads and bridges without directly impacting the taxpayers. With that said, I will never be in favor of tolling passenger vehicles."
Hospitals
Despite extensive efforts by the state to help shore up financially struggling hospitals, the CharterCare hospitals that included Fatima of North Providence are still searching for investors to help facilitate a turnaround plan.
Should the state do whatever it takes to keep them afloat?
"The state should use any and all resources to save these facilities," Famiglietti said. "Both facilities are essential to our local health care system as well as our state's health care system. The loss of these facilities would cause an unbearable strain that would adversely affect care in our state."
Asermely: "These are private businesses. It is not the duty of the taxpayers to bail them out. The taxpayers contribute enough through private pay, insurance, Medicare, & Medicaid. Under no circumstances should services be cut, as this is a management issue."
Washington Bridge
The Democratic and Republican candidates also have differing report cards for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation's handling of the westbound Washington Bridge emergency.
Famiglietti said while the bridge closure has adversely affected residents, "the steps taken to allow for continued flow of traffic while safeguarding public safety have been prudent. However, we must take care that all of our roads and bridges are monitored and repaired to avoid situations like this in the future."
Asermely blasted the pace of the rebuild effort and DOT's answers for how the problem arose..
"No, it has not progressed fast enough and work seems to be sporadic and slow," he said. "Transparency has been a disaster and this should have never happened in the first place."
Housing
Neither candidate is a fan of state efforts to build more housing by overriding local restrictions on construction or ending mandates for homes to sit on large properties.
"There is little available property in Senate District 4," Asermely said. "The use of that property should be defined by the market, not the legislature."
Famiglietti: "I do not support allowing more unfettered housing in District 4. My experience on the North Providence Town Council has shown me the negative effects increasing housing density has on our already densely populated community."
Pensions
Both candidates support restoring cost of living adjustment payments to public-sector retirees that were cut in 2011, but neither supports raising taxes to do it.
School lunches
Neither candidate supports providing universal free school lunch, as in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Senate District 4 special election: Where candidates stand on issues
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