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| 2 prominent Dems run for Kennedy's seat |
| 2010-02-14 |
| The mayor of Providence and the former head of Rhode Island's Democratic Party announced Saturday that they would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Patrick Kennedy, a son of one of the nation's most storied political families. Mayor David Cicilline and William Lynch, both Democrats, officially declared their candidacies less than two hours apart. Kennedy's decision not to seek re-election has set off frenzied competition among politicians interested in a post once viewed as unassailable because of his political clout and fundraising ability. Cicilline and Lynch promised to focus on job creation and fixing the dismal economy, important issues in a state where the unemployment rate is nearly 13 percent, among the nation's highest. Cicilline, who announced his candidacy at a swine flu shot clinic, said there is a "dangerous disconnect" between what Washington thinks will help Americans and what will actually work. He said a key difference between him and Lynch is that, as chief executive of the state's largest city, he's witnessed firsthand the effects of the recession. "What we need in Washington is someone who understands what's happening to families in our cities and towns in this country," he said. Lynch said the stimulus program passed by Congress helped stop what he called economic bleeding, but he wants to force financial institutions getting government help to increase their lending locally. "What I will not accept and what I will not endorse and what I will not support is the ... continuation of making money available to Wall Street and to bankers in New York that never gets to Main Street in Woonsocket, or Pawtucket or Middletown," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Patrick Kennedy, a son of one of the nation's most There, fixed it for them. No need for applause (throw money instead). |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-02-14 15:33 |