Editor’s note: these are the candidate’s responses to questions provided by RIPR. The views expressed are the candidate’s alone, edited only in cases of inappropriate or libelous language. No changes have been made to correct errors of fact, spelling or grammar.
Do you support trucking tolls for tractor trailers on Rhode Island highways?
I never liked the idea of the truck tolls. With the gantries and charging for use of RI roads, we have lost the rationale and primary use of the gas tax money to repair roads, bridges and the like. Truck toll are passed on to all of us and doesn’t make sense as truckers who are mostly independent truckers, living from paycheck to paycheck are already paying in property, fuel and interstate travel taxes. If we continue along charging tractor trailers for use of RI roads, then we should eliminate the gas tax.
Would you support a state-mandated health insurance program?
I’m on Medicare and love it. The transparent, reporting nature of the program is the way to go. There are about 160,000 RI people on Medicare and I know that most of them feel good about the service and the coverage. There are problems with any of the health insurance programs, but this one has one big difference than all the rest – I am not helping to pay $8,000,000 for an individual to manage the program. Having a mandated health care program based on Medicare eliminates the worry and time spent for small business owners on selecting a plan, choosing deductibles, paying premiums and everything else associated with the business as usual model of commercial health insurance programs.
Are you in favor of expanding protections against sexual harassment to include domestic workers (such as nannies) and volunteers (such as interns)?
State law should always protect the most vulnerable. Protections for the homeless, mentally or physically challenged, the young, elderly or most vulnerable is what a state does best. We can mandate protections till we are all blue in the face. Real change starts in our education system, in our health care industry, in our social and economic services. Every HR department should be required not to tolerate sexual harassment, bullying or any form of abuse.
If given the opportunity, would you codify the right to have an abortion in state law?
Unequivocal yes! Along with writing into RI law the right to have an abortion, I also want to do away with the antiquated laws on the RI books about criminalizing doctors, reporting these procedures to spouses or family. And let’s be clear, all of us want the right for anyone to take advantage of family planning counseling services, contraceptives and having insurance programs help pay for those services. We want to educate a population of women and men on preventing pregnancies. That is always the first and best approach. I’m a land preservationist. Species protection is the reason I have devoted my adult life to the protection of land. But I’m also a firm believer in giving each species the right to decide on how to live their lives. We don’t need the state to control our boardrooms or our bedrooms.
Is the state doing enough to help people who have been left behind by the economy? If not, what additional steps should be taken?
First and foremost, you are asking the wrong person. Even though I help with serving meals to homeless and those challenged by so many issues, it is not up to me to come up with a solution. I’ve discovered that the homeless and hungry know best. They would tell you, as they have told me, that transportation is a key issue – getting to and from work so they can make a living to get off the streets. Changing zoning to allow for “in-law apartments” for homeless seems to be one of many good market driven solutions to increasing affordable housing. Pastor Jack from Mathewson Street Church speaks about this in great detail. If elected, I’d invite him to a panel that would look for solutions of income inequality and homelessness.
Does primary education need to be improved statewide? If so, how?
I’m a firm believer in primary education and continued education. Full time kindergarten, upgrading schools with 21st century tools, bringing back the arts and music, paying teachers more, more teachers in the classroom is a good start. The ACLU report on schools to prison pipeline is a shocker. Every legislator should read it. I am a documentary film maker and worked a lot with parents whose children are on the Autism spectrum. Early intervention is key to their success. Any and every child needs that early push to move them to a better place. At 63 years old I went back to school and enrolled in a Master of Science Program in Global Environmental Studies at Bryant University. Now at 66, I just completed my certificate program and looking forward to finishing the rest. I’m a big supporter of continuing education and feel that all of us – everyone – should have the opportunity to go back to school and learn more.
Do you support RI’s designation as a sanctuary state? Why or why not?
My grandparents were immigrants. I believe that we must protect those that are vulnerable and subject to abuse no matter where they are from or their legal status. How could we do this within the law? Rhode Island’s designation as a sanctuary state can’t be above the state or federal law. Moving people into a legal framework and process towards citizenship or legal status makes breaking that law mute. I would favor this meaning of a sanctuary state of this kind.
