Topics include: Why Fox is running for congress; what she would do about inflation, gun violence and abortion rights; and the concern she's hearing from Rhode Islanders about political polarization.
Ian Donnis
Joy Fox, Welcome to The Public's Radio.
Joy Fox
Thanks, Ian, it's great to be here with you.
Ian Donnis
Give me 60 seconds on why you want to be the next member of Congress from Rhode Island's Second District.
Joy Fox
There are three reasons why I would like to represent the second congressional district of Rhode Island in Congress. Number one, I've lived here my whole life. And number two and three, I've spent my entire career listening and trying to make a difference here. I grew up in Cranston. I live in Warwick now I'm the oldest of five kids, my parents still live in the house that we all grew up in. I'm the proud aunt of two nephews and a niece and a graduate of Rhode Island College. I was a commuter student to Rhode Island College. After graduating from RIC, I went and worked into in community newspapers. And that's where my listening really started, got deeper into the community, working for the Cranston Herald, the Warwick Beacon a little bit for Providence Business News and Channel 10. And that experience was amazing for again, getting deeper into the community, understanding the challenges facing all Rhode Islanders, but also learning more about all the good things that are happening. I know campaigns are often about what's wrong. And we also need to lift up and highlight what's going well in Rhode Island, and I look forward to taking those stories to DC as well. And then I moved into public service, I worked for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections and A T Wall and then I worked for-
Ian Donnis
Let me stop you there. As you say there are challenges in Rhode Island. One new challenges in this congressional race for the various contenders is there's a large field of Democrats, six Democrats running. How do you overcome the fact that you and other candidates might split some of the vote in against the perceived front runner, Seth Magaziner.
Joy Fox
I'm focused on on my race, I guess you'd have to talk to the other candidates about their strategies. But my strategy is one rooted in the district. It is meeting people on their porches. It is having conversations like like this with you. It is getting out and meeting as many people as possible, and demonstrating that there's a real choice in this race. There's someone that has lived here her whole life and work to make a difference here her whole life. And I think that will resonate with the voters of the second district.
Ian Donnis
The top issue for voters this year is the cost of living and inflation. Democrats control the levers of power here in Rhode Island and in Washington, DC, why should a Democrat Why should voters support Democrats, given how they are presiding over this situation with record inflation?
Joy Fox
I agree with you the cost of living right now is unacceptable. It's out of control. And we shouldn't you know, while we're paying record prices at the at the pump, and at the grocery store, we see corporate interests, making way too much money too much in profits. And that's unacceptable. I think Democrats do have solutions here. First and foremost, we looked at need to look at price gouging and windfall profit taxes. We also need to look at continuing some of the things that we know that worked during the pandemic to support working families, such as permanent paid leave and and the child tax credit. And then we need to look long term we need to look at to reducing our reliance on oil and moving to a clean energy economy. And we need to build and get passed a fair and equitable tax system where billionaires are paying their fair share. And then we need to look at education, training and apprenticeship programs to make sure that while this economy is in transition for a long time that all Rhode Islanders have the opportunity to participate.
Ian Donnis
Joe Biden will be I believe, 82 in 2024, by the time of the next presidential election. Do you think he's the guy to lead the fight for Democrats in that election year?
Joy Fox
I think that is up to Joe Biden to decide. I think we are seeing record job creation right now. I know that we're expected to have a cut in the deficit this year for the first time in years. But there is still work to do. And I look forward to rolling up my sleeves with my colleagues in DC and the Democratic Party to get the work done.
Ian Donnis
I know that protecting reproductive rights is important to you and most your fellow Democrats in this congressional race. At the same time, even with concern about the threat to Roe v. Wade, it was not a secret that Republicans for many years, were trying to reshape the US Supreme Court in an ideological way more favorable to their views. So why did Democrats not do a better job of countering that?
Joy Fox
I think I'm looking forward on this issue. We need to send Democrats to Washington who are willing to stand up and continue the fight for women's reproductive health. I am - I do believe in a woman's right to choose and I take that responsibility to fight for that right. Very seriously. The bottom line here: this is about accessible health care for everyone reproductive rights, including abortion.
Ian Donnis
On health care your former boss, Gina Raimondo former governor now US Commerce Secretary. She opposed the acquisition in 2019 of Care New England, one of Rhode Island's two largest hospital groups by Partners Healthcare now known as Mass General Bridgham. Now there's concern that Care New England might be taken over by a for profit entity. Now there are healthcare unions who think that would be bad for health care in Rhode Island. Was it a mistake for Gina Raimondo to oppose the takeover of Care New England by Partners Health Care?
Joy Fox
I can't comment on what her thinking was there. What I can say this is about, like I just said, making sure that Rhode Islanders have access to affordable health care across the board. And it's also making sure our health care workers, our caregivers, our caregivers, on the front line are, are compensated for the work that they do. It is hard work, I was able to join the SEIU members up at the Statehouse this week for their, you know, caregiver rally this week. And it's important that we keep both the patient and the person the caregiver taking care of them top of mind in all of these negotiations. And I was with a woman last night who has fought cancer three times and she is facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and she is - she has good health care. That is not acceptable. And that's what we need to get serious on here, both in Rhode Island and at the national level.
Ian Donnis
Some of the other candidates running in CD two have a lot of elective experience Seth Magaziner is general treasurer. David Siegel was a state rep and Providence city councilor. Allan Fung, longtime mayor of Cranston, for example. You come from a different kind of background. You were a staffer in state government and federal government for a long time you worked as a press aide and advisor for Congressman Jim Langevin and for Governor Gina Raimondo. Why should the voters support someone like you? Who has... who does not really have previous elective experience over other candidates who do have that experience?
Joy Fox
Because I'm the person that all of the guys that you just mentioned, turn to to actually get the work done. I know what it's like to sit around the table and kick the tires on what strategy and what policies are best. I've been out in the community meetings and heard what is on people's minds. I know exactly how to get the job done from day one, because I've been in the room where it happens.
Ian Donnis
As you said a little bit earlier, you are rooted in Rhode Island. You've lived in Rhode Island your whole life, we love Rhode Island, it has a lot of great things, great people great qualities. But it also has some very familiar challenges. The public schools, for the most part across the state have been underperforming for a long time. With the exception of this year, there's usually a big budget deficit, there is not enough good jobs. Why do you think it's been such a struggle to move forward and make progress on these issues?
Joy Fox
I think we were making some progress before the pandemic. And the pandemic has set all of us back in many ways. We need to pick up where we left off before the pandemic and job creation, looking at our education system. And I also was successful here. I look forward to working with the rest of the delegation. I think our delegation is fantastic and punches above its weight in making sure that Rhode Island gets gets its fair share of federal funding coming back to the state and that's what I that's the team that I hope to be a part of.
Ian Donnis
Voters in the second district have never elected a woman to this congressional seat this time around. There are two women Democrats running, yourself and Sarah Morgenthau as fate or coincidence has it. Each of you has a connection to former Governor Raimondo. You worked as governor Raimondo's communications director, Sarah Morgenthau worked for the Commerce Department that is now led by Gina Raimondo. So I wonder what role if any, did Gina Raimondo play in your deciding to run and Sarah Morgenthau's deciding to run?
Joy Fox
Yeah, before I answer that question, I do want to make one slight correction. So we did have a woman represent this district in Claudine Schneider. Look, I've had conversations with with the former governor as well as the Congressman they've both been supportive. And and. And it's because of my experience working with them that I know that I can hit the ground running on day one. They taught me even deep, more deeply the value of listening to everyone all concern to come at the best decision, but also how to balance you know, the long term needs with the short term news of the day that comes up, all of which which is important to Rhode Islanders and needs to be addressed.
Ian Donnis
Was it a surprise to you that Sarah Morgenthau became a candidate in this race?
Joy Fox
No, I don't know that I've had any feelings about it one way or the other, actually.
Ian Donnis
Beyond inflation, what are you hearing about from voters as you campaign in the second district?
Joy Fox
You know, the top line that I hear is sick and tired of the divisiveness. How do we get past this? How do we get things done? And then the second issue is usually the issue that is top of mind, like the things that we've been talking about here, the economy, education, most recently, especially when I'm out knocking on doors, it's gun safety. It is we have got to get something done around gun safety. And, and beyond that people just really, really love Rhode Island and they want to see a see all of us succeed together. So it's been an extremely gratifying and humbling experience to be out, talking to voters one on one and hearing what's on their mind. And I'm going to continue to do that for the primary.
Ian Donnis
How do you answer that question that you say voters have raised with you? How do we move past this divisiveness that has been growing more intense in American politics for many years now?
Joy Fox
Yeah, I, I lean on my experience of listening. And I'm not afraid to sit down with anyone, just like we are right now looking at each other across the table and working towards solutions. Congressman Langevin in particular, two of his big issues which success if I'm successful here, I'd like to continue, that he was able to work across across divides was making sure our family caregivers were taking care of and making sure that our our nation was prepared. In terms of cybersecurity. Those are two things that I think we can all agree on that we need to continue. And if I'm successful, I will work to build beyond those two issues as well.
Ian Donnis
As I said a bit earlier, you had worked for Congressman Lanngevin some years ago as a communications director, what difference has he made on economic issues for Rhode Islanders? In your view?
Joy Fox
One of the biggest things that he or to - it's job creation, apprenticeship programs, he's been a champion of and making sure all people have access to the workforce, including people with disabilities. And I think that's important. There are a lot of people in this state that are willing and able to work, they just need maybe a little extra support to do that. So I think those were his two biggest contributions.
Ian Donnis
To come back to the issue of political polarization, it sometimes seems like we might be in a little bit of a bubble here in Rhode Island. We're such a small state that people often have to be civil with one another. And that's we can say, that's a good thing. But nationally, it seems like this, this polarization has driven people on the left to the left, and people on the right to the right, things are being more polarized. On a national basis, what do you think the answer is for that?
Joy Fox
I think it's communication. I think it's being willing to reach out and look across the table at someone and have the conversations that need to happen. I think it also means being rooted in in what we believe we need affordable health care in this country, we need to tackle climate change. We need to solve the gun problem once and for all. These are things that we need to be able to sit down. And I believe my experience and perspective are best equipped to be able to reach across and have those conversations.
Ian Donnis
We're just about three months from the September 13 primary. What is your plan from here on in to try and win this?
Joy Fox
Meeting as many people as I possibly can. Getting out and about having conversations, continuing conversations with with you Ian, and working really hard. This is all about standing up a campaign on everyone's front porch in every neighborhood. And I'd love for everyone listening today to to check out the website and come join us on a walk.
Ian Donnis
And the website can be found at...
Joy Fox
Joy Fox congress.com.
Ian Donnis
On the lighter side, what is your favorite or a few of your favorite restaurants in the second district?
Joy Fox
There's too many to count. I will say this. It's wherever my family and friends are. And usually if it's family, friends plus walkable. So anywhere in Patuxet village is just fine by me if I'm there with family and friends,
Ian Donnis
Democratic candidate in Rhode Island's second congressional district, Joy Fox. Thank you for joining us.
Joy Fox
Thank you Ian.
