Candidates for RI Governor Talk Taxes, Education In Debate

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — The governor's debate Monday night at the University of Rhode Island had the four candidates spend most of their time discussing taxes and how to improve Rhode Islanders' access to higher education.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said she has cut taxes and regulations for businesses, and that Rhode Island's economy is better off for it.

"We have more people working in Rhode Island than at any point in our history," Raimondo said.

Her Republican challenger, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, said the state's economy is not improving. He also lamented that the state budget has increased $1 billion on Raimondo's watch, that she has raised taxes four straight budgets and is too focused on Washington, D.C., rather than Rhode Island.

"This election is about what's going on in our back yard," said Fung.

In response, Raimondo said Rhode Islanders need only to look at Fung's record to see that he has raised taxes five times in 12 years as Cranston's mayor.

"Buyer beware," Raimondo said.

Independent candidate and former Republican state representative Joe Trillo said Rhode Islanders can thank President Donald Trump's administration for any tax cuts.

"These politicians in office don't know anything about tax cuts," Trillo said.

Moderate Party candidate Bill Gilbert agreed that neither party is good at balancing state budgets. He argued he might be one of the only candidates who wants both a balanced budget and is pro choice.

When asked how to improve access to higher education, Raimondo said her administration has created more opportunities for high school students to take college courses. She claimed that a mother of twins came up to her recently and thanked her for saving her family $70,000. Raimondo said the woman's two kids took enough college classes at the high school level to avoid paying for over a year of school.

Raimondo argued that at the least, a certificate program is necessary today for young people to obtain decent wages.

Fung said there needs to be a larger focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM) as a foundation for higher education.Engineering studies should be encouraged at a younger age so that more young people can be ready for programs like URI's robotics program.

Earlier in the debate, Trillo was asked about the charges he faced in 1975, when he was 32, that he assaulted 12-year-old Nicholas Mattiello, now a Democratic state representative. Trillo was acquitted of those charges, but moderators asked whether he has the right temperament to be governor.

He said he does.

"I'm the guy that's going to get in your face...," Trillo said. "You need a guy like me to clean it up."

On immigration policy, Raimondo said she has been attacked unfairly by both Fung and Trillo.

"We follow the law, and we follow the U.S. Constitution," Raimondo said.

She said deportation is ICE's job, not that of local law enforcement. Fung disagreed, saying the state needs to take responsibility for the deportation of undocumented immigrants who commit crimes.

Raimondo told Fung he needs to stop trying to scare people and should stop politicizing immigration.

The next debate will once again be at URI. This one will be for the U.S. Senate candidates. It's scheduled for Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., and will stream on URI and the Providence Journal's website, as well as Rhode Island Pubic Radio.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne