inda Finn, CEO of the RI Values Project, released a statement in response to coverage of a mailer sent to Bristol voters last week. Below are excerpts from the statement:

"Last week voters in House District 68 received a mailer from the RI Values Project, comparing the candidates for State Representative, Laufton Ascencao and Andrew Tyska. This independently sponsored piece was meant to showcase our support for Laufton Ascencao, who has been a staunch advocate for both reproductive rights and gun safety, and to compare the two candidates’ campaign platforms. 

"In the mailing, we placed a check mark next to Mr. Ascencao’s picture on the four values-based actions we know he will proactively take when he wins this election. The ‘x' marks next to Mr. Tyska’s name with the image bearing a question mark are there because these values have not been a visible part of his platform at all.

"Mr. Tyska has responded that ‘everything in that postcard was a lie.”  ... He never addressed the values-based actions that our Project is fighting to protect. He had the opportunity to say, “I will fight to keep guns out of schools,” or “I will fight to protect access to safe and legal abortion,” or “I will fight for fair pay for women,” or “I will fight to protect access to birth control,” instead he chose to defend his support of State House leadership. These issues have clearly not been priorities in his campaign, and we are frustrated about the lack of progress on Smith Hill enough to demand a fighter for these values, who will stand up under pressure.

"The RI Values Project is a partnership between the RI Coalition Against Gun Violence and Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island."