EAST PROVIDENCE — The second of three 2022 Primary Election forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and East Bay Media Group, parent company of The Post, for candidates from East Providence took place earlier this week virtually over the Zoom portal.

Forums were held for candidates seeking the Democratic Party nomination for State Senate District 14 between two-term incumbent Valerie Lawson and Megan Duckworth and State Representative District 65 between electoral politics novices Matthew Dawson and San Shoppell. Another scheduled that evening for State Representative District 64 between first-term incumbent Brianna Henries and Ashley Pereira was not held after the latter opted out of the event.

The forums were administered by LWRI members Susan Escherich and Mary Chace. EBMG General Manager and Editor in Chief Scott Pickering, as he has done the last several election cycles, served as moderator.

The first set of forums was held the week prior for candidates seeking the Dem nod for State Senate District 32, predominantly in Bristol and Barrington with a bit of Riverside included, and State Representative District 66, again a heavy Barrington enclave with a hint of Riverside included.

In fairness, little separated the positions of the four candidates involved this week. Each espoused positions consistent with the Liberal/Progressive wing of the party on social issues, especially, while taking what could be described as left-of-center stances on fiscal matters presented.

Senate District 14
Lawson, first elected in 2018, and Duckworth, a candidate of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative (RIPC) that did so well at the 2020 election in city, opened the evening with the more vigorous of the two forums.
Duckworth, training to be an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, was the aggressor in taking on the established incumbent.

Lawson, as Dawson would do later, leaned heavily into being a “Townie,” a native and life-long resident of East Providence. She claimed to “understand this community because I’m part of the community.”

In introducing/re-introducing herself, Lawson noted she was a product of the East Providence School Department, who returned to the district and has been a teacher here for now 32 years.

Watch the complete forum here.

Responding to questions about rising inflation which has blistered the Western world as it continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the candidates related stories from constituents about food insecurity. Lawson referenced a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) bill she co-sponsored in the Senate incentivizing the pursuit of healthy eating by lower income and elderly residents. Duckworth related stories of locals feeling the cost of living pinch in general, saying the state needed to address the affordable housing crisis and that she and RIPC would seek a 4 percent annual rent cap as among the remedies to the problem.

There was no space between the two on the issue of abortion rights and access. Duckworth did question why Lawson voted against the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act and insinuated it was at the behest of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who has expressed anti-abortion views in the past. Lawson brushed aside the charge, saying her vote was only procedural and that she would support the bill again in the 2023 session if re-elected.

On the gun control issues, again, the candidates were in basic agreement, as was the case on questions pertaining to the climate.

Again, though, on the latter topic, Duckworth attempted to corner Lawson on a vote cast dealing with a tax matter between the city and Exxon/Mobil. Duckworth alleged the move was essentially a $400,000 tax break to the energy behemoth. Lawson explained the vote was taken at the behest of city officials to ended the long-standing property valuation dispute between the sides. Lawson emphasized the action was in the “best interest of the community not Exxon.”

In the closing stages of their forum, Lawson referred to legislation she helped pass and that was signed into law mandating feminine hygiene products be made available for middle and high school students. She also touted a plan to extend the “R.I. Promise” program from free tuition the Community College of Rhode Island in pursuit of an associate’s degree to include as well the third and fourth years at Rhode Island College.

Duckworth ended her final statement by saying while she appreciate’s what Lawson has done in office, the challenger has heard from residents they’re “ready for new ideas.”

House District 65
Newcomers Dawson and Shoppell are seeking the party nomination as five-term incumbent Gregg Amore turned his pursuits towards the Democratic nod for Secretary of State.

Dawson, while touted his East Providence bona fides, also noted Amore’s endorsement and his near three decades as both a prosecutor in the Attorney General’s officer and a lawyer in private practice as reasons he should be the preferred choice.

Shoppell emphasized she “chose” to eventually settle in the Riverside section of the city while describing herself as someone of “working class” roots who has been a caregiver, a substitute teacher, a volunteer at non-profits, a small business owner and a community activist.

Dawson, quite correctly, said there would be little to distinguish the positions of both. They were each supportive of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, voiced displeasure with the Supreme Court’s decision to nullify Roe vs. Wade, and would like to see gun control measures continue to become more stringent and evolve over time.

Watch the complete forum here.

Attempting to distinguish himself, Dawson said he believed a strength of his was an ability to “anticipate problems.” For instance, he said the states need to immediately begin to build the infrastructure needed to support the expected explosion in electric vehicle use. Also, officials need to be more aggressive in addressing the now national shortage of qualified teachers.

Shoppell said she is in favor increasing teacher pay while supporting “diversity” of instructors and engaging more minorities to become classroom instructors.

The lack of teachers, Dawson noted, was part of the larger labor shortage the economy is facing. He said a key component of allowing more people into the workforce is offer state-supported, affordable day care, and increasing vocational training. Shoppell concurred, adding Pre-Kindergarten education needed to be universal around the state.

In closing, Dawson again recognized how he and Shoppell had “remarkably similar” views on most positions. Again, he attempted to differentiate himself by saying to be a politician it takes a certain “skill set to having these jobs,” which he claimed to have by being both a litigator and a small business owner. He added, “It’s not easy…as a legislator you need to forge compromise and get things done.”

Shoppell said she ultimately was running to “raise the quality of life for all.” Her aims and those of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative were to have both a “greener” environment and economy, to have equitability in education and a more inclusive society.

Next forum
The next candidate forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, and is slated to include the candidate for East Providence Mayor — Roberto DaSilva, Maureen Gomes Lopez, Ruarri Miller, John Rossi — and State Senate District 18 — Robert Britto, Gregory Greco.
Constituents can send questions to voterservice@lwvri.org. The zoom link to view the forums will be available on the League of Women Voters website at www.lwvri.org and eastbayri.com in the days leading up to the events.

Forum links
All forums will be available throughout the election season at https://my.lwv.org/rhode-island.