R.I.V.C. ‘Meet the Candidates’ Forum | January 8

Update: As of Tuesday, both Democratic candidates have apparently backed out. However, we understand that the forum will still occur, with some format changes and different guests.

The Rhode Island Voter Coalition is pleased to announce our 3rd “Meet The Candidates” Forum scheduled for January 8, 2010. This event will feature the gubernatorial race for Governor in Rhode Island. The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Greenwich Avenue Warwick, RI. Doors open at 6:30pm and the Forum is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm that evening.

The Rhode Island Voter Coalition is a non-partisan alliance of groups and individuals within the state that channel the activist interests of their members toward improving both the state and federal governments. They are not a fund raising tool nor do they offer any endorsement. While making today’s announcement Mr. Wright said. “We are excited about the positive response we have had so far from both the candidates and the voters, we look forward to a busy 2010.” He went on to say that he believes that the forums provided by RIVC are an important tool to allow the people to be an active part of their government. He finished by saying “As the 2010 campaign season gets underway, we will start to focus on the races for the General Assembly, we are hoping that forum will inspire citizen politicians to step forward regardless of political affiliation or experience, we have a microphone waiting for them.”

The January meeting is intended as a forum wherein interested voters can vet the candidates campaigning for next year’s Governor’s race. Candidates from all sides of the aisle have been invited to speak. Candidates were invited regardless of their party affiliations, Patrick C. Lynch and Frank T. Caprio, both democrats, will be participating in the forum. Republican Rory Smith and Independent Lincoln Chafee were both invited, Chafee declined and Smith has dropped out of the race. Efforts are still underway to make contact with Ken Block and his newly formed Moderate Party.

“We are a non-partisan group of citizens who have determined that our government and our political parties no longer represent us and we want a say in which candidates will be on the ballot in the primaries and in November 2010.” Wright asserted. The object is to get started as early as possible so that voters have as many chances as possible to see and hear the candidates from whom they’ll have to choose.

For details, contact Steven Wright by telephone at 401.615.9704, or E-Mail the Rhode Island Voter Coalition at steve [at] rhodeislandvotercoalition [dot] org.

Running for RI Governor:

Patrick C. Lynch

Frank T. Caprio

And special guest