Author Archive for Dave Talan

RI GOP Presidential Preference Primary | Tuesday

All You Need To Know About The Rhode Island

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Rhode Islanders finally get their chance to vote in a Presidential Primary Tomorrow (Tuesday).

You will vote for 1 candidate for President, and up to 8 candidates for Delegate to the GOP national convention (held in Tampa August 27 to 30).

You will have 6 choices for President:

MITT ROMNEY
RICK SANTORUM
NEWT GINGRICH
RON PAUL
BUDDY ROEMER
UNCOMMITTED

You will have 35 choices for Delegate, if you are in Congressional District 1, or 47 choices for Delegate if you are in Congressional District 2. All Delegate candidates are listed under the Presidential candidate that they have committed to.

You can vote for any 8 Delegate candidates, anywhere on the ballot, no matter who you vote for for President.

Rhode Island is a “Proportional Representation” state. Any Presidential candidate, who gets at least 15 percent of the vote statewide, will get a proportional share of the 16 Delegates and 16 Alternates to be elected (8 Delegates and 8 Alternates in each Congressional District). (R.I. will also have 3 super-Delegates, the 3 National Committee people, who are not on the ballot tomorrow).

We expect a small turnout tomorrow (as little as 15,000 voters statewide), because the news media has told everyone that the race is already over and your vote does not matter. That means that as little as 2,250 votes for a Presidential candidate will be enough to win Delegates for him.
So if your first choice is Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul; you should still go vote for them tomorrow, in order to elect Delegates who will promote their issues at the national convention.

WHERE TO VOTE

You will NOT necessarily be voting at your usual polling place tomorrow. (A lot of polling places are being combined, due to the expected low turnout). Go to the Secretary of State’s web site, to determine where you vote:

sos.ri.gov/vic

Enter your name, date of birth, and city or town; and you will get the location of your polling place.

SAMPLE BALLOT

The same web site listed above will also allow you to click on a link for “View Ballot”. You will get a .pdf file, that you can print out.

We strongly suggest that you print this out, and fill it out before you go to vote. The ballot is confusing, and the Delegate candidates are not listed in alphabetical order. They are in an order determined by lottery. So it will make things much easier for you, if you fill out this sample ballot in advance, and bring it with you.

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Ron Paul & Callista Gingrich in RI This Week

Presidential candidate RON PAUL will be speaking on WEDNESDAY at 7:00 P.M., at the University Of Rhode Island’s Keaney Gym.

The event, billed as an on-campus town hall, is sponsored by the URI Youth For Ron Paul (Chair – Manny Cumplido), and is open to the public.

To register for an early-seating voucher, and for directions to Keaney Gym, go to this web site:

http://RonPaulAtURI-es1.eventbrite.com/

Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich, will be in R.I. Monday thru Wednesday. Here is a tentative schedule of her events.
(Note: Callista is the author of children’s books about government, so several events are geared to reading her book to youngsters.)

Monday April 16th

7pm-8:30pm Salve Regina University College Republicans AMEX Speech/Meet&Greet and Photo Op
Location: 100 Ochre Point Avenue Newport, Rhode Island 02840
Room: Antone 107 (50-60ppl)

Notes:
Sponsored by Salve Regina College Republicans
Open to the Public and Press
We will meet at the Main Administrative Building Ochre Court (located on Ochre Point Ave), we’ll do a small tour and then walk to the Antone Room

Tuesday April 17th

10:00-11:00am Newport YMCA Reading (1-6th grade) CONFIRMED
OPEN TO THE PRESS
Location: 792 Valley Rd. Middletown RI 02842/2 classes K-5th graders

Noon-1:00pm East Providence Public Library Reading CONFIRMED
OPEN TO THE PRESS/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Location: 41 Grove Avenue East Providence RI 02914/Meet at the Welcome Desk

6:30pm-8:30pm Dinner East Greenwich Republican Town Committee/AMEX
OPEN TO PRESS
Location: Caprice 455 North Main Street East Greenwich, RI 02818/PDR

Notes:
Holds 50ppl
Checks ($50) written out to East Greenwich Republican Town Committee
Callista will speak on “American Exceptionalism”

Wednesday April 18th

10am-11am YMCA of Smithfield Reading (K-5th grade) CONFIRMED
OPEN TO THE PRESS
Location: 15 Deerfield Drive Greenfield, RI 02828/Pre-school classroom

Noon or 1pm Event Providence College Lunch w/ Callista ??
1pm-2pm Women & Infants Hospital in Providence Cancer Center Tour (waiting for final sched.)
Location: 100 Dudley St # 2100 Providence, RI 02905

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‘Super Tuesday’ in Rhode Island | March 6

This Tuesday, March 6th, the RI GOP will host a “Super Tuesday” party and fundraiser starting at 6:00 P.M. at the Shriners’ Imperial Room, One Rhodes Place, Cranston (corner of Broad St., in Pawtuxet Village, near Rhodes On The Pawtuxet. Same place last few R.I. GOP meetings have been held.)

The event will feature a Straw Poll to help you cheer your candidate to victory. There will be a cash bar and hors d’ oeuvres provided. However, if you do not fill up during the event, special arrangements have been made with the Shrine Restaurant to offer our attendees a 10% discount. The RIGOP will also be having a silent auction for political memorabilia. This is your opportunity to whet your political appetite on the biggest day of the Primary Season, to hang out with other like-minded political junkies, and to help the local Republican Campaign effort for 2012 to boot.

Please plan to stop by the Shriners’ on your way home to help us build momentum for November. Event organized by the R.I. GOP Volunteers

Co-Chairs: Carol DeAngelis, Wendy Regan, Eileen Grossman

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Run for Delegate to the Republican National Convention

RUN FOR DELEGATE TO GOP NATIONAL CONVENTION

Anyone can run to be a Rhode Island Delegate to the GOP National Convention, which will be held August 27 to 30 in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

In the April 24 R.I. Presidential Primary, we will elect 8 Delegates and 8 Alternates from each of the 2 Congressional Districts in R.I. (Incidentally, for Burrillville and Providence residents, who are being moved to a different Congressional District; you will run and vote in the existing Districts, not the new gerrymandered Districts). In addition, the 3 GOP National Committee people from R.I. (Mark Zaccaria, Carol Mumford, Joe Trillo) will automatically be Delegates.

Each Presidential candidate, who gets at least 15 percent of the statewide vote, will get a proportional share of the 16 elected Delegates. Who those Delegates are will be determined by the number of votes they get, while listed under the Presidential candidate of their choice.

Candidates for Delegate will file a declaration of candidacy, with the Secretary of State, on February 22 or 23; will receive nomination papers no later than 8:30 A.M. of the following day; and will then have to turn in at least 150 valid signatures to local Town Halls by 4:00 P.M. on February 28.
Yes, you read that right. You have just 4 or 5 days to get 150 signatures. (This is down from 17 days that you had 4 years ago. Thank you, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis.).

Since it is clearly impossible for any individual to get so many signatures in such a short time, we are going to organize another team effort to get all our GOP Delegate candidates on the ballot.

We have asked Town Committees to organize signature parties, where people from that Town can come and sign 50 to 60 different papers, for every candidate (most of whom they do not even know). We realize that is asking a lot, but it is necessary to get around the outrageous obstacles that Secretary of State Mollis has put in our way, and help our fellow Republicans.

Here is what you, as a Delegate candidate, need to do.
There are 3 forms you need to fill out, in advance. They are on the Secretary of State’s web site.

sos.ri.gov/elections/ppp

Download these forms:
* Delegate Declaration Of Candidacy Form
* Delegate Pledge Of Support Form Republican Party
* Sample Delegate Nomination Paper Release Form

Continue reading ‘Run for Delegate to the Republican National Convention’

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East Bay GOP Brunch | Saturday

This SATURDAY, February 18th, will be the EAST BAY GOP Brunch in TIVERTON. It will begin at 10:00 A.M. at Brantal’s Restaurant & Pub, 91 Crandall Rd. (Rt. 81). This is for Republicans in the 10 East Bay communities (East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport & Jamestown).

Guest Speaker: Brendan Doherty

Guest Host: Sen. David Bates

Also, we will have all the paperwork needed to run for Delegate to the GOP National Convention (in the April 24 Primary). You can fill it out at the breakfast, and give it to us to turn in for you.

Cost is $25 per person (includes a donation to the East Bay GOP Campaign Fund).

For info or to RSVP, contact:

Kathy Santos, SantosClan2000 [at] yahoo [dot] com 437-0542
Sal De Ruggiero, saverio1 [at] cox [dot] net 847-9696

Driving Instructions to Brantal’s Restaurant and Pub
91 Crandall Road, Tiverton.
Telephone No. 401-624-1990

From Providence/East Providence:
Route 195 East to Route 24 South
Route 24 South to Route 81 South
Route 81 south past intersection with Route 177
Restaurant will be on the right

From Barrington/Bristol:
Mount Hope Bridge to Sakonnet River Bridge
Take first right off Sakonnet River Bridge,
heading south on Route 77
Turn left onto Route 177 after passing Evelyn’s Restaurant
You will be going uphill, heading east.
Turn right onto Rte 81 (heading south), at intersection with Rte 177
Restaurant will be on the right

From Aquidneck Island:
Route 114 or 138 to Sakonnet River Bridge
Take first right off Sakonnet River Bridge,
heading south on Route 77
Turn left onto Route 177 after passing Evelyn’s Restaurant
You will be going uphill, heading east.
Turn right onto Rte 81 (heading south), at intersection with Rte 177
Restaurant will be on the right

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Presidential Signature Party Schedule for RI

SIGNATURE PARTY SCHEDULE TO GET GOP PRES. CANDIDATES ON R.I. PRIMARY BALLOT

You have read recently that all but 2 of the Republican Presidential candidates failed to even get on the ballot for Virginia’s Primary, due to that state’s ridiculously restrictive ballot access laws. But Rhode Island’s laws are even WORSE than Virginia’s. We could be looking at NONE of the candidates getting on R.I.’s ballot, thanks to major changes in the R.I. law, passed in 2011 and taking effect in 2012.

But we are taking steps to make sure that this embarrassment does not happen here. We are in charge of getting all the GOP candidates on the April 24 R.I. Primary ballot. We are organizing a team effort, to make sure R.I. Republican voters are able to choose from ALL 7 of the Presidential candidates.

First, a brief explanation of why this is so difficult in R.I. We have just 2 weeks to get 1,000 valid signatures for these candidates, from January 19 to February 2. (This is down from the 5 weeks we had previously, in warmer weather). Also, in normal states, signatures are turned in to one central location. In R.I., signatures must be turned in to the City or Town Hall where the signer resides. (So, for instance, if you are a Providence voter, and sign a paper that is turned in to Pawtucket, your signature would be disqualified.). This makes it impractical to gather signatures at shopping centers or at athletic events, where people come from numerous different communities.

The only thing about R.I. law that makes things easier, is that one person can sign papers for ALL of the candidates (not just for the one that they support). We are asking people to sign every paper, so that ALL the candidates get on; rather than NONE of them, if we each go our separate ways.

So here is what YOU can do.

* SIGNATURE PARTIES
We are organizing events in most of the 39 Cities & Towns, where residents can come and sign all the papers. The GOP City & Town Chairmen’s Caucus (President Mark Smiley from Warren) is working with the 39 local GOP Committees, to set these up.
We will notify you, via E-Mail, about the time & place for the Signature Party in your own community. (THE SCHEDULE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES IS LISTED BELOW). We ask you to take the time to go to the event in your Town, and sign all the papers.
These Signature Parties will also be social events, where you get to meet and greet the GOP leaders in your Town (and maybe get more involved with your local GOP organization).

* GET SIGNATURES YOURSELF
If you would be willing to get signatures on all the papers from 10 or more of your friends and neighbors, just REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL (DaveTalan [at] aol [dot] com), and we will deliver the papers to you on January 19 (together with instructions on how to handle them).
We will help you get all the papers properly notarized, and turn them in for you.
(Note: If you replied a week ago, to your monthly R.I. GOP Update, and it bounced back to you, then reply again. That Update had a space mistakenly included in the return address, which caused some replies to be rejected.)

SO HERE IS THE CURRENT SCHEDULE OF SIGNATURE PARTIES !!
(In a few days, we will send you an updated schedule, once we hear from more communities. We will also send you an E-Mail with more details about the Signature Party in your own particular City or Town.)

RHODE ISLAND GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIGNATURE PARTIES Continue reading ‘Presidential Signature Party Schedule for RI’

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Vote To Let Only Republicans Vote In GOP Primaries

I am writing to urge you to vote in FAVOR of the resolution to allow only REPUBLICANS to vote in REPUBLICAN Primaries. This will be voted on tomorrow (Wednesday November 16) at 7:00 P.M. at the R.I. Republican Party meeting in Cranston (Broad St. & Rhodes Pl. in Pawtuxet Village).

My biggest concern is having our Party’s Primaries hijacked by Democrats and people who do not wish us well, and who do not even intend to vote for the GOP candidate in the November election.

If you were at the last R.I. GOP meeting in October, you recall that I talked about people who voted in, and decided, our last hotly-contested Primary in 2006. I had sent E-Mails to about 1,000 new Republicans, who voted in that Primary, and who had filled out their E-Mail address on their voter registration card. I welcomed them to the Republican Party. The response I received was appalling.

Usually, when I send out E-Mails like this, I get replies expressing delight that the Republican Party is alive and well, and asking to hear more from the R.I. GOP. But this time, I received HUNDREDS of angry replies, from people outraged that anyone would think they were a Republican.

Like the man who said that the time between when he voted in the GOP Primary, and when he immediately filled out a disaffiliation paper, was “THE WORST 30 SECONDS OF MY LIFE”.

Or the person who wrote “You are sadly mistaken. I am NOT a Republican voter. The Republican Party has abandoned America. Shame on you.”

Or the man who replied, “I will vote for Democrats and support them financially. I’ll vote for Sheldon Whitehouse simply because he is a Democrat.”

Or the woman who said, “I am not a Republican Voter. I am outraged at this tactic of the Republican Party. Take me off your mailing list.”

Or the Cranston resident who wrote, “I am a Democrat. I only voted in the last 2 Primary elections as Republican to vote against Laffey.”

I certainly do not want to discourage any Republican-leaning citizen from voting in a GOP Primary, and from voting for Republicans in November. But I do not want to see our Party’s candidates chosen by Democrats, who want bad things to happen to us. Based on my personal observations, I believe this is the greater danger.

And so, I urge you to vote to APPROVE the resolution at Wednesday’s meeting.

Regards,

DAVE TALAN
DaveTalan [at] aol [dot] com

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RI GOP Chairs Comedy Fundraiser | November 30

The GOP City & Town Chairs will be holding a Comedy Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 30th, at the Park Cinema in Cranston, from 7:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. Celebrity impersonators, the Edwards Twins, will imitate the world’s greatest performers. Also, the Ocean State Follies with Charlie Hall, will put on one of their final performances. There will also be a “nationally known” GOP personality.

Rep. Joe Trillo is organizing this show, together with the R.I. GOP City & Town Chairmen’s Caucus. Tickets are $50 each, and are being sold by the local GOP Committees. Each local Committee will keep half of the proceeds, and the rest goes to cover the expenses. Contact your local Chair to get a ticket (If you do not know who that is, reply to this E-mailing, and we will put you in touch). Please make all checks payable to “Night of 100 Stars.”

The Park Cinema holds 1,200 people, but this event may sell out, so do not wait. Check out this web site for more info about “The Night Of 100 Stars and 1000 Laughs” at http://www.StarsAndLaughs.com . For more info, contact Eileen Grossman at 338-4504 (EileenGGrossman [at] aol [dot] com).

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Neighborhood Schools Are Answer To Providence Financial Woes

Reacting to the proposed closure of 4 schools (all but 1 on the south side of the city), Providence Ward 8 Republican Chairman David Talan called for the restoration of neighborhood schools, as the only real way to save money.

Talan noted that today, most children (not by choice) have to ride a school bus to a school far from home. This is despite the fact that almost all of these children live walking distance to the closest elementary or middle school. The city spends $16 million a year on this game of musical-chairs forced busing. Talan estimated that the city could immediately save at least $8 million to $10 million a year, by sending children to their closest neighborhood school. Talan called on the Mayor to immediately form a committee to determine class assignments for this coming school year, based on where students live.

Talan noted that too many students on the south side already waste up to 3 hours a day, riding a bus to schools far from home. He expressed concern that closing 3 schools on the south side will result in even more children being forced to ride a bus, against their will, and will cost even more money.

Talan concluded, “When I was a child growing up in Providence, I usually walked to school. When Mayor Taveras was growing up, he usually walked to a nearby school. Today’s children should have the same opportunity, while saving a ton of money for the city at the same time.”

Contact: Dave Talan (h) 941-3662 (c) 862-7519

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R.I. Republican Primary Contests | September 14

Primary Day is on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. Most of the primaries this election cycle are on the Democratic side of the aisle. However, there are several races where Republicans have primaries. You can contact the campaigns directly, if you want to help any of them out on September 14th. This races are:

1st Congressional District: JOHN LOUGHLIN & KARA RUSSO

2nd Congressional District: MARK ZACCARIA, BILL CLEGG, MIKE GARDINER & DON ROBBIO

Governor: JOHN ROBITAILLE & VICTOR MOFFITT

Lt. Governor: HEIDI ROGERS & KARA RUSSO

Warwick Mayor: SCOTT AVEDISIAN & RICHARD LANGSETH

RI Senate 21 (Coventry): LEO BLAIS & NICK KETTLE

RI Senate 36 (Narragansett,North Kingstown): BILL CONNELLY & MIKE RILEY

RI House 29 (West Greenwich, Coventry): GREG COUTCHER & DON PRATT

RI House 31 (North Kingstown, Exeter): DOREEN COSTA, JIM HALLEY & ANN MARIE MARSHALL

RI House 38 (Westerly, Hopkinton): PETER BONK & JILL MATSON

RI House 65 (East Providence): STEPHANIE SANTOS SIVALINGAM & JACK SAVAGE

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