As the trees shed their leaves and restless New England winds foretell winter, there is an inclination among Brunonians to draw into their work and away from the community. One community issue, however, that students cannot afford to ignore is the local and state elections this November.
With its perennially mismanaged government and an unemployment rate hovering around 12 percent, Rhode Island is a state on its knees. These issues require competent and impassioned problem-solvers to attend to their amelioration. No leader embodies this more than Richard Rodi.
Richard Rodi is an independent candidate running for the Rhode Island House of Representatives in the second district, home to many off-campus students. Unlike his Boston lawyer opponent, Richard Rodi is a Providence native and no stranger to the problems that plague this city. For decades, Rodi has witnessed the impact of misguided state policies that have caused businesses to flee and jobs to disappear, all to the detriment of Rhode Island's most vulnerable citizens.
Far from witnessing these problems and doing nothing, Rodi has already shown his dedication to fixing them. As founder of the Rodi Foundation, which helps low income and at-risk people, organizer of the Providence Senior Club-House and a principle associate of Children's Wishes of Rhode Island, which grants wishes to terminally ill children, Rodi has devoted his life to helping the people of Rhode Island. Such proven dedication to the community remains unparalleled in this election. Rodi is a candidate we socially-conscious Brown students can easily support.
Rodi is right on the economy, too. A Democrat turned independent, Richard Rodi is far from the "tea-drenched" monster that Jeremy Feigenbaum '11 depicted in his Oct. 1 guest column, "I support Chris Blazejewski." Rodi is a level-headed family man who cares about his community. Instead of giving tax breaks that favor the rich (never part of Rodi's plan, despite Feigenbaum's insistence), Rodi believes that the only remedy to the state's financial woes is renewed fiscal responsibility.
With Rhode Island ranked second only to Alaska as the country's least business-friendly state, it's no wonder that tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders are unemployed. As a small business owner, Rodi recognizes that sustained economic growth happens only in the private sector. By reversing egregious, business-unfriendly legislation, such as the $500 mandatory income tax on companies that do not turn a profit, Rodi will put Rhode Island in the place of helping business, not killing it.
Rodi is also an advocate for education. Ignoring the cries of special interests, Rodi supports charter schools and mayoral academies that offer specialized learning to students in need. Rodi recognizes the community contributions of Rhode Island's college students and promises to fight against the continually proposed Rhode Island student tax, which would saddle the already struggling with an extra $300 worth of debt. In the wake of the 35 percent Providence landlord tax hike, which will undoubtedly raise off-campus students' rents, Rodi promises to provide assistance by introducing "a bill that offers tax relief to landlords who rent to students and low-income families and individuals." Rodi believes students have an integral role to play in the formation of Rhode Island's knowledge-based economy.
Though Rodi is against the aspects of the legislation he believes will add to consumer costs, Rodi favors the part of the federal health care bill that will allow students to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26. In this tough economy, he knows secure health care can make all the difference to young job-seekers. Having met with student leaders on campus, including the president of the Brown Republicans and the editor-in-chief of the Brown Spectator, and vowing to fight on our behalf, Rodi understands the plight of students and would carry that knowledge with him to the Statehouse.
In Rhode Island electoral history, money has been known to corrupt politicians. Unlike his opponent, Chris Blazejewski, who has taken thousands in contributions from several PACs and special interest groups, Richard Rodi refuses to accept a penny from anyone but the residents of his district. Rodi is a man of integrity who will not be bought.
On Election Day, the residents of Rhode Island's second district have a choice: a proven community leader with a plan to save this state or a business-as-usual political opportunist. Though we'll only be here for four fleeting years, Brunonians have a duty to improve our community. A vote for Richard Rodi is a step toward that end. In these elections, every phone call, every donation and every supporter matters. I hope you will decide to support Richard Rodi, as I have.
Terrence George '13 is a political science concentrator from Chicago. He can be reached at Terrence_George (at) Brown.edu
