Stephen Tocco said he would like to see the General Assembly take more action on the coronavirus pandemic, and his candidacy is about reaching those front lines.
Tocco, an independent running against Democratic Sen. Stephen Archambault in the Senate District 22 race this November, spoke at length with the Sun Rise last week about his incumbent opponent, the pandemic and the state using Johnston as a model for economic development.
“I think it’s a unique time in our country,” Tocco said regarding his decision to join the field. “We’re dealing with a challenging epidemic that we’ve never seen the likes of this in our lifetimes and hopefully never again. You couple that with the politics of this thing and you’ve got a perfect storm of challenging times for people professionally, personally, there’s so much unknown out there and when I saw what our legislators were doing.”
Tocco lambasted Archambault several times throughout the interview, beginning by citing a Churchill quote that is part of his campaign message: “The price of greatness is responsibility.” He said the General Assembly has “been on the sidelines” while Gov. Gina Raimondo and the Department of Health handle the COVID-19 crisis.
He criticized Raimondo’s approach as well, calling on her to release more funds to struggling small businesses.
“We elected our General Assembly members to be a part of it,” Tocco said. “They’re in the coffee shops, they’re in the neighborhoods, they’re at the ballfields. People are telling them a story, and that story is real, and if we don’t act on that story, when are we going to act on it? … It takes effort, it takes contribution, it takes commitment. It takes not taking on the sidelines. If you’re always on the sideline, you’re not getting into the game, but at least if you’re on the bench you have a chance to get in the game.”
Tocco also chastised Archambault for his choice to hold fundraising events during the pandemic, calling out an Aug. 26 outdoor barbecue fundraiser. The Smithfield event ran for four hours with a “suggested regular contribution” of $100 and a “host” designation for $250, according to Archambault’s campaign website. The notice for the fundraiser stated that all COVID-19 protocols would be in place.
“During a pandemic, while people are struggling, not knowing their health, their well-being, their financial situation. Everything is on the table. We’ve got a state senator raising money, exorbitant numbers. How can this senator be serving the people?” Tocco said. “The last thing he should be doing is worrying about his own self-serving political career, but he comes first.”
Tocco said that he and fellow challenger Republican Paul Santucci are not holding any fundraising events and added they are both self-financing. He said that Archambault is among the senators “building war chests for future aspirations, for political cushions, for the ability to ward off any opponents.”
He referenced Sun Rise profiles of unopposed incumbent Rep. Gregory Costantino (D-Dist. 44) and Sen. Frank Lombardo (D-Dist. 25) to illustrate his belief in staying committed to constituents.
“Rep. Constantino has no fundraisers, he’s committed to the people,” Tocco said. “Sen. Lombardo said to you, ‘I don’t have an opponent, I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job.’ That says something. In the last six years, Sen. Archambault has had primary opponents and general election opponents. That tells me that people are not happy with his performance or what he’s doing.”
Tocco said the state is “not serving the taxpayers” well, and that there are too many tax burdens and regulations imposed upon individuals and businesses. He said Rhode Island should continue to model itself after Massachusetts — “We smartened up and copied their education plan.”
“We should be looking right now of where the next generation of the economy needs to go in this state,” Tocco said. “All over this state, we’ve got some beautiful, beautiful areas and it’s all within an hour’s drive, but the leadership we have in this state is not serving the taxpayers. These politicians, they come and they go. Rhode Islanders love their state. They don’t go unless they’re forced to go. They’re forced to go because the opportunities aren’t here the way they should be, but yet 45 miles up the road, you’ve got the best of the medical, the life sciences, the biotechs, the whole industry in itself.”
If copying the Massachusetts playbook isn’t palatable, Tocco suggested the state look within itself. He pointed to Johnston’s ability to attract major developments, such as the Citizens Bank campus and Market Basket, that are fostering economic growth.
“Mayor Polisena should run for governor,” Tocco said. “When I see what happens in that community, I marvel at this. I look at the Town Council and they’re the town that can. They’re the town that can make things happen … In Johnston, they roll in the same direction. They know how to dance when the music’s not playing. You see that, why can’t that happen on the state level?”
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