When an athlete signs a big contract to move on to another team and suggests that it is not about the money — don’t believe him. And when a politician suggests he or she is looking forward to a primary because it will serve as an opportunity to frame the issues and lay the groundwork for success in the general election — don’t believe it.
Just ask Bob Weygand.
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Congressman Weygand suffered a one-sided loss to U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee this past November, after having survived a brutal primary against former Lt. Gov. Richard Licht. The party line has been that Chafee’s name recognition and a deep respect for his late father helped fuel his victory. That is partly true — but far too simplistic an explanation.
The Democratic primary hurt Weygand badly. It cost him much money and pitted many popular Democrats who supported Licht — U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, for example — against him. In the end, Weygand’s campaign against Chafee never got off the ground.
The other big winner on election night was Secretary of State James Langevin, who easily won the race to fill the House of Representatives seat vacated by Weygand. Kennedy also won easily.
Another big political winner in 2000 was Sen. William V. Irons, a Democrat from East Providence. Irons defeated colleague Paul S. Kelly, a North Smithfield Democrat, to become Senate Majority Leader.
Irons has a pro-business reputation and has listed among his priorities a desire to improve the state’s tax structure.
During the 2000 legislative session, Irons supported a proposal that would have provided tax benefits for the state’s wealthier business leaders – a proposal that never made it to a full vote. Tax breaks for the wealthy is an issue that has drawn strident opposition from advocates for the poor.
But proponents counter that by allowing for such benefits, companies are more likely to remain in Rhode Island and expand — creating new jobs.
“I believe that economic stagnation hurts those at the bottom most,” he said. “It reduces their opportunities.”
A great deal of Rhode Island, said Irons, competes with Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“We all know that,” said Irons. “I know that making our tax rates competitive will attract strong opposition from those who are chiefly concerned with income and equality. And I respect differences of opinion. But there is nothing divinely ordained about our current tax structure. It is the product of federal and state actions over several years.”
With the November 2000 election completed, 2001 promises to be a year of speculation regarding the race to replace Gov. Lincoln Almond in 2001.
Democrats Weygand, Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse and Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, and Republicans such as former Attorney General Jeffrey Pine and former Congressman and current Bryant College President Ron Machtley are expected to be among the early “projected” candidates.
