It is primary week and dozens of politicians will be squaring off to earn the opportunity to represent their respective parties in the general election this November.
Fortunately, there are primary contests in many districts throughout Rhode Island. Lots of new faces have stepped forward in a bid to represent their communities in the state Legislature.
The primaries represent a necessary and healthy weeding out process. Usually, the candidate who is better organized and more serious emerges victorious.
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As a general election approaches, issues tend to synthesize. It becomes easier to differentiate one candidate from another, not so much because of party affiliation, but because of how he or she responds to specific questions.
That’s where you come in, whether you own or manage a business.
For years, the business community has been criticized – justifiably, we might add – for not playing a strong enough role in the political process. The most common mantra has been that business interests are far outnumbered at the General Assembly.
The upcoming general election is an opportunity for you to get directly involved in the process – whether you own or manage a business in Barrington, Providence, Woonsocket or anywhere else.
Why not invite the candidates running for the state Legislature in the district in which your business is located to a luncheon or meeting at your place of work? You could offer candidates the opportunity to address you and your workers for 10 minutes and then make themselves available to answer any questions you or your employees may have.
Perhaps you will come away impressed by their knowledge of business issues. Or perhaps they will expose themselves as far too removed from the issues that are critical to the success of your business or organization.
Either way, you and your employees – as well as the candidates – are sure to come away enlightened.
You can probably come up with countless questions for such a visit – issues that you know have an impact on your bottom line. They may revolve around health care coverage, payroll taxes and re-training programs or workers’ compensation, just to name a few. If you need help, there are numerous organizations that could help, including your local Chamber of Commerce, the Providence office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the National Federation of Independent Business or any one of the dozens of industry trade organizations with offices in Rhode Island.
So think about it. The General Assembly has traditionally been friendlier to labor than business. This is a way for you to develop a relationship with your representative and to show them that you need legislative help if you are to retain good jobs and create new ones.
