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Democrats Rep. Brandon Potter and Joseph Graziano face off in primary race for House District 16

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Democrats Rep. Brandon Potter and Joseph Graziano face off in primary race for House District 16

Sep 08, 2024 | 7:00 am ET
By Nancy Lavin
Two Democrats face off in primary race for House District 16
Description
The bold red of the House chamber is glimpsed below at at the Rhode Island State House. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Two-term progressive Rep. Brandon Potter faces Democratic challenger Joseph Graziano for the seat representing House District 16 in Tuesday’s primary. The district covers the Garden City, Eden Park and Stadium neighborhoods in Cranston.

Rhode Island Current reached out to the candidates with a questionnaire.

2 days ago

Cranston Rep. Brandon Potter wants better standards for nursing home workers

By: - Friday September 6, 2024 4:13 pm
Democrats Rep. Brandon Potter and Joseph Graziano face off in primary race for House District 16
Rep. Brandon Potter, a Cranston Democrat, speaks during the debate over LEOBOR reform on the House floor Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Name: Brandon Potter (incumbent)

Party: Democrat

Race: House District 16

Age: 40

Job: third-year law student at Roger Williams University School of Law

Years lived in Rhode Island: lifelong resident 

Residence: Cranston

Political bio: Two terms as state representative 

What are your top three legislative priorities if elected?

My legislative priorities are aspirational in the long-term and practical in the short-term. Long-term, we need to reform our broken healthcare system so everyone can get the care they need, no matter how much money they have or what their insurance plan is. We need to grow our local economy and continue to put working families front and center so every working person earns a living wage, and we need to ensure every student across R.I. can get a high-quality public education. How we get to each takes a lot of work and a long-list of legislative efforts. In 2025, my immediate top priorities are overturning Gov. Dan McKee’s veto of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act, finally passing a ban on the sale of assault rifles, and ensuring that critical social services and Medicaid are protected now that our federal COVID relief money has all been spent.

Should Rhode Island have an assault weapons ban? Why, or why not?

Absolutely. Unspeakably horrific mass shootings have become commonplace in our nation and in almost all of the deadliest tragedies, semi-automatic rifles were used. Thankfully, Rhode Island hasn’t had to mourn like many other states have, but that’s not a reason to not take action — it’s a reason to be proactive and avoid the possibility. In a state legislature where elected Democrats outnumber Republicans more than seven to one, and every statewide general officer supports a ban, it’s inexcusable that the General Assembly has not acted on a common-sense bill to protect our communities and instead allowed the Senate president to block it. This is not how an institution of democracy should operate.

Do you support a state inspector general’s office? If so, where do you propose the funding come from within the state budget? 

I am open to the idea and co-sponsored the legislation last year. Some of my colleagues have made a good argument that an inspector general’s office wouldn’t actually cost the state money, but in fact, be revenue-positive with an expectation of cutting wasteful spending and identifying fraud. The most convincing argument for me at the moment is the Washington Bridge debacle. The money that the state will now need to find to rebuild the bridge — even after any federal assistance we receive — is money that we urgently need for health care, education, housing and critical social services. Thankfully, Speaker Shekarchi has led a budget process each year that I have full trust and faith in, but we should keep an open mind to all ideas for how to maximize efficiency in state government for future years.

Last updated: 5:49 pm

2 days ago

Joseph Graziano prioritizes education, housing and infrastructure

By: - 4:06 pm
Democrats Rep. Brandon Potter and Joseph Graziano face off in primary race for House District 16
Joseph Graziano, who works as a public information specialist for the Rhode Island Department of State, is skeptical about creating an inspector general’s office for the Ocean State. (Contributed photo)

Name: Joseph Graziano

Party: Democrat

Race: House District 16

Age: 39

Job: Public information specialist, Rhode Island Department of State

Years lived in Rhode Island: Lifelong resident

Residence: Cranston

Political bio: No experience in elected office

What are your top three legislative priorities if elected?

Education. Housing. Infrastructure

Should Rhode Island have an assault weapons ban? Why, or why not?

Yes. While I believe in the right to bear arms, I also believe in harsher penalties for those who commit crimes with them. I think for sport and self-defense, an assault rifle is too much and would like to hear the arguments for them beyond the “It’s my right.”

Do you support a state inspector general’s office? If so, where do you propose the funding come from within the state budget? 

Creating a whole new agency, especially one with oversight on spending, requires a lot of work. It needs to have a significant plan with fleshed out parameters, it needs buy-in from just about everyone in government, and it needs to justify the spending on itself. I don’t want to create an agency just for the sake of it. It needs to be effective and fleshed out.

Last updated: 5:49 pm