Cicilline kicks off bid to succeed Patrick Kennedy

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Providence Mayor David Cicilline called for a moratorium on new offshore oil drilling, no-interest students loans for middle-income families and a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members of Congress on Monday as he officially started his bid to succeed Rep. Patrick Kennedy in Washington.

The two-term Democratic mayor also called for a New Deal-style investment in things such as bridges and roads as a way to get people working and improve infrastructure. He also wants "a flexible but a firm" timetable for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan.

"We're repairing bridges, roads, schools halfway around the world when we have bridges, roads and schools crumbling in this country," he said during the first of several stops Monday around the state. "We need to change our focus. We need to focus on the things that will make us strong as a country."

Kennedy, a Democrat and son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, announced in February that he would not run for re-election. Within days, Cicilline and former state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch both said they would run. State Rep. David Segal has also entered the race.

The winner of the September Democratic primary is likely to face Republican state Rep. John Loughlin in November.

Cicilline was a successful criminal defense attorney and a state representative before becoming the capital city's first openly gay mayor in 2002. He inherited a city recovering from the corruption conviction of former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci and has touted himself as an anti-corruption mayor who has changed the way of doing business in the city.

"I've proven in this job as mayor I know how to do the hard work of government," he said. "This campaign is about who can deliver the most for Rhode Island."

Cicilline's experience as mayor helped get him the support of Madeline Ernest, 80, of Warren. The retired nursing home administrator, who also is a member of several advisory boards on aging issues, introduced Cicilline at an event at a senior housing complex in East Providence.

"Anything that he tries to do or says he's going to do, he does," she said, adding that she sees similarities between Cicilline and Kennedy. "I'm sure he won't be too off-base with what Pat does."

She said one of her top issues is more affordable and available transportation for older people, something Cicilline said he supports as a way to help seniors live independently.

Madeline Corey, 90, a lifelong voter from East Providence, said she has heard Lynch speak, but is going with Cicilline. She said jobs and improving roadways are her top issues this year, and she thinks Cicilline has the personality to get things done.

"I'd like to give him a chance," she said.

By at least one measure - fundraising - Cicilline is way ahead of his competitors. He had about $713,000 cash on hand for his campaign as of the end of March, more than triple what Lynch and Loughlin had, according to campaign finance records. Segal did not get into the race until last month.

Cicilline said his initiatives, such as no-interest student loans, would pay for themselves by bringing in more tax revenue, since higher education raises salaries.

Greg Mancini of BuildRI, a coalition of construction contractors and labor unions, who attended the Woonsocket event, said there is a 40 percent to 50 percent unemployment rate in the construction industry in Rhode Island. While the group has not endorsed anyone, he said it supports whatever candidate has plans to create jobs.

"We need business opportunities and job creation opportunities, and we're here to support that initiative," he said.