We've mentioned this before here on RI Future, and today's article by Edward Fitzpatrick again reiterates the intention of Red Sox adviser Jeremy Kapstein to challenge Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts in a Democratic primary.

The primary election is 6 months away, and one would normally assume that an announcement by a challenger would have been made already.  Kapstein, however, is not an ordinary challenger.  Based on statements previously made that he has millions to spend on his campaign, it's a foregone conclusion that Kapstein will self-fund his race with an insane amount of cash dwarfing the $386k that Roberts currently has in her campaign account.  This fact that must not escape the Robert's camp, and should probably be on the radar of the fledgling Moderate Party as well.

So, what is Kapstein going to run on?

"In these very difficult times, we must make the office of lieutenant governor a powerful force for job preservation and job creation," he said. "I love our state and I want to help."

 

He said he would focus on protecting the jobs that already exist in Rhode Island.

 

"And on a national and global level, I would personally recruit business, industry and new capital investment so that we can bring jobs into Rhode Island," he said. "My own national experience and my deep love for our state and its people would vividly translate as I recruit to bring jobs here by showing the beauty and natural advantages of the state we love to the rest of America and the world."

Sounds good, but what does that actually mean?  I have yet to hear a candidate running on a platform of job elimination, so what would Kapstein's growth strategy look like?  

I like Robert's BuyLocalRI initiative, although I'm not sure how successful it has been at promoting local buying when people are so accustomed to driving to the mall or big box stores when it's time to go shopping.

Would Kapstein be successful at bringing businesses to Rhode Island through his personal and professional relationships? Any smart business man looks at the whole spectrum of issues before making any decision about where to locate or expand.  Kapstein may be able to persuade business to think about RI, but it's doubtful.  And if he had such a penchant for it, why isn't he doing it now!

Kapstein emphasized the importance of small businesses in Rhode Island's economy.

 

"Directly toward this end, on behalf of all Rhode Islanders, I would closely monitor and hold accountable the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation," he said. "We, the taxpayers, must know what we are actually getting for the many millions of dollars that we annually supply to this entity. While I aggressively seek to bring business, industry and capital investment from elsewhere to create jobs, we must remember that it is absolutely vital to protect and nourish the businesses and jobs which we already have."

I like the sound of this.  As taxpayers, we should all be immensely concerned about how our tax dollars are spent.  More than the RIEDC, let's look at the many, many millions of dollars that are given away in corporate subsidies.  This is the one place where the General Assembly has yet to look when they discuss way to reduce government spending.  It's too bad, because this is the only place they have to look to fix the budget deficit.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary would face the perennial Cool Moose candidate Robert Healey, and Moderate Party candidate Jean Ann Guliano.