Ever Think About Throwing Your Hat In The Ring? Now's The Time

JAMESTOWN, RI—Rhode Island has a big problem finding people who are willing to run for political office, according to Sav Rebecchi, of Jamestown. During the 2016 election, more than half — exactly 51 percent — of the General Assembly members (House representatives and State senators) walked into office unopposed. The odds of catching a free ride were excellent for incumbent state senators; 52 percent of the senators ran unopposed. And chances of holding onto a seat weren't much worse for incumbent representatives, given the fact 45 percent of them didn't have an opponent.

If people are waiting for the political party leaders to step up, they'll wait a long time, he says. But the solution will come if more people get involved and contest these races.

If more people are going to step up in 2018, they better do it soon. The time for political office seekers to file papers is coming up next week. According to Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island's secretary of state, the Declaration of Candidacy forms must be received by 4 p.m. on these days: June 25, June 26 or June 27. The forms can be mailed or delivered.

"Candidates for Congressional or Statewide office must deliver or mail the signed form to the Elections Division of the Department of State so it is received on June 25, 26, or 27 by 4 p.m.," her office said. "Candidates for municipal or General Assembly offices must either deliver or mail the signed form to the board of canvassers in the city or town where they are registered to vote on June 25, 26, or 27 by 4 p.m."

She's encouraging Rhode Islanders to get involved and consider public service.

Rebecchi's started a website, Full Ballots RI, as a resource for candidates. A full ballot means every candidate has an opponent.

But the situation is actually even worse than the 51 percent would indicate, he said.

"We had 24 Independents run for Statehouse" offices, he said. If the Independents weren't included, 75 percent of the incumbent state reps and senators would have run unopposed, he said.

The unopposed candidates are largely Democrats. Part of the problem is due to the Republican Party's historic problems in Rhode Island. Those issues can be traced to the Great Depression. But he also blames the political parties for putting too much emphasis on winning.

Rebecchi, who has been a candidate himself, says first-time candidates in particular should be able to use the initial campaign as a learning experience and find out if politics is really right for them. But the party leaders start in right away with questions about how much money the candidates can spend and how realistic their chances are of victory. It's daunting for people.

He ran against one of the most powerful Democrats in state government, then Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, in 2016 and was defeated. He did not expect to win, and he ran as an Independent. But he got into the race because he believed Paiva-Weed, who was first elected in 1992, stayed in the Senate for 24 years and was on the record opposing term limits, should at least have to debate the issues.

Even many of the local offices, which are often bipartisan, are not being fully contested. Rebecchi went back over the statistics from the 2016 races and found only three Rhode Island cities and towns — South Kingstown, Smithfield, and Woonsocket — had a full ballot. At the other extreme, 100 percent of the local candidates in Jamestown and in West Greenwich were elected unopposed. To see how your city or town rated, click here.

Ironically, even with so few opponents on the ballot, some contested races in 2016 turned out to be very close. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello came within 85 votes of losing to Republican challenger Steve Frias. And Deb Ruggiero, D-Jamestown and Middletown, beat Rebecca Schiff by just 226 votes.

There were other tight races, too, he said. But the newcomers don't have a lot of resources to prepare them for a campaign.

Gorbea's office also pointed candidates to "the latest updates to vote.ri.gov and the 2018 How to Run for Office Guide." It's online, her office said. "Potential candidates can download the 2018 How to Run for Office Guide at https://vote.sos.ri.gov/assets/pdfs/run_for_office_guide_2018.pdf or visit http://www.vote.ri.gov for the latest elections information. Hard copies are also available upon request by contacting the Department of State's Elections Division at (401) 222-2340."

Candidates can find the declaration form online and print it out, Gorbea's office said. They "must then sign it and have their signature witnessed by two individuals."

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