Raimondo & Co. make stop in Woonsocket ahead of primaries
WOONSOCKET — Gov. Gina Raimondo came to Park View Manor in Woonsocket Friday to meet with city seniors and talk about the upcoming state primary election on Sept. 12 – but she ended up talking baseball first.
Raimondo arrived at the senior high rise a half hour after the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox announced Friday, in Worcester, that they are planning to leave Rhode Island for Massachusetts.
The team said it signed a letter of intent to build a downtown ballpark in Worcester for the 2021 season. The team said it plans to play at McCoy Stadium for the next two years until the new stadium is built. The team will be called the Worcester Red Sox and the new stadium will be called Polar Park, after Polar Seltzer, which is based in Worcester.
When questioned by reporters outside the high rise, Raimondo said she hadn’t been officially told by the team that Rhode Island is out of the running.
“I don’t know if they are leaving. We haven’t heard from the PawSox,” she said. “We were talking to them two days ago. We were working on it. We’re a little surprised at the timing. Obviously, we’re disappointed.
“I just had a phone conversation with the Mayor (Donald) Grebien and he’s disappointed,” she said. “I’m going to meet with him over the weekend.
“We want them to stay in Pawtucket,” the governor added. “I’ve been very clear about that. I’m going to stay at it
until we’re officially told they are out of Pawtucket.”
At a press conference held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Worcester City Hall, city and team officials revealed plans to construct a new ballpark at a cost up to $90 million. Team owner Larry Lucchino said it will be called Polar Park.
The development project will also include the creation of 250 apartments, two hotels, and space for restaurants or retail. It is expected to create 500 full-time jobs and 2,000 part-time jobs.
City of Worcester officials said the proposed development will not be paid for with city dollars, but the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will commit $35 million over next two to three years.
Final approval of the ballpark development is subject to endorsement by the Worcester City Council and Minor League Baseball.
Raimondo, who is up for re-election, was in Woonsocket Friday for two, backto-back coffee hours with city seniors, one at Park View Manor and the other at Kennedy Manor. She was joined by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. David Cicilline – both of whom are also up for re-election - and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, who was there to stump for all three Democratic incumbents.
“David Cicilline is destined for national leadership in the House Democratic party,” Kennedy said. “Sheldon Whitehouse isn’t so bad, either. No one has fought hard- er for the Affordable Care Act then Senator Whitehouse.”
“I’ve been in recovery myself for pain pills and alcohol and my whole life has been about making sure there is access to treatment for everybody. The lack of access to treatment is the reason people are dying,” he said.
“I’m here because no governor in the country has done more for treatment and recovery services in their state than Gina Raimondo,” Kennedy said. “Vote this September and make sure you call your friends out. We need Gina.”
Raimondo could be in for a tough re-election fight.
She faces a challenge in the Sept. 12 primary from former Secretary of State Matt Brown. If she wins, she’ll face the victor in the Republican primary, likely Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, who has raised $1 million, or his rival, state Rep. Patricia Morgan. Former state Rep. Joe Trillo, who was Trump’s state campaign chairman, is running as an independent.
“It’s a big election year that will have consequences,” Raimondo told city seniors Friday. “We’re committed to you. We’re asking you to help us get over the top in September and November.”
“We’re here to ask you for your support,” Cicilline said. “I need your help on primary day. Social Security and Medicare are still at stake. These are not entitlements, but earned benefits. We have to elect Democrats who know how important these issue are.”