JIM: THIS WEEK ON "POLITELY EXPERIMENT," THE TIDEWATER LANDING GETS NEW LIFE BY THE SLIMMEST -- " "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," A TIDEWATER LANDING GETS NEW LIFE BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS.

AND THE RHODE ISLAND GOVERNORS RACE AND GENERALLY ASSEMBLE RACES, HOW MUCH WILL THEY MATTER?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: HI, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT INTO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, BOB WALSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, RHODE ISLAND.

IAN DONNIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE PUBLIC'’S RADIO.

AND RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRWOMAN, SUE CIENKI.

WELCOME TO "LIVELY."

I'’M JIM HUMMEL.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

A TIE-BREAKING VOTE WAS NEEDED BY GOVERNOR MCKEE TO SHIFT ALREADY APPROVED TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF A SOCCER STADIUM.

AS THE PROJECTED COST HAS BALLOONED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

IT IS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT THAT DEVELOPERS ENVISIONED, INCLUDING HOUSING AND SOME COMMERCIAL SPACE.

IAN, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT IS EITHER GOING TO BE THE SAVIOR FOR PROTECTED OR TAKE US DOWN THE FINANCIAL RABBIT HOLE FOR YEARS TO COME.

IAN:IAN: THERE COULD BE A MIDDLE PATH.

I THINK THERE ARE STRONG ARGUMENTS.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE CITY NEEDS MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE MAYOR SEEMS TO WANT THE BEST FOR HIS COMMUNITY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW AS SPORTS ECONOMIST SAY, THESE STADIUMS ARE OFTEN NOT GOOD FROM AN ECONOMIC MODEL.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS VISION REALLY COME ABOUT OF ENOUGH ACTIVITY AROUND THE STADIUM THAT WOULD CREATE JOBS AND MAKE IT MORE OF AN ATTRACTION?

8 HAS EMERGED --PAWTUCKET HAS EMERGED AS A BEDROOM LOCATION FOR SOME.

IT STRIKES ME HOW GOVERNOR MCKEE HAS BEEN CLEAR IN HIS SUPPORT CREATE HE HAS NOT SHOWN EQUIVOCATION THAT GOVERNOR RAIMONDO DID ABOUT THE DEAL.

OF COURSE, HE NEEDS TO RUN VERY STRONG IN THE VALLEY TO ENHANCE HIS CHACES OF WINNING THE GOVERNOR'’S OFFICE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF HOW THIS PANS OUT IS DUE TO THE LARGER ECONOMY.

THE WHOLE THING HAS BEEN DOWNSIZED DUE TO THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, POST-COVID.

IF THE ECONOMY IS HOT, THAT WOULD HEIGHTEN THE CHANCES FOR THINGS WORKING OUT.

IF THERE IS A RECESSION, THAT COULD COOL THINGS FURTHER.

JIM: SUE IS ON THE END THAT THIS IS TAKING US DOWN THE FINANCIAL RABBIT HOLE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: THIS IS.

FIRST WHEN IT WAS ENVISIONED AS A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, WHICH I DON'’T HAVE BIG OBJECTIONS TO.

THEY CAN WORK OUT WELL, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT SAFEGUARDS IN.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THEY SKINNY DOWN THE PROJECT SO THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THIS SOCCER STADIUM RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL SPACE, WHICH PROBABLY IS NOT A BAD IDEA TO REINVIGORATE THE PAWTUCKET AREA, BUT THAT ISN'’T HAPPENING.

NOW WHAT YOU HAVE GOT IS A SOCCER STADIUM.

WE LOOK AT IT, A SOCCER STADIUM, IT IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ONE BUT A SEMIPROFESSIONAL ONE.

SO THEY ENVISION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MAY BE 4000 FANS COME TO THAT.

THE DEVELOPERS OF THIS DAY, OH, NO, 7200 COME.

WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM?

BECAUSE IT IS 70 MILES NORTH OF THE STADIUM WHERE THEY HAVE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER WERE MAYBE THEY ATTRACT 18,000 PEOPLE TO GILLETTE, SO THEY DON'’T FILL IT UP.

MY KIDS PLAYED SOCCER GROWING UP AND WOULD HAND OUT FREE TICKETS TO SOCCER TEAMS TO FOR THE STADIUMS.

THEY ALSO HAVE A FEEDER PROGRAM AND UNDER 19 SOCCER UP AT GILLETTE, SO WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE FANS THAT COME TO PAWTUCKET?

JIM: THE SPORTS ECONOMISTS WILL TELL YOU IT IS NOT NUMAT NEW MONEY BUT SHIFTED.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: IT IS SHIFTED RECALL AT THE PAW-SUCKER STADIUM NOW.

IT WILL BE A FINANCIAL DISTRESS.

JIM: I HAVEN'’T HEARD THAT.

BOB?

BOB: YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR THAT THIS WAS A REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP BY GOVERNOR MCKEE.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL VOTE BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE DELAYED IT A FEW MORE MONTHS.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, PRICES WENT UP BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

THEY DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THE CORE PIECE FIRST, AND IF PEOPLE READ THE ARTICLES AND LISTEN TO THE DIALOGUE, ONE, THEY SLEY THE DEMAND OF 38 STUDIOS BECAUSE THIS DEAL HAS THEM IN PLACE THAT THAT DID NOT ACCOMMODATE SLADE THE DEMON -- SLAYED THE DEMON THAT INSTEAD OF DITHERING FOR ANOTHER YEAR, THEY GOT IT DONE.

AND IT DOES NOT NEGATE THOUSANDS, WHICH IS A CRITICAL PART BECAUSE THERE IS OTHER MONEY AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING AND OTHER MONEY AVAILABLE TO DO THE REST OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEY SAW WITH HIGHER COSTS ON THE CORE PIECE THAT HAD TO BE DONE, THEY SHIFTED THEIR RESOURCES THERE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REMARKABLE, AND THIS COULD BE THE TYPE OF THING THAT FINALLY MAKES PEOPLE SAY, DAN MCKEE IS THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND, AND HE IS WILLING TO SHOW FULL LEADERSHIP.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: POLITICAL DISCUSSION, LOOK AT THE FIVE VOTES ALL FOR POLITICIANS THAT CAN SOLVE THIS.

THE FOUR AGAINST WERE BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND.

IAN: WAIT A SECOND, ONE OF THE ONES AGAINST IT WAS THE BROTHER OF ONE OF HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS AND THE OTHER WAS A FINANCE CHAIR.

THIS IS A POLITICAL VOTE AGAINST IT!

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: BUT YOU JUST SAID IT IS NOT.

BOB: NO, I DID NOT.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: WAIT A MINUTE, YOU LIKE DAN MCKEE BECAUSE THE NIA JUST SUPPORTED HIM.

WHICH IS SHOCKING.

JIM: WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: AND THAT AFI CLO ENDORSED THE GOVERNOR AFTER HE CAME OUT WITH THIS VOTE, SO IT WAS A POLITICAL VOTE.

BOB: BUT ALSO -- JIM: AS THE COUNTER ARGUMENT, YOU READ IMMEDIATELY THE GLOBE AND EVERYBODY WENT TO THE SPORTS ECONOMIST STUFF THAT HOLY CROSS, AND THE INTERVIEW EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SAYS THIS BASICALLY DOESN'’T WORK.

IN TERMS OF MAKING IT FINANCIALLY, THE PROBLEM IS YOU SHIFT ALL THAT MONEY FROM THE HOUSING THAT GETS BACK ENDED NOW, AND THEY ARE PUTTING ALL THEIR EGGS IN THE SOCCER BASKET.

YOU WONDER WITH THE HOUSING, AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK FOR MORE MONEY.

DO YOU THINK THAT?

>> IT IS A FAIR QUESTION, AND WE KNOW THERE IS A SERIOUS NEED FOR MORE HOUSING UNITS, BUT SOCCER IS POPULAR IN RHODE ISLAND.

SUE RAISES FAIR QUESTIONS ON WHETHER IT WILL DRAW WHAT IT IS PROJECTED TO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE A BURGEONING LATINO COMMUNITY AND OTHER FOLKS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SOCCER.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: I WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC SOCCER PLAYER IN COLLEGE.

I PLAYED SOCCER.

I'’M NOT GOING TO PAWTUCKET TO WATCH SOCCER.

>> WERE YOU A SOCCER MOM?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: YES.

I WAS.

JIM: THROWING ELBOWS.

WE ARE A TOP 10 SOCCER MARKET, ACCORDING TO THE SPORTS ECONOMISTS.

BOB: I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE PAW SOCK.

THAT TRAIN LEFT THE STATION.

JIM: DESIGNATE MAKE YOU REALIZE HOW SMALL MONEY THAT WAS COMPARATIVELY?

BOB: YES, JIM, IT DOES.

WE ARE FRUSTRATED.

JIM: WE LOST IT FOR WHAT?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: THEY ALREADY HAD A BUILT IN BASE.

PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO UP AND WATCH THE RED SOX AND NOT SPEND THE MONEY, PAWSOX WAS A CHEAP TICKET.

I DON'’T THINK YOU WILL DRAW THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU DID FOR PAWSOX FOR BASEBALL.

BOB: CLEARLY SOCCER IS GROWING IN CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY AND RHODE ISLAND HAS CHANGED THAT MUCH DEBT THAT WILL BE THE NEW BASEBALL FOR RHODE ISLAND?

JIM: BASEBALL FACES A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

THE TYPICAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FAN IS SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH.

I THINK SOCCER DOES HAVE MORE SUPPORT FROM YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

GENERALLY LATINOS, PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES, PORTUGAL.

I THINK IT IS AN UP-AND-COMING THING.

I'’M NOT A STUDENT OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER, SO I CANNOT REALLY ASSESS THE DRAWING POWER.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT BOB'’S POINT THAT THE MONEY IS BACK ENDED AND THERE ARE GUARDRAILS.

A DIME DOES NOT GO OUT THE DOOR UNTIL THEY GET SOMETHING DONE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: I ACTUALLY DON'’T THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH GUARDRAILS.

I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A LOT MORE OVERSIGHT.

I'’M NOT A BIG PROPONENT OF SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON SOCCER STADIUMS OR ANY TYPE OF ATHLETIC FACILITY.

IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD IT, GO AHEAD.

I THINK THE NICE IDEA IN THIS PROJECT WAS IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND NOW IT ISN'’T.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

I KNOW PAWTUCKET IS TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR ITSELF AND REJUVENATE ITSELF.

A LOT OF THE MILL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THAT'’S A GREAT WAY TO GROW YOUR CITY.

CERTAINLY IF THEY HAD A TRAIN STATION WHERE PEOPLE COULD COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH TO BOSTON, BUT THEN AGAIN, COVID HATE, PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME NOW, SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A DIFFERENT WAY OF HOW WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMY ANYWAY FROM WHERE BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY STAYING AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORKING.

JIM: LET'’S TALK THE POLITICAL ANGLE AND GET TO THE GOVERNOR'’S RACE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS THE FASTEST SCHEDULING FOR GROUNDBREAKING EVER.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THIS FRIDAY.

THE INK IS NOT EVEN DRY ON THE VOTE.

IT IS TWO WEEKS, AUGUST 12.

BUT HOW DO YOU THINK THIS AFFECTS DAN MCKEE INTO THE FALL?

IT IS GOING TO GET NEGATIVE PRESS.

BUT DO YOU THINK HE IS NOT CONCERNED?

EVERYTHING GETS SEEN THROUGH A POLITICAL LENS WITH SEVEN WEEKS TO THE PRIMARIES.

IAN: THIS IS THE PART THAT I THINK IS OVERLOOKED, AND I REFERENCED IT IN MY EARLIER REMARKS.

THIS IS LEADERSHIP.

AS GOVERNOR, DAN MCKEE SAID, I BELIEVE IN THIS PROJECT, I WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THAT IS LEADERSHIP.

I KNOW THAT IT'’S A SHOCK TO PEOPLE.

THEY DON'’T CARE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

HE SAW SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND HE ACTUALLY DID IT.

THAT IS REALLY AND, AND THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRYING OUT% FOR.

AND PEOPLE LIKE IAN AND MYSELF WE WERE HOLLERING TO THE SKIES, TO GET THIS PAWSOX DEAL DONE, AND THEY KEPT DELAYING IT, ONCE IT WENT OUT TO BIDDING AND WORCHESTER SWOOPED IN, WE CANNOT COMPETE.

THIS IS LEADERSHIP.

I DON'’T WANT SPRINGFIELD TO STEAL THIS FROM US.

I'’M GLAD IT IS IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND PEOPLE WHO VOTE AGAINST DAN MCKEE BECAUSE OF THIS, EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THE PROJECT, THEY WILL HAVE TO AGREE HE SHOWED REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP.

JIM: THE FLIPSIDE FROM THE SPORTS ECONOMIST IS RINGS LIKE A PAWSOX STADIUM OR SOCCER STADIUM ARE NICE TO HAVE.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE SPORTS CULTURAL AMENITIES AND A COMMUNITY.

YOU DON'’T GET THE STADIUM JUST AS AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR.

THE ASPIRATION IS THAT THIS WILL CREATE OTHER STUFF, WHETHER THAT WILL REALLY HAPPEN, WHO KNOWS?

BUT TO BOB'’S POINT, IT IS NICE TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

I THINK WE ARE SAD FOR THE LOSS OF THE PAWSOX BECAUSE IT WAS A CHERISHED COMMUNITY INSTITUTION, AND INVESTING AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO REVITALIZE OR REJUVENATE RHODE ISLAND'’S ECONOMY, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO STILL HAVE THE PAWSOX HERE.

GOVERNOR MCKEE TOOK A LITTLE SHOT AT PERHAPS FORMER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO AND FORMER SPEAKER SAYING I WILL NOT LET THIS SLIP AWAY.

THERE WAS A LITTLE OF A SHOT OF HOW THE PAWSOX ISSUE WAS HANDLED.

I THINK THIS HELPS HIM A LITTLE BIT IN PAWTUCKET.

I THINK THERE ARE BROADER FACTORS THAT WILL INFLUENCE THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY HOW NEITHER OF THE TWO TOP RIVALS TO MCKEE IN THE PRIMARY HAVE YET REALLY TAKEN THE FIGHT TO MCKEE.

WE HAVE AN INCUMBENT WHO HAS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE VOTERS A REASON TO TOSS THAT PERSON OUT.

I THINK ANYONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE RACE CLOSELY RIGHT NOW SEES IT AS A TOSSUP.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE ANOTHER SHOE DROP AS FAR AS A CASCADE OF NEGATIVE ADVERTISING FIRM ALL THREE OF THE TOP DEMOCRATS -- FROM ALL THREE OF THE TOP DEMOCRATS.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: IT SHOWS POLITICAL SAVVY.

HE NEEDS 30% TO GET OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

WHAT IS HE TRYING TO DO, HE'’S GOING AFTER THE UNION VOTE.

HE WENT AFTER THE TRADE, NEA, TRYING TO SHORE UP THAT TO GET OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BECAUSE I DON'’T THINK THIS PLAY IS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS STATE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR A SOCCER STADIUM.

IN PAWTUCKET, IT MAY PLAY, AND CERTAIN TRADES, ABSOLUTELY.

HE MEANS THAT 30% TO SURVIVE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

HE HAS NELLIE CHIPPING AT HIS FEET AND HELENA STONE FROM BEHIND, SO YES TO PUT ALL OF HIS EGGS TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY.

JIM: I DON'’T UNDERSTAND POLITICALLY WHY NELLIE SET A BAD WORD ABOUT THIS.

HER, THE DEMOCRATIC -- I UNDERSTAND HELENA'’S POSITION AGAINST IT, AGAIN, WHEN YOUR BROTHER -- NOT THAT SHE IS HER BROTHER'’S KEEPER, HE COULD HAVE VOTED ONE WAY AND HER THE OTHER, -- BY THE WAY, THAT WAS LEADERSHIP FROM DAN MCKEE, TOO.

IN A SENSE THAT HIS DAD OR THE THIRD SHARES AUTHORITY.

HIS TERM EXPIRED AND THEY COULD HAVE REPLACED HIM, AND IF YOU WANTED TO BE POLITICAL, YOU COULD HAVE REPLACED HIM A YEAR AGO.

HE LEFT AMONG THE BOARD TO SPEAK HIS PIECE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE.

HE WAS THE TIEBREAKER.

HAD IT NOT COME DOWN TO A TIED VOTE, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO VOTE AT ALL ON IT.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: WHY DID THOSE TWO PEOPLE WALK?

JIM: THEY TOOK A WALK.

IAN: I DON'’T KNOW.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: REMEMBER, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY DIDN'’T WANT TO COMMIT SO THEY TOOK A WALK.

JIM: LET'’S TALK ABOUT ASHLEY BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AD THAT WENT UP, AND I KNOW THE CONSULTANT TELLS YOU TO DO THIS, BUT THE AD MAKES IT SOUND LIKE IT IS DAN MCKEE'’S FAULT THAT GAS IS AT $4.50 A GALLON.

I KNOW THEY ARE LINKING BIDEN, KEY, AND I GET THAT.

IS THIS -- BIDEN AND MCKEE, AND I GET THAT.

IS THIS THE TIME TO GO NEGATIVE?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: ASHLEY HAS TO GET HER NAME OUT.

JIM: SHE HAS BEEN.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: SHE HAS TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW SHE IS A FIGHTER.SHE HAS TO TELL HER STORY BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'’T, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO TELL THE STORY FOR HER.

HERE IS A WOMAN THAT WAS WORKING HER WAY UP AFTER BEING HOMELESS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.

SHE RAN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

SHE LOVES RHODE ISLAND.

SHE WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE AREA, AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, SHE WAS LIKE, HOW DO YOU GET ANYTHING DONE?

THERE IS TOO MUCH REGULATION.

I THINK I CAN STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

SHE HAS GOT TO MAKE HERSELF OUT.

WHY WOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR ME?

BECAUSE I'’M DIFFERENT THAN THE 80 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

I THINGS BETTER HERE?

NO.

I ALWAYS SAY IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE WITH A STORIED HISTORY AND FABULOUS LANDSCAPE, BUT WE DON'’T DO ENOUGH.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT NELLIE GORBEA, SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO UP THE TAX ON CORPORATIONS.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES HERE IF YOU OVERTAX?

BOB: THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY COULD BE TO SIT BACK.

IAN: WHY IS ACTUALLY GETTING BANNED AND NOT NELLIE?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE DAN IS THE FRONT RUNNER, SO WHY WOULD YOU GO AFTER NELLIE?

IT IS BALANCING.

IT IS BASED ON THE POLLS.

HE IS STILL DELETING -- JIM: I THINK THEY WERE PULLING THE -- POLLING NECKA AND NECK.

SOMETHING TO LET DEMOCRATS BEAT EACH OTHER'’S UP, BUT TO SUE'’S POINT, SHE IS NOT AN EDIT TO PRE-, SO YOU NEED TO BE ON THE AIRWAYS BUT WHAT ABOUT HER STRATEGY?

IAN: YOUR BENEFIT, AS YOU SAY, SHE HASN'’T HAD A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY.

SHE HAS BEEN ON TELEVISION A LOT RECENTLY.

PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE NOW KNOW HER NAME AND WHO SHE HAS.

I DIDN'’T INTERVIEW WITH HER A MONTH OR SO AGO, AND SHE WAS TALKING MORE ABOUT GOALS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ARE IMPORTANT LIKE A BETTER ECONOMY.

SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT THIN ON THE HOW OF HER APPROACH, HER STRATEGY FROM GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE, AND SHE HAS TIME WITHOUT A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY TO PUT MORE POLICY DETAILS TOGETHER, BUT I WOULD HOPE TO HEAR FROM HER MORE ON THE HOW OF HOW SHE WOULD PLAN TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT SHE TALKS ABOUT WANTING TO DO.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: I ALSO THINK THAT OUR PRIMARY HERE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LATEST IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS SO LATE, -- BOB: SHOULD BE IN MAY.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: IT SHOULD BE.

IT IS ONE OF MY BIG PROPONENTS.

IAN: LET'’S GET THAT ON TAPE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: IT SHOULD BE EARLIER.

IT IS SO LATE.

IN TERMS OF PEOPLE, THEY WILL START VOTING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SEPTEMBER PRIMARY.

FOR ASHLEY, YOU HAVE GOT TO GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

BOB: EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARY BEGINS AUGUST 24.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: WE ARE ALREADY IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW.

JIM: I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BASIS POINTS SEVEN WEEKS LEFT.

THE THREE MAJOR CANDIDATES, MCKEE, NELLIE GORBEA, AND FOLKES, WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO POSITION THEMSELVES?

IAN: IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE GROUND GAME, THE EFFORT ON THE GROUND TO TARGET VOTERS, IDENTIFY VOTERS, IDENTIFY YOUR SUPPORTERS, GET THOSE SUPPORTERS TO VOTE, AND ALSO HOW THE MESSAGING CHANGES, AS WE HAVE SEEN, FOLKS HAVE COME UP A LOT FROM THE START OF THE RACE.

IT IS A NET AND GRACE -- NECK AND NECK RACE WHERE THEY HAVE A POSSIBLE CHANCE TO WIN THE PRIMARY.

HIS ONE OR MORE OF THOSE CANDIDATES GOING TO PULL OUT?

I'’M SURPRISED WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN ATTACK AD ON THE CONTROVERSY.

THAT SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE TAILOR-MADE FOR AN ATTACK AD.

JIM: I BELIEVE ACTUALLY HAS ONE IN THE BANK FOR AFTER THE PRIMARY, RIGHT?

IAN: EXACTLY.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME HARSH PUNCHES THROWN BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE NOW IN PRIMARY DAY.

JIM: QUICK THOUGHTS, A MINUTE ON WHAT EACH CANDIDATE HAS TO DO.

I KNOW YOUR GUY.

BOB: YEAH, I THINK DAN MCKEE IS GOING TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

NOT WITH AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF THE VOTE BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE NAMES ON THE BALLOT AND IT WOULD BE SPLIT UP NICELY.

IT'’S USEFUL TO BE ATTACKED BY THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE EVEN AFRAID OF HIM, BUT I THINK HELENA FOLKES SENT NELLIE GORBEA TAKE VOTES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO SOME EXTENT.

TO ME, THE INTERESTING POLITICAL TRIVIA IS DOES MACK BROWN DO WELL ENOUGH TO PUSH NELLIE FROM SECOND TO THIRD PLACE?

BECAUSE I THINK AT THE MARGINAL VOTES TO BROWN COME FROM NELLIE GORBEA.

I THINK HE COMES IN -- IF HE GETS -- NELLIE IS IN SECOND.

IF HE GETS ABOUT 10%, NELLIE IS ENDURED.

THAT'’S HOW I SEE IT.

JIM: GENERAL ASSEMBLY BASIS, SUE CIENKI HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK.

WE WERE CRITICAL OF YOU, AND NOW WE HAVE YOU HERE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: YOU SHOULD NOT BE CRITICAL OF ME BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK THE JOB, I SAID YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE IMMEDIATE CHANGE.

JIM: BUT WE DID NOT SEE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR UNTIL JANUARY.

WE WERE LOOKING IN RHODE ISLAND.

WE NEEDED TO LOOK IN OHIO.

[LAUGHTER] IAN: ILLINOIS.

BOB: HE GOT THE STATES WRONG.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: THERE IS A 12-YEAR PLAN, AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THINGS OVERNIGHT.

BOB: YOU SOUND LIKE PETER ALBINI WITH A 12 YEAR PLAN.

JIM: TELL ME ABOUT THE BASIS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LOT OF YEARS, WE WRITE EVERY YEAR ABOUT HOW ALL THESE RACES ARE UNCONTESTED.

WHETHER THE REPUBLICAN RACE WILL BE COMPETITIVE AND A LOT OF THEM GOT THEIR SIGNATURES IN THE RACE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A CHOICE.

PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE TO SAY, WELL, I VOTE FOR JOE SMITH BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS ON THE BALLOT, OR I DID NOT SHOW UP TO VOTE.

NOW THEY WILL BE COMPETITIVE BASIS.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT, WELL-QUALIFIED PEOPLE.

WE HAVE AMANDA BLAU, RUNNING AGAINST JUSTIN CALDWELL.

AMANDA IS SMART, YOUNG, OUT THERE, KNOCKING ON DOORS EVERY DAY.

OF COURSE, WE ARE BRINGING BACK DOREEN KOSTER, WHO WAS REDISTRICTED OUT.

SHE WILL BE RUNNING.

WE HAVE ALAN MYERS RUNNING ON EAST BAY, WHICH SURPRISES ME.

WE DID A DATA DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, AND WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY MAKE INROADS, AND IT SURPRISED ME AT SOME OF THE PLACES WERE REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY STEPPED UP AND THEY SAID, THIS IS THE YEAR WE CAN ACTUALLY WIN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED OVER POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

WHEN WE KNOCK ON DOORS, THE DATA WE RECEIVE BACK, 83% OF THE PEOPLE, THE TOP ISSUE IS THE COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION.

NUMBER TWO, SORRY, BOB, EDUCATION.

PARENTS ARE FRUSTRATED.

BOB: I'’M JUST HAPPY TO BE ON THE LIST.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: YOU ARE ON THE LIST.

NUMBER TWO, TOP ISSUES ARE INFLATION AND EDUCATION.

THAT IS WHAT OUR CANDIDATES ARE FOCUSING IN ON, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF GREAT CANDIDATES, JOE POWERS RUNNING IN CRANSTON.

JUSTIN CLOUSE RUNNING AGAINST POTTER, TOO.

JIM: WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM CHARLENE?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: CHARLENE KEPT CALLING ME UP, SAYING, YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY.

I SAID, I HAVE SOMEBODY.

BOB: CAN WE DO AN EXPANSION DRAFT?

[LAUGHTER] JIM: YOU WANT A NEW NAME?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: MARIE HAWKINS IS OUT THERE WORKING HARD.

SHE'’S RUNNING.

AND WE ACTUALLY GOT DANA TRAVERSING, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

JIM: BEFORE WE GET THE WHOLE SCORECARD, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT REPUBLICANS?

THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP.

IAN: THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.

IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH SLOG FOR MANY YEARS FOR THE GOP IN RHODE ISLAND.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: AND THEN I CAME ALONG.

IAN: THAT'’S RIGHT.

FORTUNATELY FOR SUE, IT COULD BE CONGENIAL FOR REPUBLICANS TO MAKE GAINS WITH VOTERS ANGRY AND ORNERY ABOUT INFLATION AND GAS PRICES.

I THINK SUE HAS WORKED HARD TO FIND MORE CANDIDATES AND TO RUN PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE PURPLE DISTRICTS THAT SHE MENTIONED, LIKE THOSE REPRESENTED BY SENATOR VALVERDE AND CALDWELL.

THOSE SOMETIMES CLIPPED FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRAT AND VICE VERSA, SO THOSE ARE RACES TO WATCH THIS YEAR.

JIM: AND THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL DRIVE VOTERS.

I HAVE SET ON THE SHOW BEFORE, AND I WILL SAY SINCE SUE IS HERE, SHE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN PRODUCING CANDIDATES.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: DO I PAY YOU NOW?

JIM: I WILL BE ESTATE -- BOB: I WILL BE A STATESMAN SOON.

I CALL IT LIKE I SEE IT.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES THAT UNLIKE SUE, I CANNOT NAME THEM ALL RIGHT NOW.

JIM: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" WILL LET YOU GO 15 MINUTES.

BOB: IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE LIST.

THIS IS OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS, THERE HAS BEEN A REALIGNMENT.

IS WHERE WE LIVE NOW BLUE OR PURPLE?

IT IS NOT JUST ONE LOSS.

IT IS HOW CLOSELY THE RACES COME BECAUSE THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GET OUT THERE AND WIN, HAS THE STATE REALIGNED IN A FUNDAMENTAL WAY?

ANDY'’S TURF THAT YOU USED TO CONTROL NOW MY TURF -- AND IS THERE TURF YOU USED TO CONTROL NOW MY TURF?

WE WILL ALSO SEE IT MANIFEST IN SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THAT WILL BE A CLOSE RACE.

MY TEAM IS GOING TO WIN, BUT THAT WILL BE A CLOSE RACE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN IS THE TREASURER'’S RACE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THESE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE SUPERMAN BUILDING, AND WE NEED AN ADULT IN THAT SEAT.

JIM LATHROP IS OUR CANDIDATE.

HE IS THE FINANCE CHARACTER.

HE HAS AN EXTREMELY STRONG BACKGROUND.

HE'’S NOT A POLITICIAN.

HE IS FROM THE FINANCE PROFESSION.

THAT IS SOMEONE WE NEED IN THAT OFFICE.

WE DON'’T NEED SOMEBODY THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT STATE WORKERS THAT ARE PENSIONED.

HE IS ONE OF THOSE, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY.

JIM: IS THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: NO.

LET'’S PUT THAT ON THE BACKGROUND.

JIM: LET'’S DO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

BOB: I CANNOT AT THE END OF MY 30 YEAR CAREER WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION -- JIM: BOB IS GOING INTO RETIREMENT.

BOB: I WILL BE A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR NOW.

I HAVE TO SAY A MOMENT OF THANKS TO OUR 12,000 MEMBERS.

I WAS DRIVING UP YOUR THINKING ABOUT THAT IS PROBABLY, OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, 20,000 DIFFERENT FOLKS I'’VE HAD THE HONOR TO REPRESENT.

AND ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WORK IN, NOT ONLY THE K-12 SCHOOLS BUT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND THE CITY AND TOWN HALLS WHERE THEY WORK.

I'’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOME FOLKS AND HAVE INTERESTING DIALOGUE AND FASCINATING TIMES.

IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO DO SO.

AND I GET TO DO FUN THINGS LIKE THIS NOW.

JIM: AND MORE RECENTLY STARTED TWITTER WARS.

BOB: OCCASIONALLY.

WELL, I MAKE TWITTER PIECE SOMETIMES -- PEACE SOMETIMES.

JIM: CONGRATULATIONS, HE'’S NOT GOING AWAY FROM "LIVELY."

IAN: MY OUTRAGE IS THE MEME SHARED BY A RESTAURANT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.

I MEAN, YOU CAN BE OF ANY IDEOLOGICAL PERSUASION AND FIND THIS OUTRAGEOUS.

THIS WAS JUST OFFENSIVE.

AND IT WAS TAKEN DOWN, AND THE OWNER OF THIS RESTAURANT APOLOGIZED, BUT HIS APOLOGY SEEMED MORE IN EFFORT TO TRY AND MOVE PAST THIS THAN AN EFFORT TO EXPLAIN WHY HE CAME UP WITH THIS.

IT DID NOT REALLY PASS WATER THAT HE UNWITTINGLY POSTED THIS.

I THINK YOU HAD TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS KIND OF OFFENSIVE MEME TO STUMBLE UPON IT, AND IT WAS VERY TROUBLING, AND IT WAS HEARTENING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CAUGHT THIS FOR BEING DESPICABLE.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: HE STOLE MY OUT RAGE, SO I'’LL GO TO KUDOS -- MY KUDOS IS TO SENATOR JESSICA DELACRUZ FOR PASSING THE BILL THAT MAKES IT A CRIME NOW FOR ANYBODY OVER 14 TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT WAS A LONG, HARD FIGHT.

MY SEATMATE OVER HERE PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT, THIS YEAR, HE UNDERSTOOD IT REALLY NEEDED TO BE TAKEN -- BOB: I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF.

WE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD.

THE TIME THERE WAS PUSHBACK FROM THE FOLKS IN MY SHOP WAS WHEN THEY SINGLED OUT TEACHERS.

ANY CAREGIVER, ANY ADULT WITH A POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY OVER SOMEONE OF THAT AGE WHO ABUSES THAT RESPONSIBILITY DESERVES TO DO HARD TIME, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT.

WE DO NOT LIKE WHEN WE TRY TO POLITICIZE IT AND JUST TALK ABOUT TEACHERS BECAUSE IT WAS A POLITICAL ANGLE NOT SOCIAL JUSTICE.

JIM: YOU GET THE LAST 15-SECONDS.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: INITIALLY, THEY DID HAVE COACHES, TEACHERS, ANYBODY -- BOB: I WERE NOT AGAINST THAT.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: FIVE YEARS AGO IT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE.

BOB: I DON'’T GET TO VOTE ON THAT.

CHAIRWOMAN CIENKI: FIVE YEARS AGO, IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED VOTED, SO KUDOS TO SENATOR JESSICA DELACRUZ FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THAT.

AND THE PARENTS UNITED GROUP THAT PUSHED HARD FOR IT.

IT'’S ABOUT TIME.

JIM: FOLKS, WE ARE HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME.

WE HAVE THE EXTRA, A COUPLE OF NATIONAL ISSUES.IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US ONLINE FOR "LIVELY EXTRA," WE WILL SAY GOODBYE TO IAN, SUE, AN BOB.

GO RIGHT NOW TO ONLINE, AND IF YOU CANNOT DO ANY OF THAT, JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: HI, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT INTO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.