Politics & Government

Fung Comes Calling To EG GOP

The Republican Town Committee heard from him last week, but they haven't yet decided if they will endorse a primary candidate.

Allan Fung was in town Thursday night to meet with the East Greenwich Republican Town Committee ... and maybe pick up an endorsement. The Cranston mayor is running for governor.

But while Town Council President Michael Isaacs was willing to say personally he was backing Fung – they are longtime friends – the committee itself has yet to decide whether or not to even make a primary endorsement. Right now, two Republicans have joined the race for governor – Fung and Ken Block. 

Block, who left the GOP four years ago to help establish the Moderate Party then ended up the Moderate's candidate for governor in 2010, will be visiting the EG GOP in February.

Fung said his big push as governor would be improving the economy. 

"One issue that is crossing all borders in any municipality in Rhode Island is our economy," said Fung. "My goal is to make sure that we create an atmosphere where businesses that are here, and any businesses outside of our state, knows that we mean business and we will be open for business."

He credited some of the work done by Leslie Taito of the state Office of Regulatory Reform under Gov. Lincoln Chafee watch, but noted her recent departure from the job and the need to keep up the pressure. 

"Any time you can facilitate a quicker response so that businesses can open sooner, they're getting in revenues and there's less going out of their pockets," that's the goal, said Fung.

For business development, he looked at both what's happened in Cranston and what's been happening at Quonset in North Kingstown. 

"Initiatives like Quonset should be happening in many of our cities and towns. One of the things that's missing, and this is why I want to run for governor, is lacking a clear vision about where we want to go in the state to attract businesses," he said. "We don't have an overall vision and mission as to where we want to go."

He noted the success Cranston has had in rebuilding the center of the city with Garden City/Chapel View. 

And he pointed to companies like Alex and Ani and Taco that are headquartered in the city. 

"Creating that better business environment, making sure we're there as a touch point, a conduit, for business, provides a stable environment, what they're looking for," said Fung.

According to Chuck Newton, chairman of the EG committee, they will vote on whether or not to endorse a primary candidate at their March meeting.


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