In first debate, candidates for governor exchange charges of corruption

Sept. 28--BRISTOL, R.I. -- Gov. Gina Raimondo and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung resumed political hostilities Thursday in their first televised debate of this year's gubernatorial campaign, attacking each other as incompetent or corrupt, while independent Joe Trillo lobbed bombs at both.

The hour-long debate, held at Roger Williams University and hosted by WPRI-TV, took off at a blistering pace and never slowed down.

Republican Fung, who lost narrowly to Raimondo in 2014, took on Raimondo's record over the last four years, blaming her "failure of leadership" for losing the Pawtucket Red Sox and for problems with the state's public assistance computer system.

"We all know the numerous Raimondo mistakes that have hurt many of us," Fung said in his closing argument to voters, while promising to "keep our kids safe" by helping put police officers in every school.

Democrat Raimondo defended her economic record, repeatedly referring to the state's high unemployment rate before she took office and warning that a Fung administration would unwind her economic development incentives and cost people their jobs.

While Fung whaled away on the money and time Rhode Islanders lost to UHIP, Raimondo hit Fung on the ticketing scandal that resulted in a state police takeover of Cranston police, and his campaign's rent checks going uncashed by a powerful developer.

"There is a very big difference between a bungled IT rollout and public corruption," Raimondo said.

She apologized to all Rhode Islanders for UHIP and to Fung for his late father's file being lost in the computer system.

Trillo, the former Republican state representative from Warwick, used bombast, jokes and even funny voices to hit at the two front-runners, whom he dubbed "Flip Flop Fung" and "Giveaway Gina."

"I don't owe anyone anything, not even a cup of coffee," Trillo said.

While he attacked both, Trillo saved his most colorful exchanges for Fung, whom he called "wimpy" for not taking positions on issues.

Fung's support for President Donald Trump in a largely Democratic state has provided fodder for Raimondo. On Thursday he tried to explain a photo of him wearing a Trump hat at the president's inauguration last year with a colorful story about the street vendor selling the hats.

The vendor was a Rhode Islander, Fung said, who recognized him as the mayor of Cranston, but couldn't get a job in the Ocean State because of Raimondo.

Fung never answered whether he would wear a Trump hat again.

"Answer the question," said Trillo, Trump's Rhode Island campaign chairman.

Fung: "We don't need a loudmouth on Smith Hill again."

Trillo: "A loudmouth might get something done. Other than a wimpy guy like you."

Fung: "Are we back in elementary school with these smart aleck attacks?"

On the economy, Fung stuck to his platform of large tax cuts paid for by rolling back economic development incentives, eliminating government middle managers and ending wasteful spending. When pressed on how he would offset hundreds of millions in lost revenue, Fung said he would institute work requirements for welfare and photo IDs on food stamp cards.

Trillo said he would save tax dollars by eliminating spending on expensive vendors.

On abortion, Trillo described himself as pro-life, Raimondo said she was pro-choice and Fung said he supported "a woman's right to make medical decisions" with some restrictions.

"He can't answer a question like that. It's too difficult," Trillo said.

On school safety, Trillo said schools should have trained, armed teachers to deter evil-doers.

Fung said he would provide state help for all schools to have armed police officers.

Raimondo said simply that the answer was "fewer guns in schools, period." She didn't say whether she would support schools that want to use state aid to install metal detectors or hire police.

Lamenting the loss of the PawSox, Trillo and Fung turned against Raimondo together, blaming her for not getting the team and General Assembly leaders together to hash out a deal.

Raimondo said the legislature, and the House in particular, were to blame for not passing the financing package she negotiated with the team.

On the proposed Invenergy power plant in Burrillville, Raimondo took no position, which Fung said was in deference to campaign donors. Fung said he opposes the plant because there should be more local control. Trillo said he opposed "jamming it down" the throats of townspeople.

Both Fung and Raimondo said they were open to legalizing recreational marijuana use. Trillo said he was not.

Moderate Party candidate Bill Gilbert, independent Luis-Daniel Munoz and Compassion Party candidate Anne Armstrong were not invited.

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