Former Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee was ceremoniously sworn in as governor of Rhode Island March 7. McKee takes the place of former Governor Gina Raimondo, who resigned after being nominated as secretary of commerce by President Joe Biden.聽
McKee inherits a state combatting the ; still, political leaders in the Ocean State remain optimistic about his tenure as governor.
鈥淕overnor McKee brings a valuable perspective as a former municipal leader, which will be important as we work collaboratively to rebuild our state,鈥� Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives K. Joseph Shekarchi wrote in an email to The Herald. before becoming lieutenant governor.
McKee 鈥渉as been a consistent and strong voice on behalf of Rhode Island鈥檚 hard-hit small business community, which I鈥檓 sure will continue to be a major area of his focus,鈥� Shekarchi wrote.
For Shekarchi, who worked on Raimondo鈥檚 first public office campaign for general treasurer in 2010, Raimondo鈥檚 appointment is 鈥渂ittersweet,鈥� because he was excited to work with her upon being elected speaker in January. But Shekarchi is 鈥渢hrilled she has reached the pinnacle of her personal and professional career in President Biden鈥檚 cabinet.鈥�
鈥淔rom the day I accepted the job to manage her first political campaign when she ran for general treasurer in 2010, I knew she was destined for greatness,鈥� he wrote.
McKee and Raimondo have 鈥渧ery different (leadership) styles, but both are effective,鈥� Shekarchi wrote.
Zo毛 Mermelstein 鈥�21, president of College Democrats of Rhode Island, said that she was 鈥渞elieved鈥� to see McKee inaugurated.
鈥淩hode Island has kind of been in limbo the last few months,鈥� Mermelstein said. Raimondo was nominated for Commerce Secretary in January but 聽 鈥淪o I'm really glad that (McKee) is in office and hopefully he'll do the work to keep us progressing in a positive way.鈥�
Zack Mezera, organizing director for the Working Families Party of Rhode Island, cited COVID-19 as a primary concern for his organization as McKee takes office.聽
The Working Families Party is a minor political party that focuses on improving the lives of working families by supporting candidates who prioritize social, environmental, racial and economic justice in Rhode Island, .
鈥淭he pandemic revealed the fragility of the (Rhode Island) economy,鈥� Mezera said. 鈥淭he inequity was really unveiled as the consequences of the pandemic rolled out across鈥� the state.
鈥淭here's a lot of structural work that we need to be doing long-term, well beyond COVID,鈥� Mermelstein said, to ensure a 鈥渕ore sustainable future for all Rhode Islanders.鈥�
Under McKee, Mezera hopes to see the Rhode Island government 鈥渋nvest in a much higher-level, good-quality economy鈥� to improve the lives of essential, childcare, healthcare and minimum-wage workers, among others financially impacted by the pandemic.
鈥淩egardless of whoever the governor is, we know that in the last election cycle here, people clearly supported and voted for an agenda that was focused on supporting the working class,鈥� Mezera said. 鈥淪o that's kind of what we want to communicate to whoever the new governor is. And we hope that they鈥檒l take that to heart.鈥�
The Working Families Party focuses less on individual politicians in power and more on 鈥渟pecific issues,鈥� Mezera said. Though the party at times disagreed with former Governor Raimondo, he explained, 鈥渢here were also so many ways that she invested in priorities that we had,鈥� such as establishing the R.I. Promise Scholarship program, which increased accessibility of post-secondary degrees for residents of the state.
Mermelstein is 鈥渙ptimistic鈥� about McKee鈥檚 future as governor, as well as Raimondo鈥檚 work as commerce secretary.聽
鈥淚 think that (Raimondo) is really smart. I think that she has a pedigree in business,鈥� Mermelstein said. Still, the College Democrats of Rhode Island and other progressive groups will be 鈥減ushing鈥� Raimondo, as well as the 鈥渆ntire Biden administration,鈥� she said, to prioritize 鈥減rogressive policies that are supporting 鈥� working class Americans.鈥�
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