Ken Block

TGIF: 11 Things to Know About RI Politics + Media (Chafee Switch Edition)

Ian Donnis — Fri, 31 May 2013 20:26:34 +0000

While Lincoln Chafee's move to become a Democrat might be utterly unsurprising to some, the governor's move nonetheless scrambled the landscape for what already looked like a riveting election fight next year. That's why Chafee leads my weekly column. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to drop me a line at idonnis (at) ripr (and) org and to follow me on Twitter. Let's go:

Political Roundtable: RI GOP Chairman Mark Smiley on Gist + 2014

Ian Donnis — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

RI GOP chairman joins the Roundtable this week (along with guest panelist Tim White of WPRI-TV, Channel 12) to discuss the debate over state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist; Moderate Party founder Ken Block's entry in the 2014 gubernatorial race, what's next for Rhode Island Republicans, and more.

Moderate Party's Ken Block Seeks Governorship Again

Ian Donnis — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:10:39 +0000

Moderate Party founder Ken Block has announced that he’ll be a candidate for governor next year. Block calls himself a problem-solver who can move the state forward.

Block thinks he can significantly improve on his showing in 2010, when he got six and a half percent of the vote for governor. He says he’s running because Rhode Island’s problems are abundantly clear.

Ken Block Announces Run for Governor in 2014

Ian Donnis — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:27:50 +0000

Moderate Party founder Ken Block, who has hinted for months about a second run for governor, made it official Tuesday, unveiling a campaign Web site and an announcement:

Moderate Party's Ken Block Taking Hard Look at RI Gov Race

Flo Jonic — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:37:33 +0000

Rhode Island Moderate Party leader Ken Block is weighing a second run for governor. Block said he will announce in the not-too-distant future whether he’s in the race.

In 2010, Moderate Party founder Ken Block, with virtually no statewide name recognition, garnered 6.5 percent of the vote in the race for governor. Block is hinting he’s going to make another gubernatorial run in 2014.

TGIF: 12 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:40:22 +0000

Happy Friday and welcome back. Your tips and thoughts are always appreciated in my inbox at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's dive in.

Ken Block's latest foray into outer political space

Scott MacKay — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:48:15 +0000

Are Ken Block’s 15 minutes of master lever fame up yet? Block, founder of the Moderate Party, losing 2010 gubernatorial candidate, computer genius and self-appointed political gadfly, has been campaigning relentlessly for an end to the master lever in Rhode Island elections.

Block Says Master Lever Critics Will Raise Focus on Fox, Paiva Weed

Ian Donnis — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:42:16 +0000

The leader of efforts to kill straight-ticket voting, Moderate Party founder Ken Block, says opponents of the master lever plan to raise their focus on winning support from House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.

“It’s up to the speaker and the Senate president to bring those bills up for a vote in committee to get them to the floor, and now the public pressure begins to mount on both of those offices to do that," Block says. "We’ll be pushing on that very hard over the next month, month and a half.”

Payday Loans and Straight-Ticket Voting Under Scrutiny

Ian Donnis — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:33:20 +0000

Two bills getting a lot of attention this legislative session will go under the microscope at committee hearings Tuesday. Lawmakers will be discussing legislation abolishing straight-ticket voting and restricting payday lenders.

Moderate Party founder Ken Block is leading an effort to do away with straight ticket voting, a practice also known as using the master lever. Block says the master lever sows confusion and gives an advantage to the ruling Democrats in the General Assembly.

TGIF: 14 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:18:33 +0000

Welcome back to my weekly column. Spring is starting to pop, and there's never a shortage of news hereabouts, so let's get to it. As always, your thoughts and tips are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.