What Sue Will Do
The new energy Sue will bring to the
Lieutenant Governor's office
CREATE AN AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
For too long, we have allowed an out-of-state company to control our energy systems for the benefit of their shareholders. It’s time to put the power back in the hands of Rhode Islanders.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will create and implement a robust energy strategy that:
-
stabilizes energy rates for Rhode Islanders already struggling to afford to live.
-
diversifies our energy sources away from natural gas and oil, which are produced out of state (often out of the country), have incredible volatile pricing, require incredibly expensive infrastructure, and devastate the environment that Rhode Islanders cherish
-
invests in clean, local energy sources built by skilled union laborers
-
modernizes our grid strategically and cost-effectively, while prioritizing energy efficiency
The Lieutenant Governor oversees three critical councils: the Emergency Management Advisory Council, Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, and the Small Business Advocacy Council. These were designed to be active forums, where government leaders and key stakeholders convened to solve real issues and turn ideas into action.
We know that climate change is worsening the impacts of natural disasters in our coastal towns: our different state and local agencies need leadership to enable them to better work together to invest in hazard mitigation and response.
We know that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates are driving primary care physicians out of Rhode Island: we need to ensure our older adults are receiving the medical care they need. We also know that these systems for older RIers are incredibly confusing and siloed -- and we need to demystify and streamline processes that enable RIers and their families to participate in these programs
We know that Rhode Island is one of the hardest places to start your own business: we need to listen to the needs of small businesses and streamline processes and programs to incentivize one of the most important pillars of our economy.
Leading on these issues doesn't require you to be an expert in every one of them: rather, it requires us to leverage the deep expertise we have in our state, a knowledge of how to make government work, an ability to build diverse coalitions, and a relentless drive to leverage every possible avenue until progress is made. I am no stranger to this kind of leadership -- from serving as RI's first Director of Food Strategy, to creating the North Main St. Task Force here in Providence, I know how to *rock* a government task force.
DELIVER PRODUCTIVE LEADERSHIP ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, LONG-TERM CARE, AND SMALL BUSINESS.
IMPLEMENT TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE PEOPLE
Right now, our transportation system is failing Rhode Islanders. Public transit options are limited and unreliable because government leaders keep bleeding the budgets dry. Our roads and bridges are ranked worst in the country. Bike and walking lanes are inconsistent at best, and often unsafe.
These failures go beyond just one issue. Improving our transportation system means more economic development, better quality-of-life all Rhode Islanders - especially for seniors and those with mobility challenges, stronger access to basic necessities (grocery stores, pharmacies, medical appointments), and more.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will:
-
Work with partners in the General Assembly, administrative agencies, and community organizations to fully fund RIPTA
-
Commit the State to Vision Zero - traffic engineering that commits us to a pathway of zero traffic fatalities or major injuries.
-
Ensure we are implementing the forward-thinking transportation plans we already have in place but are sitting on shelves undone -- including the Long Range Transportation Plan, the Transit Master Plan, and Bike and Mobility Plan.
-
Partner with the Governor, state agencies, and outside partners to ensure we are holistically addressing transportation as a system of mobility -- not forcing RIPTA to fight RIDOT for resources. Accessing our beautiful and diverse state should not be so difficult - and we have the experts and expertise necessary to enable high-quality transportation systems.
LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, COLLABORATION, AND RESPONSIBILITY
As an elected official, I believe how we lead is just as important as the issues we take on.
I will ensure the work I take on is visible and accessible to everyone.
I will never make a promise I don’t intend to keep and fight like heck to achieve.
I will be relentlessly collaborative, finding ways to leverage common ground without compromising on my values.
And I will hustle every single day to serve the people of Rhode Island.