Politics & Elections

The Rhode Island Senate District 6 debate

Three Democratic party primary debates were held in Providence on Thursday evening at the Dr Martin Luther King Elementary School in  Providence Thursday evening. Candidates for Rhode Island House District 4, Rhode Island Senate District 6 and Mayor of Providence took questions from WPRI/Channel 12 reporter Dan McGowan and the audience, in an event that pushed the three-hour mark on

Rhode Island News: The Rhode Island Senate District 6 debate

August 10, 2018, 8:32 am

By Steve Ahlquist

Three Democratic party primary debates were held in Providence on Thursday evening at the Dr Martin Luther King Elementary School in  Providence Thursday evening. Candidates for Rhode Island House District 4, Rhode Island Senate District 6 and Mayor of Providence took questions from WPRI/Channel 12 reporter Dan McGowan and the audience, in an event that pushed the three-hour mark on a hot, sweaty night.


For convenience, I’ve divided the three debates into three separate posts, available here:

The Rhode Island House District 4 debate

The Rhode Island Senate District 6 debate

A Providence Mayoral debate


The evening’s debates were the second part of a two-part series. In the first half, the “Un-Debate,” candidates listened to the the concerns of constituents. This was presented as a way for candidates to “learn more about the needs of the community they seek to represent.” The event below follows a more traditional format.

The debates were sponsored by the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Summit Neighborhood Association and Observatory Neighborhood Association, in collaboration with the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative.

The Rhode Island Senate District 6 seat is held by incumbent Harold Metts since 2005. Metts is being challenge by Jonathan Hernandez and Carlos Cedeno. Cedeno did not attend the debate.

Here’s the opening statement of Jonathan Hernandez:

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 01

Here’s the opening statement of Harold Metts:

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 02

What do you think are the biggest policy differences between you and your opponent?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 03

Currently the Rhode Island Promise provides for two years of free college at the Community College of Rhode Island. Would you support expanding the program to include Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 04

What do you think needs to happen to improve the Providence School District and school districts across the state?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 05

How can RIPTA be improved, especially for the disabled and the elderly?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 06

Do you support the carbon tax?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 07

Is there a gun bill that you see as a top priority for 2019?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 08

A question about Mayor Jorge Elorza‘s plan to monetize/sell/lease Providence Water.

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 09

What are the options for dealing with the City of Providence’s pension issues?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 10

Why do bills that would allow the taxing of hospitals, colleges and parking lots fail every year at the General Assembly?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 11

Are lobbyists to powerful at the State House?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 12

How can our Senators and Representatives be more effective for Providence?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 13

McGowan with “four, quick, rapid-fire questions” :

Would you support a line-item veto for the Governor?

Would you support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21?

Would you support driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants?

Would are you supporting for Governor of Rhode Island?

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 14

Here’s the closing statement of Harold Metts:

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 15

Here’s the closing statement of Jonathan Hernandez:

2018-08-09 Debate RI Senate District 6 16

Harold Metts

Jonathan Hernandez


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