Gould vs. Knight — candidates differ on many issues

Jason Knight asks voters to support school bond; Gould says vote no

Posted 10/23/18

Daryl Gould called the state a mess. Jason Knight said it was on the upswing.

The two candidates for District 67 seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives shared opposing views on a few of …

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Gould vs. Knight — candidates differ on many issues

Jason Knight asks voters to support school bond; Gould says vote no

Posted

Daryl Gould called the state a mess. Jason Knight said it was on the upswing.

The two candidates for District 67 seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives shared opposing views on a few of the topics discussed at last week's candidates' forum. 

Mr. Gould, a Libertarian who lives in Warren, said state politics are a mess and suggested that people in the Ocean State would be better served by less government not more. 

Mr. Knight, an incumbent Democrat, said that during his time at the Statehouse, the general assembly has had some success with issues such as school funding and gun control. 

When asked what the biggest problem facing the upper East Bay was, Mr. Knight said the area was on the up-swing. He added that he would like to help the economy do as well as it could and mentioned the need for improved bridges and roads.

Mr. Gould offered a different problem facing the upper East Bay — the increase in progressive candidates. He said progressive Democrats offered a political mindset that was "based on emotion" and absent of data and reality. 

The questions later turned to the impacts of sea level rise, and what role the government could play. Mr. Gould said "our government is terrible" and that all Rhode Islanders would be better served if the government would stay out of things. He said the impacts of sea level rise were mostly about property rights.

Mr. Knight said the state's infrastructure would be threatened by climate change and sea level rise, and said the issue was very important to the communities he represents, Warren and Barrington.

Eventually both candidates were asked about social issues, such as women's rights, and whether they were local and relevant to their race. Mr. Knight said they absolutely were relevant — he said a long list of social issues affect how people in District 67 live. 

Mr. Gould said people should live a life absent of government interference. He also said people should not be distracted by issues such as gun control, which, he said, was not a problem.

"I'm a Libertarian — I'm pro-choice on everything," he said, adding that people should do what they think is best as long as it does not hurt other people. 

When asked how government could help local small businesses, Mr. Gould's response was clear: He said government needed to "get out of the way." He said the state does not need more laws and it does not need more legislation. 

Mr. Knight said the general assembly should do no harm when it comes to local small businesses.

The candidates were divided over Question 1 on the November ballot, which will ask if voters approve a $250 million bond to pay for school construction and renovation. Mr. Gould said Barrington residents should vote against the bond because that means they would be paying for other districts' improvements. 

Mr. Knight said people should approve the bond, as it will bring an additional $3 million to the Barrington Middle School construction project. He said the state is already expected to reimburse the town more than $16 million for the project. 

Mr. Knight further added that building better schools is good for all residents of Rhode Island. 

"Don't vote for selfishness," he said.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.