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The North Kingstown Democratic Town Committee (NKDTC) welcomed U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse as its special guest on May 23, 2024 for the committee’s annual spring fundraiser. Senator Whitehouse is the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Finance Committee. He was elected to the Senate in 2006 and will seek re-election in 2024.
As one of our nation's strongest voices for the environment, Supreme Court reform, investing in Rhode Island, growing the middle class, improving education, and strengthening democracy, the NKDTC was "grateful that Senator Whitehouse made the time to inspire and excite us for a crucial fall election," said committee chair Anne Geertman.
Located at the Neighborhood Table, or the old Sonoma dependent on your twang, a handful of protesters calling for a cease-fire rallied outside as attendees arrived. Inside, many of North Kingstown’s legislators awaited Whitehouse’s appearance. Attendees included: NK Town Council members Katie Anderson, Greg Mancini, Larry Mandel, and Matthew McCoy, Senators Alana DiMario and Bridget Valverde; and former Senator James Sheehan, who is now a NKSC member.
Whitehouse riveted the crowd of 50+ folks with a battle cry to “solve the climate problem for once and for all” and to “push through all the nonsense and lies” for the tough political battle between now and November. The senator took questions from the audience that included guidance for those looking for more democratic moral clarity for Palestinian lives and a plea to do more about Justices Clarence Thompson and Samuel Alito's disregard for decency. Whitehouse spoke for close to 25 minutes and was thanked with raucous applause.
The committee was thrilled to have some younger folks attend this sometimes-stodgy event. Izzy Montini, a NKHS graduate and rising junior at American University, arrived with the most Rhode Island story of all: She had just wrapped up an internship within Whitehouse’s Washington, D.C. office. Izzy majors in political science with a concentration in public policy and legal studies and gushed about her internship.
“During my internship in DC with Senator Whitehouse, I learned so much about the inner workings of the Capitol, the issues that are important to Rhode Islanders, and so much about myself. Every person in the office was determined to help interns succeed and learn as much as possible. I was also able to work on a mental health for teachers’ legislative proposal for the office,” Montini said.
Whitehouse inspired the crowd and thanked advocates, in advance, for working dilegently until November. I asked NKDTC members what Whitehouse's visit and words meant to them and received the following comments.
"I appreciated hearing the Senator's approach to getting voters out to battleground states like Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Committees like ours around Rhode Island need to be actively engaged in working toward a Joe Biden win in November. His push to make Supreme Court justices accountable for their behaviour and ethics really resonated with me. Serving with integrity and as a law abiding politician or judge is something that an ethics clause should clearly outline and demand."
Melissa Devine
"I am continually impressed by Senator Whitehouse's commitment to ethics and integrity. His advocacy and persistence around holding our Supreme Court Justices accountable is so important to our democracy."
Sarah Kelly Palmer
As the evening wrapped, the planning commenced and attendees left revitalized and inspired to rock the vote with excellent democratic leaders this fall.
Learn about where Senator Whitehouse stands on the issues that matter most to you and consider volunteering for his campaign. Need more information? We got you right here.
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