INTERVIEW

VIEW Interview

INTER A Career of Service

An Interview with The Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee, of

So we’re slow, but this year, we’re seeing We always are trying to walk the fi ne line very positive things in the state. between protecting the environment and pro- How much can you really achieve tecting safety, and avoiding over-burdensome around creating jobs, and what was your area regulations. of focus when you considered tackling unem- We have made a big effort to go through ployment issues? every department and all of their regulations, The Hon. Lincoln D. Chafee I focused on the three foundations of building and take another look at them. I don’t think it a good, strong economy for the long term: fi rst, takes earth-shattering changes in this area. We’re EDITORS’ NOTE On November 2nd, 2010, Lincoln invest in education – the previous administration fi rmly committed to protecting the environment D. Chafee was elected the 74th Governor of Rhode had made deep cuts, as many had, to higher edu- and public safety, and we will clean up where we Island. Consistent with the values of Rhode Island’s cation as we had defi cits to overcome. I thought can. The constituents know that we’re looking at civil society, Governor Chafee has signed marriage this was shortsighted and reversed it. Instead of regulations and how we can make them better. equality into law, spearheaded healthcare reform, cuts, I put money into our state institutions of How about healthcare within the state and launched green infrastructure initiatives – crit- higher education. We have three in Rhode Island: and healthcare reform more broadly? ical ingredients of his long-term vision for a thriving University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, We’re very aware that it is a burden on em- Rhode Island. Last year, Governor Chafee became a and Community College of Rhode Island – all in ployers to provide coverage, and it even is for Democrat, after concluding that his longtime com- different tiers of public higher education. government. We have soaring costs as we provide mitment to the hard-working people of Rhode Island Second, we put money into infrastruc- our employees with healthcare coverage. was most aligned with that of President Obama and ture such as our roads and bridges, and also I was a fi rm proponent of the Affordable Democratic throughout the country. As a into workforce development programs that Care Act (ACA), and attempts made to reform this United States Senator, Governor Chafee fought pas- help close the skills gap. There were employ- through the ACA. Rhode Island has led the way, sionately for a middle-class economic agenda and ers looking for people and people looking for either as the top two or three, if not the top state, environmental causes, such as protecting air and work, so we wanted to make sure the state in number of people signing up and the smooth- water and addressing climate change pollutants. played a role in closing that gap between peo- ness of the rollout. We have a great team for the Following his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Governor ple looking for work and employers looking ACA – the Lieutenant Governor has been very in- Chafee spent two years as a Distinguished Visiting for people. It was a long-term strategy – we volved in this area, and it is one of several where Fellow at ’s Watson Institute for weren’t going to get short-term gratification, we’re leading the country. International Studies, where he wrote Against the but it’s paying off now. How critical is the public/private part- Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Finally, Rhode Island, as with some other nership in terms of addressing the challenges Reckless President. Governor Chafee is a proud states, had a perception of corruption, and it has facing the state? Rhode Islander, born in Warwick. He graduated been very important to have a highly-ethical, clean I’m a small government person in this area. with a degree in Classics from Brown University, administration, and we have done that. I like to focus on the basics and let the pri- where he received the Francis M. Driscoll Award You’ve been vocal about transparency. vate sector do what they have to do to prosper for leadership, scholarship, and athletics. After Have those efforts made a difference and is and stay out of their way. We have to provide graduating, he worked for seven years as a that negative perception changing? them with an educated workforce, give them blacksmith at harness racetracks throughout the It is. It’s a long-term process. You don’t turn good roads and bridges, fi ber-optics, and other United States and Canada. Inspired by a commit- around perceptions that people have about Rhode infrastructure needs the government is gener- ment to public service and the path of his father Island overnight. We’re a small state and everyone ally tasked with providing, as well as help them , Governor Chafee entered politics as an knows each other but, with prosecutions of sev- with internships and getting employees through elected delegate to the Rhode Island Constitutional eral public offi cials, the word is getting out that workforce development. These are the things I Convention, and subsequently served four years on we’re cleaning up our state. focus on to help the private sector; then, I stay the Warwick City Council. He was elected to four How critical is it to recognize the edu- out of their way. terms as Mayor of Warwick, and served seven years cational problems in the U.S.? What needs to be done to break the grid- as a U.S. Senator. The reality is that it comes down to resources. lock in Washington and are you optimistic If you’re going to make a difference, you have to that both sides can come together? In a state that has gone through a number of put the resources into this area. We have done The country is so divided, and there are dif- challenges, you have been very aggressive that in higher education, but also in aid to cities ferent philosophies in the southern and mountain about turning things around. How have your and towns, which goes directly to public schools. states about the role of government, but I am op- changes progressed and where is Rhode Island Every year, I make a strong commitment – and timistic. I’m a Democrat now and just to be parti- today in terms of the economic recovery? with the support of the general assembly – put san, I think the democrats have to make the point We have had a slower recovery than many more resources into education. that the government can be a force for good in states, but we are now having our best year in How is regulatory reform progressing people’s lives. If we state this premise strongly and some areas since the unemployment records were and has it had the impact you had hoped it effectively, and have a good landslide election, it fi rst taken in 1976. would? will be just what the country needs.• 262 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 37, NUMBER 4