MR: One of your opponents in the last election was Cool Moose party candidate Robert J. Healey, Jr. His sole purpose for running was, in the event of a big win, to abolish the position. He claims just about anyone with a pulse could be Lt. Governor. How do you feel about his remark now that you are that “anyone with the pulse”?
ER: He was my opponent in the election so I had heard him say what he would like to do, if elected, many times.
MR: Certainly, his comments lead to a question that many Rhode Islanders have asked. What does the Lt. Governor really do? What do you think you have added to the base requirements of this position?
ER: The most important, but also least used, requirement is that under the Constitution your responsibility is to take over if for some reason the Governor cannot serve. But I would often say to people during the campaign, “If that is the only reason a person is running, you shouldn’t vote for them because certainly the voter’s expectation and hope is that he, or she, will be able to serve the whole term.” That’s the constitutional responsibility of the Lt. Governors of the country. Once you get beyond that, the job is defined differently in every state, which is one reason most people are not exactly sure what the role is. It’s not the same everywhere.
In R.I., there have been a number of statutory responsibilities added over the last several decades. I serve as Chair of the Small Business Advocacy Council, Chair of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council and Chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council. All of those are coordinating bodies that bring people both outside and inside of government together and often multiple levels of government together, as a way of trying to break down the silos that can sometimes get in the way of effective government and effective programs. I think those are very important responsibilities.
I ran for this position because it also gives me the opportunity, even though a small office, to work closely with the public and to be able to take on complicated public policy issues–bring the public into the government decision making process. Therefore, I am truly able to help work through and deal with some of these issues (health care was an issue I brought with me into office) over what often needs to be many years. So, it’s an office I think I can be very effective in and have tried to take it from being an office where people say, “What does that office do?” to being one where you are very visible and people know that you are talking about some of these issues.
MR: So, what are some of the issues that are important to you?
ER: When I first came into office, I had a report for the public about stem cell research – the possibilities and challenges of stem cell research in our state. This past fall and winter, we had a series of public meetings about health care – which had between 75-85 people every Friday.
MR: Did you find that people did feel more connected during
these meetings?
ER: Yes, I think they like to be heard. They also like to hear more directly, what you’re working on. It’s hard for the public to know what is goes on in this building (R.I. State House).
MR: What about the news reports?
ER: The news can only cover so much. After that series of
Friday morning meetings, I put together my legislative package.We’d been doing 15 community meetings in libraries, senior centers, hospitals and community centers as a way for people to attend in their own neighborhoods, to hear about what I am working on in terms of health care reform, and share their thoughts, criticisms and ideas. I really believe there are lots of great ideas that never make it into this building. One of my challenges is to go out and hear them.
MR: Do you listen to those ideas no matter how far-fetched they may be?
ER: Actually, I find that people are quite practical. Sometimes a citizen’s perspective on something...(we can get so caught up in the complexity)...sometimes they see it much more simply in a way that is very helpful.
MR: You were the first woman elected to this position in the state of Rhode Island and you have made quite an impression thus far. When I look back in the Rhode Island Government Owner’s Manual 2003-2004, I noticed you listed your occupation as homemaker. Another woman may have listed consultant or some other position. To me this means you are a proud mom, a wife, a confident woman. I applaud you for that – telling it like it was.
ER: I stopped working full-time outside the home, when I had two pre-schoolers. If you look at my degrees before that, and it doesn’t list all of my work experience, I have an MBA in Health Care Management, I worked in two of the local hospitals, for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and for a consulting firm. All of those were places where I acquired professional experience that I brought into my work here. Most of my background is in health, not as a clinician, but as somebody who believes that system needs to work well. So, I really came in particularly interested in working on health care.
MR: What led you to run for public office? Was it out of frustration for the way things were being done or just a serious interest in policymaking?
ER: It was a genuine concern for public policymaking. It wasn’t that I was frustrated or angry, it was more that I saw a place where some skills were needed. The Federal government and the states were asked to really take on that issue (as you remember, the Clinton Health Plan of ‘94 didn’t pass), and I felt I had something to offer. Will Fitzpatrick was my state senator, and he was someone we had supported. When he wasn’t running, he asked me if I wanted to run and I said yes. [Writers note: For those who don’t know or remember, in November, 1992, Will Fitzpatrick became the first openly gay candidate elected to public office in the history of Rhode Island, unseating a 15-year, anti-gay incumbent with 62 percent of the vote.] |
MR: And it worked?
ER: And, it worked. As I jokingly say, it was my very constructive mid-life crisis. I was 39 when I first ran. I had not ever run for office before. I had worked for Joe Paolino’s governor’s race after my first daughter was born. When we lost, Governor Sundlun hired me onto his staff. That was when I discovered more of what went on in this building. When my second daughter was born, I stopped working outside the home. So when I said homemaker, it was because I didn’t have another full-time job. I stayed very involved in the community, and I served on some boards. I was on the board of Medical Licensure and Discipline for the state. Nevertheless, it was the honest truth; I could have said full-time senator, but I listed my role as a homemaker. Although, I often say, if I were judged on that right now, I wouldn’t pass (laughter)! Life has gotten a little bit ahead of me.
MR: Do you have any political heroes?
ER: I actually think it was less an individual person and more a belief in the system. Since Reagan, there has been a lot of talk about how government can’t solve our problems. I don’t believe government alone can solve our problems, but good government with good hard working honest people is important and can make a real difference. I have a fundamental belief in the importance of government and well-run honest government. I thought I could be a good part of that.
I am fascinated by history, and I have read a lot. I grew up in the Washington, DC area so I saw, in person, many of the political figures because I went to high school with their kids. I saw how hard that life was for families and I’ve really kept that in mind during my career–to try to keep the balance. Growing up, the first president that I remember was John F. Kennedy. The 60s, to me, was a golden era of political leadership. It is exciting to see now, in this election cycle, people who are really starting to live up to that level. John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King–they were the political leaders of my childhood and made a real impression on me.
MR: Do you think R.I. government is more honest and hard working?
ER: We are clearly facing our struggles. I have spent my career, which is now 11? years, always trying to live up to the highest ethical standards. There are a lot of people in government who do. We read a lot about the people who don’t. I believe we deserve the best and we should require that of the people we elect.
MR: So, I'm assuming that you will run for governor?
ER: I’m thinking very hard about running for governor.
MR: Despite what many may think, the LGBTQ community does vote – not necessarily for just gay and lesbian candidates. Knowing this, what are your opinions on gay rights and marriage equality?
ER: As a state senator, I was a sponsor on one of the first marriage equality bills. I am someone who has been married for 26 years. My marriage and my family are crucial to my life. My belief is, if I’ve had that privilege, I don’t see why everyone doesn’t have the right to that experience and privilege. It’s one of the reasons why I have been a supporter of gay marriage since it has become an issue on the agenda – which actually has been the case ever since I’ve been running for office. It’s an issue I’ve been asked about throughout my career and I’ve always been very direct about it. I believe it is a right that every adult should have.
MR: Having read previous GET interviews, I know you were expecting to be asked this, so let me ask, “What is there about you that people don’t already know?”
ER: What surprises people, particularly as a woman and because people have their traditional stereotypes, is that I am a big and very knowledgeable sports fan. Go Red Sox and Patriots! My car even has decals of both. I even go on the road for games – my best friend and I went to Baltimore last year, and this year to Tampa for two games. We’ll try to go to Chicago next year.
MR: What about the PawSox?
ER: I’m a Paw Sox fan too – I went Mother’s Day with my mother. She really wanted to go. She lives in Massachusetts so she came down and we went. She said it reminded her (she grew up in Washington, DC) of the old Washington Senators– she used to go with her dad and her brothers to a smaller stadium. We had a great time.
My husband is not a big sports fan but he’s a baseball fan. My younger daughter, a big football fan, got me into football–she got me to care about the Patriots. I was already a baseball fan. I can tell you who pitched last night, who hit home runs, or who hit the second grand slam of the season.
MR: With those statistics, speaking of stereotypes, you just won a whole bunch of lesbian votes! (laughter)
So concludes my interview with Lt. Governor Roberts who, by the way, is married to the nephew of the late Governor Dennis Roberts, who served as Rhode Islands 63rd governor
Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, if she decides to run, will make a fine governor. Maybe even be the best this state has ever seen. She is a political straight-shooter–young and confident that there is hope for us all. But, sit tight. For right now, she’s a woman with a strong voice in a once meek office doing all she can for us. |
