Dave Gorman, the endorsed Democrat for State Senate in District 33, called on his opponent, State Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, to end his negative smear campaign and focus on the issues that are important to the hardworking people of Coventry, East Greenwich and West Greenwich. 

Click here to read Raptakis' most recent campaign release to which Gorman is responding to.

"The fact is, you don't go negative unless you believe you're losing, and so it's no surprise that Lou Raptakis has chosen to spend the remaining days of this campaign in the gutter," said Gorman campaign manager Bill Hall.

"All across the district, people are responding to Dave Gorman's message of change. They know that it's time for new ideas and new energy in the State House - and the last thing they want is another two decades of Lou Raptakis' failed leadership," said Hall. 

"Lou Raptakis thinks he can score cheap political points by attacking Dave Gorman the firefighter, and now he's hiding behind the misdirected missives of a special interest group entirely funded by one person: former State Rep. John Assalone. This is nothing more than another desperate attack from former State House insiders who will do or say anything to get back into power," Hall said.  

Hall goes on to say that “Dave is proud to be a firefighter and EMT, he is proud of the work that he and his fellow colleagues do and he is honored to be a part of such a great organization, the Central Coventry Fire District.”  Hall said Gorman's most recent mail piece speaks specifically about the reforms he enacted during his tenure as the acting administrative chief for the Central Coventry Fire District and that is a direct contradiction to lies that Raptakis has made.

The reality of it is that Raptakis just doesn’t get it says Hall. “The habitual lies and blame game from Rapatkis must end, Rhode Island legislators and all candidates seeking election should make job creation and economic development their top priority, so we can get this state moving in the right direction. That's what Dave Gorman is talking about at the doors as he continues to walk this district."

"These are the issues that are affecting this district and these are the issues that the people want action on," Hall went on to say. "It’s unfortunate and tragic that after two decades in the State house Lou doesn’t understand what Rhode Islanders need. Dave Gorman gets it, he understands, and most importantly he’s not another career politician.   So on September 11^th, the choice is clear. The choice is the honest candidate; the choice is David Gorman for Senate."