Tuesday, September 30, 2014

羅德島華人造勢 助馮偉杰競選州長



羅德島州締造歷史,選出首名華裔州長的機會,越來越濃了。該州州長候選人馮偉杰與競爭對手的選民支持率差距,927日已縮小到僅約5%
羅德島州華人當天下午在普塔基市(Pawtucket)羅斯福道247號舉辦“全僑支持馮偉杰參選州長盛會”,出席的人都很興奮,紛紛要求合照,索取傳單,貼紙,選民登記表,準備當義工,自動自發地幫馮偉杰拉票。
熟悉羅州選情的人透露,初選過後,羅州州長誰屬,就看代表共和黨的馮偉杰和代表民主黨的雷萌朵(Gino Raimondo)誰更討選民歡心。由於雷萌朵擔任羅州財長期間,在退休金方面惹惱了很多工會分子,而馮偉杰在三任克蘭斯頓市(Cranston)市長任內,卻能不但沒加稅,還能創造一千多個工作機會,把克市政府預算扭虧為盈,讓許多面對經濟不景,有改善生活壓力的羅州居民把希望寄託在他身上。
馮偉杰這天為感謝支持他的華人群眾,以廣東話為致詞開頭,實在說不完整時,才改回英文。他表示,參選州長是因為他在擔任克市市長期間,看到羅德島州政府有許多措施不妥當,讓他希望把自己在克市做出來的施政成績,包括把市府的意外儲備金(rainy day fund),從零存到二千二百萬元左右,擴大到全州去,讓更多人獲益。
馮偉杰說,他父母大約在四十五年前從香港移民來美,選擇落腳羅德島州,並開始努力打拼。現在他也選擇為羅德島州努力,要把羅德島州從一個適宜居住的地方,打造成也適宜工作,就業的地方。
馮偉杰強調,這場選舉競爭很激烈,每一張可能的票他都需要。希望大家幫他,鼓勵那些還沒登記成為選民者,在十月四日前登記成為選民,打算以郵寄方式投票者,要在十月十四日前填妥表格,寄給州政府。
“你的一票不能少”這助選造勢會,由包括多名羅德島華人協會董事在內的陳任卓,楊慶,葉超,王曉元,吳子平,何文潮,陳和棟,劉建匡,黃超炎,黃鳳慈,陸威婷等人發起。在羅州經營餐館業卓有成績的鄭勤杰,余靜姿夫婦,經辦綠島地產公司的江燕珍,近年在亞洲做能源業的鄒玉成等人,這天都特地出席,聊表心意。
章賢信,周華,羅春松,孫琰,饒彬,徐海英等人,這天都到會場分頭招呼。黃樺不但做翻譯,還帶了一張巨幅選票樣本到場展示。陳任卓把他的兩名女兒,陳素馨,陳素英都帶到會場當義工。
來自中國福州的陳和棟興奮表示,他在幫馮偉杰助選時,發現許多人儘管來美十幾,廿年,甚至三十年,早就有了身份,卻還從來沒有投過票。他相信只要他們發動義工,挨家挨戶的宣傳,助選,會發掘很多新票源。
羅州英文報章指出,如果雷萌朵當選羅州州長,她將是羅德島州從1992年以來的第一個民主黨籍州長。羅德島州的現任州長查菲(Lincoln Chafee2010年當選時無黨籍,去年轉為民主黨籍。如果馮偉杰當選,他將是羅德島州從1984年以來的第八任共和黨籍州長。羅州前一位共和黨籍州長卡瑞希(Don Carcieri)在2002年時以54%的得票率當選,2006年時,再以51%的得票率當選。



























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Rhode Island's Bioscience and 
Technology Industries Shine
(L-R) Tech Collective Executive Director Kathie Shields, Dr. John Jarrell, Rep. Lisa Tomasso, Dr. Megan Ranney, Dr. Greg Paquette and David Vito

Four Rhode Island bioscience professionals were awarded 2014 Rhode Island Bioscience Awards from Tech Collective, Rhode Island's bioscience and IT industry association, late last month.


The Bioscience Awards are designed exclusively to honor accomplishments, innovations and leadership within the state's medical device, research and development, pharmaceuticals, laboratories, production, design, and related bioscience sectors.

This year's winners are:
  • Dr. John D. Jarrell, PhD, PE - president, Materials Science Associates and founder, BioIntraface, Inc.
  • Dr. Greg Paquette - professor and director of biotechnology programs, University of Rhode Island
  • Megan L. Ranney, MD MPH - director, Emergency Digital Health Innovation program and assistant professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School, Brown University
  • David R. Vito - assistant professor of biology, Community College of Rhode Island and coordinator and Co-PI, Amgen Biotech Experience Program, University of Rhode Island
One of the state's highest growth potential industries, Rhode Island employs 4,602 bioscience professionals according to Tech Collective's Rhode Island Bioscience Skills Gap Study.

The collective also is accepting nominations and applications for its 2014 Tech10 Awards program. Established in 2010, the Tech10 Awards recognize the 10 most accomplished professionals in the state's IT, digital media and entrepreneurial arenas.  Apply or submit nominations for the awards before the deadline onMonday, October 6, 2014. Honorees will be announced in mid-October and showcased at an awards celebration on November 20, 2014.
Great News for Rhode Island