Many here at dailyKos harbor fond hopes of Stephen Laffey defeating Linc Chafee in a Republican primary as a way of supposedly easing the path of a Democrat into the Senate seat.
Thought you might find some interest in Laffey's dealings with speed cameras, a major campaign donor and revenue enhancement...
The other night Republican candidate for Senate Stephen Laffey (challenging Lincoln Chafee in the primary), mayor of neighboring Cranston, showed up at the Warwick town council meeting to lobby for speed cameras in Warwick. This was quite strange since Warwick Republicans who control the council opposed the measure, and he was invited by a Democrat. Last moth Laffey himself had to cancel a pilot program in Cranston (as the Providence Journal put it) "in the face of serious opposition from the Cranston City Council. Chief among council members' concerns was the worry that using the cameras was prohibited under state law."
http://www.projo.com/...
Why would Laffey who is supposed to be a serious candidate for Senate be out pimping for speed cameras instead of concentrating on his campaign or his own city? Turns out Nestor Traffic Systems or people financially connected to Nestor donated $13,600+ to Laffey's Senate campaign. (More than 5% of his cash on hand) In May Laffey awarded Nestor a no-bid contract for his "pilot" program. That contract would have provided the vendor a 30% cut of every ticket issued. (http://www.cranstononline.com/...)