Secretary of State James Langevin, with his sister Joanne at his side, talks to supporters last week who came to Rhode Island College for his campaign kickoff. He faces a four-way Democratic primary for the 2nd District congressional seat. This was stated bluntly by talk-show hostess Mary Ann Sorrentino during Langevin's 1994 campaign against Republican Secretary of State Barbara Leonard. Former state Rep. Ray Rickman, whom Langevin defeated in a 1992 primary for secretary of state, says all of Langevin's opponents face the difficulty of shifting the focus of the debate from his disability to public policy issues. He wraps himself in the wheelchair and uses it against people.
Exhibit A is a recent debate on the issue of gun control.
Langevin would not go that far, but he favors stronger gun controls, such as gun registration, and safety measures such as mandatory trigger locks. Langevin defends his focus on his disability, saying that all candidates use their personal biographies in campaigns. I've noticed every person running draws on their personal experiences. We all bring different life experiences to this race and that makes us who we are. It takes him two and half hours just to get dressed in the morning, but once he leaves the Warwick home he shares with a health aide, he is rarely home before dark.