Governor Daniel J. McKee Continues to Lead Rhode Island in the Right Direction

by Julia Romano

In high school, McKee’s extra curricular activities included playing the sport he was most fond of - basketball. McKee also spent much of his free time at the then- LincolnCumberland Boys and Girls Club, which was founded, in part, by his father.

After graduating from high school, McKee attended Assumption College, a private, Roman Catholic university in Worcester, Massachusetts. From there, he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, the school of public policy and government of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

After marrying his high school sweetheart, McKee and his wife had two children, Matthew and Kara. Both children attended public school in Cumberland. For many years, McKee volunteered as a youth basketball coach, where he mentored young athletes and led the AAU team to two state championships.

If you take a look at the life of Governor Daniel McKee, it’s quite clear that his love for Rhode Island is unmistakable. It’s what motivated him to consistently dedicate his efforts to effecting positive change for our great state. Even within a not so healthy economy, Governor McKee has put forth an ongoing commitment to improving the state’s economic situation, with an ever so important focus on assisting the small business industry.

Daniel James McKee was born to James and Helen Willa McKee on June 16, 1951. Raised in Cumberland, RI, Mckee’s parents instilled in him the significance of working hard, so as to succeed, as well as the importance of giving back to the community. Since that time, McKee has certainly accomplished this, along with so much more.

McKee attended Cumberland High School, where he met his future lifelong partner and wife, Susan McGill, who has been a teacher in the Cumberland school system her entire career. She earned two master’s degrees-one in education and another in reading.

As a member of a family that owned and operated businesses in Rhode Island for over 100 years, McKee followed suit as business took on a central role in his life. In addition to working in the heating oil business, he opened a real estate agency, as well as a fitness center in Woonsocket.

In 1992, McKee first entered the political arena, after winning a seat on the Cumberland Town Council. Here is when the spark of giving back to the community was ignited. After serving on the council for 8 years, McKee won the bid for the Cumberland mayoral race in 2000. Mayor Dan McKee was now leading the town he loved, one of which he was born and raised, and with pride, raised his own family.

Governor McKee had numerous accomplishments as Cumberland’s mayor for 12 years. One of his most notable achievements as mayor was his creation of Blackstone Valley Prep, the first mayoral charter school in the state, and model for more of the independent public schools.

In 2014, Mayor McKee’s title advanced to Rhode Island’s 69th Lieutenant Governor after beating out Secretary of

State Ralph Mollis for the position, but the mayor, now lieutenant governor, did not stop there.

When Governor Gina Raimondo resigned upon taking the job of United States Secretary of Commerce in 2021, McKee ascended to the governorship. On March 2, 2021, the former town councilman turned mayor, turned lieutenant governor, took on the role of Rhode Island’s 76th Governor.

At this time, the pandemic was still in full force during this time, and Governor McKee delivered one of the best vaccine rollouts in the United States.

His leadership also helped to rebuild the Rhode Island economy, as he continued working to increase employment and sustain Rhode Island’s economic momentum. Governor McKee continues to remain an adamant proponent of charter schools and to serve on the school’s board of directors.

In the September 2022 Democratic primary, Governor McKee defeated four challengers in a close race. In the final run of the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Ashley Kalus.

This enabled Governor McKee to continue with what he does best - working diligently to improve our great state for each and every one of us. It’s no secret that Governor McKee is a champion of supporting small businesses. Based on his background in business, he not only understands the needs of small business owners, but he has been fighting for them since he took public office. He has earned the well-deserved reputation of being a Governor for small businesses.

In fact, Governor McKee has continued to lead numerous discussions with local business owners, and while listening to their needs, he has directed millions of dollars in grant money to small businesses during times they most need it.

As part of his strategic plan for Rhode Island’s future, Governor McKee submitted a budget article specific to small businesses, directing funding to remove red tape and slashing taxes to make it easier for small businesses to succeed in Rhode Island.

Based upon his support for boosting small business, the following was instituted:

• Decreasing the interest rate for certain delinquent taxes

• Creating a Taxpayer Steward to help small business owners during the tax process

• Removing restrictions to allow Rhode Islanders to sell baked goods they make in their own home kitchens

• Adding $100 million to the unemployment insurance trust fund that will reduce the tax small businesses have to pay

Governor McKee continues to focus on the same issues he has cared about throughout his entire career, his entire life — an accessible government, effective fiscal management, a high quality public education for all students, and equity and justice.

As we move into 2023, I am confident that Governor McKee will continue to enact policies and programs to improve the lives of all Rhode Island residents. And with a spotlight on the small business industry, the foundation of our great state can only become stronger!

Dog Facts You Didn’t Know

• A dog’s nose has about 4 times as many scent cells as a cat’s and 14 times more than a human’s. That’s why dogs are often used to track down illegal drugs and missing persons. They can sniff out their dinner from any room in the house!

• With patience and understanding you can teach any old dog new tricks, depending on what you are trying to teach, or un-teach the dog, which is usually more difficult. Dogs can learn at any age, and like humans, it’s just old habits that are hard to break!

• According to a recent survey, the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie.

• An estimated 1 million dogs in the United States have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner’s will.

• Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not sweat by salivating. They sweat through the pads of their feet.

• Dogs can alert their owners of an epileptic seizure up to an hour before it occurs.

• Walt Disney’s family dog was named Lady. She was a poodle.

• The heaviest dog ever weighed 319 pounds.

• The oldest dog ever died at age 29.

lifespan is thirty years or more, you develop a close