Spare Change: Hopefully a lesson learned from Mayor Xay's flirt with congressional run

Oddznendz picked up while pondering another run for lieutenant governor:

• Hey, that’s quite a jolt you gave us, Mayor Xay.

Both Ian Donnis of the Public's Radio station and Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe reported a week ago that Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong might be inclined to run for U.S. Rep. David Cicciline’s soon-to-be-vacant seat.

Xay offered a squishy non-denial on his Twitter account.

A few days later, Xay (pronounced Cy) issued a true denial. The thing is, Xay just became Newport’s mayor a couple of months back. I feel as if I have had longer naps.

Xay won the most votes by far in the 2022 City Council election. He campaigned exhaustively and owns a head-spinner of a resume.

He might make a terrific congressman someday. But not now. This created some panic and mild anger in town. It’s way too early for us to feel like a stepping stone.

No one wants to see a groom looking for a prettier girl on his wedding day. The mayor needs to realize what tumbles from his brain and onto Twitter is revealing.

Glad he came out forcefully this week. Call it a Cy of relief.

• Hard to blame Cicilline for taking a job at the Rhode Island Foundation, though the timing is awkward.

The job pays $650,000 a year. A Congress member earns $174,000 … just a shade more than newspaper reporters.

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Plus Cicilline can no longer avoid the QAnon crazies who run the Republican party these days (where have you gone, John Chafee?). U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R.-Outer Space) last week suggested the United States “divorce” itself with red and blue states dividing.

This is, of course, unAmerican. Didn’t Lincoln deal with this issue in the 1860s?

Better idea: Let’s divorce the United States from Majorie.

I hardly think enough pay exists in Congress to withstand listening to that kind of, um, thinking.

• Who might replace Cicilline? Names so far include Helena Foulkes, who nearly upset Gov. Dan McKee in September, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Attorney General (and Jamestown resident) Peter Neronha and Newport state Sen. Dawn Euer.

Matos, who is Dominican, might do well in what’s considered the state’s Hispanic urban core … Newport, Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket.

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Foulkes came from out of nowhere to almost become governor. She has a ton of cash and sudden momentum and is moving to the District.

Either way, I hope she repeats that Bad Mamma Jamma dance she performed last fall.

If I had to bet, I suspect Foulkes will be the state’s first Democratic congresswoman.

• No Republican has emerged. I think Allan Fung has tasted enough defeat but who knows?

Are you gearing up, Ashley Kalus?

By the way, the last Republican to hold that seat was Portsmouth’s Ron Machtley from 1988 to 1994. It’s hard to imagine the moderate Machtley cutting it in today’s GOP.

• So are there still Qanon types still waiting for JFK and JFK, Jr. to arrive in Dallas? If so, why would JFK want to revisit Dallas?

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• Reminds me of when the folk festival ran a Bob Dylan 1965-66 tribute in 2015. It was the 50th anniversary of Dylan “going electric” at Festival Field.

Many in the crowd booed and Dylan was shaken. A guy insisted Dylan would be at the tribute to “celebrate.”Celebrate one of his worst nights?

• OK, I watched both seasons of “White Lotus” and I realize now what the fuss is about. Bring on Season 3.

• I’ve mentioned my love for “Poker Face” and admiration for star Natasha Lyonne.

So who popped in a recent episode? Old Newport friend Sprague Theobald. Sprague played a nursing home resident called Pervy Pete. No, I didn’t make that up.

Sprague has acted all over, made documentaries. You may remember him as a co-host of “P.M. Magazine” in the 1980s.

He succeeded the now-notorious Matt Lauer and teamed with the popular and troubled Sheila Martines, who died several years ago.

Good to see Sprague getting quality acting work.

• R.I.P. to two women devoted their lives to teaching reading and writing … Kathy Updegrove and Marilyn Brockway. Both loved to talk about books.

Not sure if they knew each other but they should have.

• And belatedly, sad to hear Anna Maria di Mattino died a few weeks ago. In 2005, she bought a Portsmouth ice cream shoppe/restaurant called Shiver Me Timbers and transformed it into Anna D’s Cafe, expanded the menu and ice cream setup and made it a go-to place on Aquidneck Island.

She possessed a warm and strong personality that provided her with a loyal following.

Jim Gillis is a Daily News columnist. Send him email at jimgillis13@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong flirt with Congress too soon: Gillis