Episode Eleven: Candidate Chat with Xay Khamsyvoravong

Written By Elizabeth Hammond

View the full transcript.

We sit down with Xay Khamsyvoravong, former mayor of Newport and candidate for Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor, to talk about the issues shaping our state — from workforce shortages and healthcare access to housing, infrastructure, and the future of local democracy.

In this episode:

  • Back-to-school season and the vital role of the NSPTO in supporting students and teachers

  • What the Lieutenant Governor actually does (and why it matters more than you think)

  • Xay's top priority: workforce, workforce, workforce — how it connects housing, healthcare, and the economy

  • The healthcare crisis: provider shortages, billing red tape, and the rise of concierge care

  • Education as a system, not just schools — why kids' health and learning are inseparable

  • Flock cameras, data privacy, and balancing public safety with civil liberties

  • Rhode Island's infrastructure backlog and why roads keep getting patched instead of fixed

  • Proactive vs. reactive government, and why local engagement is where real change happens

  • Xay's personal story: from a refugee father to a pediatrician mother, and what drives his commitment to public service

Connect with Xay:

  • Website: xayforri.com

  • Social: @xayforri on Instagram and Facebook

Connect with us:

Elizabeth Hammond
Next

Episode Ten: Candidate Chat with Michael Plante