by Doug MacGunnigle, WPRO
Robert J. Healey Jr., best known for founding Rhode Island’s Cool Moose Party and his runs for governor and lieutenant governor, died Sunday. He was 58.
Healey’s political life began in 1982, serving on Warren’s School Committee until 1986, when he made his first bid for Governor. He ran for the office of governor four times and lieutenant governor three times, with the aim of abolishing the office. In 2010, he won 39% of the vote.
In the 2014 gubernatorial race, Healey, under the banner of the Moderate party, received 21% of the vote in a 3 way contest with Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Alan Fung. Healey reportedly spent a total of $35 on the campaign.
Healey founded the The Cool Moose Party in 1994 during his second run for governor. The party’s platform was “to break down the ideological barriers that have kept common sense out of our government.”
Along with his political exploits, Healey also founded a liquor wholesaling company, invested in land in South America, exported wine to Uruguay, imported tableware from Uruguay, started an ice cream business, a wine and cheese outlet, and a yachting service.
Healey was a frequent guest on WPRO. Listen to some archived conversations below:
