By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Republican candidate for Rhode Island governor Ashley Kalus called on Gov. Dan McKee to invoke emergency powers to ease rising energy costs, while the two traded barbs over a new flight of television ads that began to air on Thursday.

At a news conference at her campaign headquarters in Warwick, Kalus said McKee should use his authority to declare an emergency to roll back electric and gas rate hikes, while the McKee campaign maintains legislation authorizing emergency powers does not encompass rate hikes.

Kalus also criticized a new McKee TV ad, entitled, “Not From Around Here”, picturing several people questioning her recent move to Rhode Island. She said it “smacks of nativism, which quite frankly threatens democracy,” saying the ad is “not worthy of a governor”.

Through a spokeswoman, the McKee campaign said Kalus, “is out of touch with Rhode Islanders. Her lack of familiarity with the Ocean State is understandable – she did just move here a few months ago.”

Kalus defended her own new ad, labeled “Fighter 2.0”, which pictures the former Golden Gloves competitor in boxing gear. She defended the use of her ten-year old son in the ad, saying that he was “excited” to be able to speak out on her behalf.