Latest news with #Ruggerio
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ballot order decided for Ruggerio's former Senate seat
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The order of the candidates' names on the ballot for this summer's Senate District 4 special election has been decided. A ballot placement lottery was held Wednesday at the R.I. Board of Elections in Providence. The special election was called after Senate President Dominick Ruggerio died in April after a lengthy battle with cancer and other illnesses. For the Aug. 5 general election, Republican Alex Asermely's name will go first, followed by the Democratic nominee's name. A primary election to decide which Democrat out of the four running will face Asermely is on July 8. RELATED: Here are the candidates for Ruggerio's old Senate seat The order for the Democratic primary's ballot is North Providence District 2 Town Councilman Stefano Famiglietti, former Providence state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Manuel Taveras and Lenny Cioe. (Famiglietti was endorsed by the district committee, which locked in his name going first, per state law.) Stephen Tocco, an independent, filed to run for the seat but withdrew. Tocco said Wednesday he rescinded his candidacy to avoid being a spoiler candidate in the general election. The district represents parts of Providence and North Providence. This is the first time the seat has opened up since Ruggerio started representing it in 1985. NEXT: Lisa Field wins special election for late Rep. Carol Doherty's Taunton seat Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Lawson may serve as president of both the state Senate and teachers union, R.I. Ethics Commission says
Commission member Hugo L. Ricci Jr., a retired judge, issued the lone 'no' vote, asking if the staff had taken into consideration 'the vast power' that the Senate president holds. Advertisement 'Mere recusal may not be sufficient,' Ricci said. 'She is in a class of one. She is not a general member of the Senate. She is the president of the Senate, and with that comes vast powers.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Ricci noted that former Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, He said Ruggerio represents the only precedent for this specific situation, and he sought to ask Lawson, who attended the meeting, whether she agreed with what Ruggerio did. But other commission members cut off that line of questioning, saying Tuesday's meeting was not an investigatory hearing. Ricci also asked what others states do regarding situations of this type. But the commission chairman, Lauren E. Jones, said the Ethics Commission can only apply Rhode Island statutes and regulations. 'What other states do in this context is really irrelevant to our situation,' he said. Advertisement After the meeting, reporters asked what Lawson thought of Ruggerio's decision to leave his union post, 'I can't speak to the legality of a precedent, whether that applies or not,' Lawson said, adding that she's not sure why Ruggerio did not hold both positions simultaneously. Lawson said she has recused herself from certain votes during her tenure in the Senate, including two recent votes on labor-related bills. And, she said, 'I'll continue to be thoughtful and mindful in the process and use the standards outlined by the commission.' In a written statement, Lawson said, 'I am pleased that the Ethics Commission has affirmed that the standard I had been using as a senator, as whip, and as majority leader remains applicable in my role as president of the Senate. She said the Ethics Commission decision 'helps to distinguish between a vague notion of a perceived, general conflict and an actual, specific conflict requiring recusal under the Code of Ethics.' Also, Lawson said, 'It ensures that one does not have to be retired or independently wealthy to serve in this role. This decision supports the operation of our legislative body as the framers intended: a part-time, citizen legislature comprised of a diverse membership from all walks of life, who can draw from their varied experiences to best serve the public.' Lawson, who is 58, earns After the meeting, Common Cause Rhode Island executive director John M. Marion said the advisory opinion analysis is 'a little naive' about what the office of Senate president involves. Advertisement While it mentions the Senate president sets the 'consent calendar,' it doesn't mention her influence over the calendar of bills voted on the Senate floor, he said. And while it mentions she no longer sits on particular committee, it doesn't mention that the Senate president has ex officio power to sit on any committee, he said. Marion said he is glad that Lawson sought guidance from the Ethics Commission, but he said it's unusual for an opinion to address a potential conflict without reference to specific legislation. And he said he expects Lawson will be back before the Ethics Commission to address whether she may vote on particular bills. Marion noted that two of the four Senate presidents in state history stepped away from their day jobs to lead the chamber, and the two Senate president who kept their other jobs — William V. Irons and Joseph A. Montalbano — " were pursued by the Ethics Commission." In 2019, the state Ethics Commission And in 2024, the Ethics Commission But the circumstances are different now that Lawson is president of both the Senate and NEARI, Marion has said. Advertisement 'Lawson is no longer a classroom teacher or vice president of NEARI,' he said. 'She's president of NEARI, responsible for a very large organization with lots of business before the state Senate. Her duty to lead NEARI at the same time as exercising the vast powers of Senate president create a unique challenge.' Marion said other legislators might be able to sidestep conflicts of interest by recusing themselves from certain votes and stepping out of the room during any debate. 'But as Senate president, you can't really step out of the room when the final decision needs to be made,' he said, noting the Senate president plays a pivotal role in deciding which bills make it to floor votes and in negotiating with the House and the governor. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Senate District 4 Democratic Committee backs Stefano Famiglietti in four-way primary
North Providence Town Councilor Stefano Famiglietti won his district party committee's endorsement in the upcoming special primary for the Senate District 4 seat. (Courtesy photo from Rhode Island Senate District 4 candidate Stefano Famiglietti has secured the support of his district's party committee in the four-way Democratic special primary to fill the open seat left by the late Sen. Dominick Ruggerio. Famiglietti, an attorney and North Providence City Councilor, was unanimously endorsed by the five-person Senate District 4 Democratic Committee, the Rhode Island Democratic Party announced Monday. The committee interviewed all four Democratic contenders for the open seat before making its selection Thursday. Six candidates signal intent to run for R.I. Senate seat The July 8 primary is set to feature former state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Lenny Cioe and Manny Taveras. Whoever wins the primary will then run against Republican Alexander Asermely and independent Stephen Tocco in an Aug. 5. general special election. Candidates must still submit at least 100 signatures of registered district voters by June 10 to qualify for the ballot. The special election to represent parts of North Providence and a small section of northern Providence marks the first time the district will have a new state senator in 40 years, following the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Ruggerio died on April 21. Ruggerio's sister, Lisa Ruggerio Aceto, is one of five people on the Democratic Senate district committee, which is led by chair Lisa Andoscia. Nicole Verdi, Rhode Island's Democratic National Convention committeewoman, is also the vice chair of the Senate district party committee. Famiglietti thanked the committee for their endorsement in a statement. 'I am now looking forward to a successful campaign this summer and am hopeful for a victory so I may continue to serve our community,' he said. 'It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to advocate for the residents of North Providence as a member of the North Providence Town Council, and am looking forward to representing my community on a broader level, while bringing that same energy to the State House.' Voters have until June 8 to register, or disaffiliate, ahead of the July 8 primary election. Early voting is set to begin June 18, running through July 7. The winner of the election will serve the rest of Ruggerio's two-year term, through 2026. State lawmakers are paid $19,817 a year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Senate District 4 Democratic Committee backs Stefano Famiglietti in four-way primary
North Providence Town Councilor Stefano Famiglietti won his district party committee's endorsement in the upcoming special primary for the Senate District 4 seat. (Courtesy photo from Rhode Island Senate District 4 candidate Stefano Famiglietti has secured the support of his district's party committee in the four-way Democratic special primary to fill the open seat left by the late Sen. Dominick Ruggerio. Famiglietti, an attorney and North Providence City Councilor, was unanimously endorsed by the five-person Senate District 4 Democratic Committee, the Rhode Island Democratic Party announced Monday. The committee interviewed all four Democratic contenders for the open seat before making its selection Thursday. Six candidates signal intent to run for R.I. Senate seat The July 8 primary is set to feature former state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Lenny Cioe and Manny Taveras. Whoever wins the primary will then run against Republican Alexander Asermely and independent Stephen Tocco in an Aug. 5. general special election. Candidates must still submit at least 100 signatures of registered district voters by June 10 to qualify for the ballot. The special election to represent parts of North Providence and a small section of northern Providence marks the first time the district will have a new state senator in 40 years, following the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Ruggerio died on April 21. Ruggerio's sister, Lisa Ruggerio Aceto, is one of five people on the Democratic Senate district committee, which is led by chair Lisa Andoscia. Nicole Verdi, Rhode Island's Democratic National Convention committeewoman, is also the vice chair of the Senate district party committee. Famiglietti thanked the committee for their endorsement in a statement. 'I am now looking forward to a successful campaign this summer and am hopeful for a victory so I may continue to serve our community,' he said. 'It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to advocate for the residents of North Providence as a member of the North Providence Town Council, and am looking forward to representing my community on a broader level, while bringing that same energy to the State House.' Voters have until June 8 to register, or disaffiliate, ahead of the July 8 primary election. Early voting is set to begin June 18, running through July 7. The winner of the election will serve the rest of Ruggerio's two-year term, through 2026. State lawmakers are paid $19,817 a year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Here are the candidates for Ruggerio's old Senate seat
NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Six candidates have filed paperwork to run in the Senate District 4 special election to replace the late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who died in April after a lengthy battle with cancer and other ailments. Candidates had until Friday at 4 p.m. to make their candidacies official. The primary election is scheduled for July 8 and the general election will happen on Aug. 5. This is the first time the seat has been open since Ruggerio started representing the district in 1985. The district includes parts of North Providence and Providence District 2 Town Councilman Stefano Famiglietti announced earlier this month he's running for the seat. Famiglietti, a 33-year-old attorney, has been on the council since 2018. He also chairs the North Providence Democratic Town Committee. The councilman said he plans to focus his campaign on responsible budgeting, protecting core municipal services, and 'ensuring that local communities are not left behind.' Former Providence state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell was the first Democrat to announce her entry in the race. Ranglin-Vassell, 65, previously represented R.I. House District 5 after unseating then-House Majority Leader John DeSimone in 2016. She didn't run for reelection in 2022. Ranglin-Vassell, a teacher at Central High School, is the only candidate out of the six who lives in Providence. While not releasing a platform of policy goals, the former lawmaker says she will knock on every door to hear what's on the minds of residents. Manny Taveras is one of two political newcomers running for the seat. Taveras, 40, is the younger brother of former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. Manny Taveras previously worked in the Providence mayor's Office of Constituent Services and has been in the private sector for the last 15 years. He said during the campaign, he'll focus on policies about education reform, housing and assisting small businesses. Lenny Cioe announced his candidacy right before the deadline Friday. Cioe, 66, said in his announcement that he wants 'to give my neighbors a voice they know and trust to stand up for them.' Cioe, a nurse at Blackstone Valley Community Health Center, ran unsuccessfully against Ruggerio three times. 'As in past elections, Lenny will always speak truth to power and put the needs of his community first,' he said. Cioe said he plans to focus on energy prices and protecting Medicaid and health care providers during his campaign. Alex Asermely is the sole Republican in the race for Ruggerio's seat. Asermely, 39, also announced his candidacy on Friday. He is an attorney and a political newcomer. Asermely said he plans to focus on education, reducing government spending and limiting regulations for businesses during his campaign. If Asermely submits enough valid signatures for ballot placement, he'll be the first GOP candidate for this district since 2008. Stephen Tocco filed his paperwork to run on Friday as an independent. Tocco, 68, is a former chief of the R.I. Capitol Police and a former Smithfield Town Council president. Tocco unsuccessfully ran for the seat before, placing third in the 2022 Democratic primary against Cioe and Ruggerio. Tocco is currently an accountant. He says that he'll focus on the creation of an inspector general's office, government efficiency and education. R.I. Democratic Party National Committeewoman Nicole Verdi, who was seen as a potential candidate, announced Thursday evening she will not be running for the seat. 'This was not an easy decision,' she said in a statement. 'The passing of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio — who was both a mentor and a close friend — has been deeply personal for me.' Verdi explained that now is 'not the right time' professionally for her to seek elected office. All of the other North Providence town councilors have told 12 News they will not be running for the seat. Council President Dino Autiello, who was considering running, said he's supporting Famiglietti. Both Autiello and Famiglietti have expressed a desire for someone with ties to North Providence to be senator. Councilors Steven Loporchio, Ronald Baccala, Chuck Pollock, Steven DiLorenzo and Mario Martone — all of whom are Democrats — are also supporting Famiglietti. Neither of North Providence's two state representatives plan to run for the seat either. State Reps. Arthur 'Doc' Corvese and William O'Brien, both Democrats and longtime members of the General Assembly, said they're supporting Famiglietti for the seat. All five candidates will simultaneously make their cases to voters while collecting enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. On June 5, candidates are able to pick up nomination papers and have until June 10 to submit 100 valid signatures to the local board of canvassers. The winner of the Democratic primary on July 8 will go on to face Asermely on Aug. 5. NEXT: Trump administration names Rhode Island, 2 cities as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
