UPDATED: Who is on the September 13 primary ballot?

UPDATED: Party primaries matter, especially in Congress Second District, RI Senate District 38

By Will Collette

UPDATED: Well-known Westerly politico Caswell Cooke DID finally squeek his way onto the November ballot as an independent candidate for Senate District 38 (Dennis Algiere's former sear). The final tally shows Cooke with 108 validated signatures to meet the 100 minimum.

Stephanie Beute was a virtual unknown until she qualified to run against Greg Amore in the Democratic Primary for Secretary of State. She remedied that with a flurry of news articles describing her candidacy. Links below.

The Board of Elections has finished its count of signatures submitted by candidates; Friday was the last day for signature challenges. This article summarizes the offices and candidates who will be on Charlestown’s Primary ballot on September 13.

None of the candidates for Charlestown’s municipal offices face primary challenges so their first and only test with the voters will be at the November 8 General Election. I’ll run down the list of who is running locally in another article coming soon.

There also is no primary for House District 36 to replace scared rabbit Flip Filippi who ran for cover when Tina Spears announced her bid to unseat him. She does have a Republican opponent in November but we'll get to that later.

But first, let’s look at the primary races where party voters will make critical choices about who will face off in November. NOTE: I make no apology for the fairly obvious bias in my remarks.

Congressional District 2

Rep, Jim Langevin’s surprise announcement that he is retiring set off a frenzy of activity to replace him. In Rhode Island, it is rare for any one of its four seats in Congress to fall open so this is a rare opportunity for a Democrat to move up or for the Republicans to flip a long-time Democratic House seat.

Term-limited General Treasurer Seth Magaziner 👉 leads the pack, followed by former aide to Rep. Langevin Joy Fox, gazillionaire Sarah Morgenthau (who may or may not actually live in Rhode Island) and progressive David Segal.

Two long-shots remain in the race: Omar Bah who squeaked into the primary with only 5 signatures to spare and comeback kid and long-time South Kingstown state legislator Spencer Dickenson hoping for a political comeback. Two contenders dropped out: Donald Keith and Cameron Moquin.

Six Democrats in the primary makes it pretty likely that the primary will be messy. Hopefully, that will not harm the winner from beating Allan Fung in November.

Fung gets a pass from a primary challenge now that we know his fellow Republican Donald Frederick Robbio fell short of the required 500 signatures on his nomination papers by 82.

Fung who lost his last two statewide races (and lost in Charlestown) will face the winner of the Democratic primary. For reasons unknown, ethical or otherwise, Charlestown hired Fung to advise it on how to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money even though every Republican in Congress voted against it. Fung has not said whether he actually supports ARPA, but Charlestown is paying him anyway.

There were also four independents who declared for the House Second District but three of the four failed to qualify for lack of signatures. Only William Gilbert, representing what’s left of the Moderate Party, had enough signature to make it onto the November ballot.

Senate District 38 

(Westerly, southern half of Charlestown, part of South Kingstown)

Sharon Ahern, Victoria Gu and Michael Niemeyer

We now know that one local race, the contest to replace retiring state Senator Dennis Algiere, District 38, will go to a primary on September 13 to determine the Democratic candidate. Three Democrats are competing: Sharon Ahern of Westerly who chaired the Westerly Town Council, political newcomer Victoria Gu of Charlestown and Michael  Niemeyer of Westerly who is running under the auspices Matt Brown’s RI Political Collective.

Victoria picked up two major endorsements in the past few days, one from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence and the other from the RI Working Families Party.

The winner will face Republican Westin Place who has no primary challenger.

There won’t be any independents for Senate 38 on the November 8 General Election ballot since neither of two contenders got enough signatures to make the cut. One was conservative Robert deVilliers and the other was well-known Westerly politician Caswell Cooke. Cooke’s failure to qualify is quite a surprise given his long prominence in Westerly politics. Cooke finally did manage to get 8 more signatures than the required 100 after the BOE finished its tally. De Villiers did not with a final count of 81.

Senate District 35

 (East Greenwich to Wakefield)

Here's Costa taking photos of people
attending an anti-gun rally and
flipping the finger at journalist Steve Ahlquist
who took this photo

Two potential Republican primaries fizzled. In Senate District
35, Republican Nadine Swanson dropped out allowing radical nutcase Doreen Costa 👈who seeks to make a political comeback now that crazy is the norm in the Republican Party to skip the primary and go straight to the General Election. Costa will face incumbent progressive Democrat Bridget Valverde.

Though I loved writing Doreen Costa stories, I was glad to see her go in 2016 and am sorry to see her trying to come back.

Wikipedia described the incident that best describes what a terrible legislator she was:

In 2013, Costa, a North Kingston resident, advocated for the recall of the Exeter town council over a firearm background check rule that would allow electronic background checks to be facilitated by the state. Exeter did not have the resources to conduct the checks and relied on the state. The recall failed, ultimately, costing the town of Exeter close to $10,000. 

Senate District 35 👉 is shaped like a descending colon that stretches from East Greenwich to Wakefield. Before it’s re-districting colectomy, it stretched to Point Judith.

House District 39 (Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter)

Right-wing radical nut Rep. Justin Price escaped a primary when fellow Republican and controversial former Hopkinton Town Council President Frank Landolfi failed to turn in any signatures to get on the ballot. 

Price took over Doreen Costa's ecological niche as dumbest, most radical Republican in the General Assembly and has been embarrassing his district since 2014.

Now Price will face a rematch with progressive Democrat Megan Cotter in the November 8 General Election unless Price is arrested by the feds for his role in Trump’s attempted coup on January 6.

Governor

McKee, the accidental incumbent

Six Democrats and five Republicans filed Declarations of Candidacy for Governor. Now that the count of signatures on nominations are almost complete (some signatures are under challenge), four of the eleven failed to make the cut, though none were deemed to be serious contenders.

That makes the Democratic primary for Governor a five-person race pitting woeful incumbent Dan McKee against term-limited Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, RI Political Coop guru Matt Smith, former CVS exec Helena Foulkes and immigration advocate Dr. Luis Munoz.

Nellie Gorbea whose been a great Secretary of State

On the Republican side, Republican endorsee and carpetbagger Ashley Kalus (whose most admired politician is fascist Florida Governor Ron DeSantis) faces Jonathan Riccitelli. I’d love to see Riccitelli upset Kalus in the September 13 primary because I can’t imagine Rhode Island turning into another Florida. Senior political analyst Scott McKay remarked that Kalus “can't find Pawtucket without a GPS. Or maybe she thinks it is Pawtuxet.”

Six no-hopers filed Declarations as independents or third party. Only one of the six has qualified for the ballot: Zachary Hurwitz, a Narragansett
18-year old who got a nice puff piece in the ProJo.

Hurwitz told the ProJo:

"During my sophomore year [at North Kingstown High], during COVID, while people were sitting around and watching 'Tiger King,' I was researching the topic, and I realized I could do it. Politics has always been a big part of my life."

He’ll be on the ballot in November.

Lieutenant Governor

Former state Representative Larry Valencia from Richmond failed to make the ballot in his campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Larry was a fine member of the General Assembly until he lost his seat to aforementioned jerk Justin Price in 2014.

Unfortunately, Larry ran kind of a joke campaign that picked up from the late Bob Healey’s Cool Moose Party raison d’etre that the office of the Lieutenant Governor should be abolished. It’s hard to get signatures for an “I don’t give a shit” campaign…unless you’re Bob Healey.

Lack of interest in the office allowed Dan McKee to squeak out a win over progressive Aaron Regunberg in 2018 election. And by winning, McKee became our inept accidental Governor when Gina Raimondo got her gig with the Biden Administration.

Thinking about how close we came to having a Governor Regunberg makes me appreciate the job of Lieutenant Governor all the more. And besides, Liz Roberts and Charlie Fogarty used the office well during their terms, with Liz championing health care and Charlie stumping the state to promote jobs and the economy.

Larry, I’d love to see you back in office, but your L-G campaign this year was a big mistake.

So on September 13, Democrats will choose from incumbent Sabina Matos (Dan McKee’s running mate), Cynthia Mendes (Matt Smith’s running mate) and Rep. Deb Ruggiero who is running on her distinguished record.

In November, one of two independents who filed Declarations will also be on the ballot: Ross McCurdy, a chemistry teacher at Ponagansett High School.

General Treasurer

The Treasurer’s seat is open due to term limits that pushed Seth Magaziner out and into the race for Congress District 2. The pundits are unanimous in calling the Democratic primary pitting former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa against former state Commerce Grand High Poo-bah Stefan Pryor the hottest primary of the year. 

Pryor is getting lots of endorsements and raising tons of money. Diossa is also getting endorsements and donations but not enough to keep up with Pryor.

I’ve met them both. James Diossa is a modest, good soul who has the distinction of having lifted the city of Central Falls out of the depths of municipal Hell. Central Falls was so bad that the state offered money to Pawtucket to absorb them, but Pawtucket refused because they thought Central Falls was beyond hope.

Then came James Diossa who was Central Falls’ first Latino mayor and at age 24, the youngest in Rhode Island history. He bootstrapped the city out of despair. Not only that, but he built a great municipal team that is continuing to help Central Falls become a livable city again under his successor Mayor Maria Rivera. She was among the first to endorse James for General Treasurer.

Now James could have claimed he’s the guy who saved Central Falls. He won’t do that – he's too modest – so I will.

His challenger Stefan Pryor has no problem with modesty. If you’re willing to sit through one of his lecture-speeches, you’ll hear how he single-handedly saved lower Manhattan after 9/11, single-handedly saved the Connecticut public school system as CT Education Commissioner and, under both Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee, has been the single most important driving force behind Rhode Island’s economy recovery such that it is.

During Pryor’s meeting with the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee, Pryor made what I considered to be some cheap shots at his predecessors. I wanted to make sure I heard it right so I asked him in a July 1 e-mail:

When you spoke before the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee recently, you made some remarks that I want to follow-up for clarification.

One was that if you become Treasurer, RI pension investments will be made strictly “on the data” and “on the merits” to get the highest returns. The second was related to the first that you guaranteed there would be “no cronyism,” no “I know a guy” influence on investment decisions.

First, I’d like to confirm you made those statements.

Second, I’d like to know more about what you meant. For example, did you mean that RI will not apply any social responsibility criteria to its investments? Will you continue Treasurer Magaziner’s practice of shareholder activism on social justice issues? If you go for the highest returns, does that leave open investments in hedge funds, venture capital and vulture funds that Gina Raimondo was fond of? Maybe Bitcoin or the next Ponzi scheme?

The cronyism remark made me wonder who you were referring to. Seth? Gina? Seth has been in office for 8 years and if he engaged in any cronyism, I’d like to hear about it. Or Gina, although she was criticized for her investment choices? I’d also be interested in hearing about what practices Seth Magaziner put into place that you intend to continue, or those you intend to reverse or change.

No response. I doubt if it’s hard for you to guess who I support.

There is no primary for Attorney General. AG Peter Neronha does face a token Republican challenge in the November 8 General election. Greg Amore, an overwhelming favorite to become term-limited Nellie Gorbea’s successor as Secretary of State faces one primary challenger. Stephanie Beute. I tried to find out whatever I could about Ms. Beaute but only found a photo with no context. Update: Ms Boute finally emerged with a flurry of news articles describing her candidacy. CLICK HERE for ProJo coverage. CLICK HERE for the Boston Globe. CLICK HERE for WPRI.

Vote by mail: application deadline is August 23 for the Primary

Under the newly enacted Rhode Island Votes Act, you no longer have to give an excuse for voting by mail. Nor do you have to have your ballot notarized.

But you probably will not have your ballot automatically mailed to you so you should ask for one.

You can download the application form. You can either fill it in on-line and then print it out ready for signing, or print out the blank and fill it in my hand. Either way, you then sign it using either the name on your driver’s license or your new voter registration cards that were mailed last week. It is important that you use the name that appears on your voter registration. You can check that HERE.

Then mail or deliver the completed application to:

Charlestown Board of Canvassers
Charlestown Town Hall
4540 South County Trail.
Charlestown, RI 02813

Deadline for the application is August 23. Once you receive your primary ballot, you must either mail it or deliver it to the Board of Canvassers so they have it in their hands by the September 13 primary day. Of course, you can go to Town Hall to vote either on the day or earlier.

Here’s the link to download the application form for the November 8 General Election. The deadline to apply for a mail-in General Election ballot is October 18,

A long night and long days ahead

Mostly it's a case of waiting

By Will Collette

Like many millions of Americans, I went to bed confused and troubled and woke up pretty much the same. 

The one clear conclusion is that we have a deeply divided country - the damage to the American psyche caused by Trump over the past four years is plainly evident. Whoever wins will know that half the country is against him. 

Another clear conclusion is that polling sucks. If I did polling for a living, I'd be thinking about a new career. If I was hiring pollsters, I think I'd be taking that line item out of my budget.

We will not know the results of yesterday's election until all the votes are counted and even then, if as I hope Trump loses, we can expect an extended period of additional drama after that.

On the Rhode Island level, the big news is the defeat of Democratic Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello by his Republican opponent Barbara Fenton-Fung. Though that was categorized as an upset, I fully expected Mattiello to lose. Odious creature and the living definition of a DINO. 

Fenton-Fung is no better but rather than being the most powerful political figure in the state as Mattiello was, she'll just be another right-wing back-bencher in Blake "Flip" Filippi's merry little band. 

There were no upsets among south coast legislators, left or right. Flip was unopposed. Dennis Algiere only faced an obscure write-in challenger. Both Elaine Morgan and Justin Price fought off credible challenges from good progressive candidates. 

It was a nail-biter for hours after the polls closed, as the in-person Election Day votes were heavily skewed Republican. For a while, it looked like Sen. Sue Sosnowski (D-SK-Block Island) might lose. But when the totals for early voters and then many of the mail-in ballots came in, order was restored to the world.

Photo by Steve Ahlquist

One race I watched with interest was Doreen Costa's attempt at a political comeback, vying for the Senate seat in North Kingstown vacated by retiring Sen. James Sheehan. Costa had quite a colorful, indeed crazy, run while a member of the House of Representatives. It looks pretty certain that she lost.

The outcome in Charlestown municipal elections is still not totally clear, though we will have a very different Council almost certainly to be led by Democrat Deb Carney who has led the voting throughout. Whether the CCA Party will lose its majority is not certain.

At this writing, 111 votes separate current #3 Council candidate Susan Cooper (CCA Party) and #9 place Jodi Frank (Charlestown Residents United - CRU/Dem). So there are seven Council candidates vying for three Council seats. 

In the honorific position of Town Moderator, CRU incumbent Charlie Beck (owner of the Mini-Super) trounced the CCA's Ron Areglado. Areglado was the leader of the failed Whalerock wind turbine opposition that ended up costing Charlestown $2.1 million to make that project go away. He is the instigator of Charlestown's current shady land deal SPA-Gate.

Finally, it looks like Rhode Island will shed "Providence Plantations" from its name and repudiate its ties to slavery. Charlestown, where a lot of those Plantations - and those slaves - took place, seems to have also voted to make it "Rhode Island, period" by a small majority.

Our town, state and country face an enormous challenge of completeing this election process with honesty and integrity and then must deal with how to live together as neighbors now knowing how deeply divided we are.

UPDATED: Who is running and who is not

Changes coming for Charlestown town government

By Will Collette

The November 3 election will bring change to the make-up of Charlestown’s town government. At minimum, there will be a number of new faces. There might even be a change in control.

Two of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA Party) town council members, Council President Virginia Lee and Julie Carroccia will not be running for re-election.

Council Vice-Chair Deb Carney, one of the founders of Charlestown Residents United (CRU) will be running as an endorsed Democrat. CCA Party members Bonnie Van Slyke and David Wilkinson are also seeking re-election.

CRU is also endorsing Democrats Scott Keeley and Jodi Frank and Republicans Grace Klinger and Stephen Stokes for Town Council.

The CCA Party will be fighting to keep its control of Charlestown
in the November 3 election

The CCA Party rounds out its slate for Town Council with Sheila Andrew, Cody Clarkin and Susan Cooper.

Jacob A. Wolfgang is also listed as having filed to qualify for the ballot to run as an independent for Town Council. I don’t know if he has a relationship with either of Charlestown’s political action committees or political parties.

The CCA Party candidates for the supposedly non-partisan Planning Commission are Gordon Foer, Walter (Peter) Mahony, Ruth Platner, and Frances Topping.

Howard T. Stephens and Patricia A. Stamps have filed papers to also run for Planning Commission under the CRU banner. 

In case you didn’t know: Charlestown is the only municipality in Rhode Island that elects its Planning Commission or Board. These are appointed positions everywhere else.

Round up the usual suspects

And arrest the Mayor of Providence

By Rep. Doreen Costa (R-District 31 North Kingstown, Exeter).

Annotated by Will Collette

An example of how gracious Doreen Costa
is - flipping her middle finger at a
news reporter (Photo from RI Future).
Keep it classy, Doreen!

During this exciting time in our nation’s history, more than ever, I am proud to be an American, because on November 8th 2016, registered voters in our great country turned out in record numbers to decidedly elect Donald J Trump, the 45th President of the United States. 

EXCEPT the majority of voters, by well over a million, voted for Hillary Clinton. Trump won thanks to the arcane Electoral College to become the second Republican in a generation to “win” the Presidency by losing the popular vote. The first was George W. Bush, and look what that got us. - W. Collette

The hardworking taxpayers of all fifty states have spoken with a loud and resounding voice, telling all elected leaders in Washington, D.C. that their decision for change will be honored. That they in fact, want America to be great again. 

Gotta ask again, does this mean that America is not great now? When was America “great” the way you want it to be? 1953? 1927? 1859?

Following this year’s Presidential election, what I see in response to President-elect Trump’s win is beyond troublesome. To witness protesters burn our beautiful American flag on live television, block traffic, break storefront glass on business owners, burn and flip cars, because their candidate lost, is disgusting and is certainly NOT the American way. 

Actually, protest IS the American way and it is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Violent, destructive protest is not, and neither I nor any other responsible person on the Left condones that. But where, Doreen, is your outrage at the sharp spike in racist attacks and hate crimes spawned by Trump's "election?" For examples, see the preceding post.

See the grades for South County members of the legislature

General Assembly, Raimondo Receive Average Grades

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

Sen. Elaine Morgan (R-Charlestown, Hopkinton) got an F in environment

School is just beginning across Rhode Island but report cards are already in for the General Assembly and Gov. Gina Raimondo.

A biannual assessment from the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI), a coalition of 60 environmental organizations, gave the Senate a C and the House a C+. 

Raimondo didn’t receive a grade but was criticized for endorsing the proposed Burrillville fossil-fuel power plant, and applauded for supporting renewable-energy incentives and other environmental legislation. 

The grades trended along party lines, with all 12 House Republicans earning an F. All of the A’s went to Democrats.

So did Rep. Justin Price (R-Richmond)

Grades were awarded based on votes on nine key bills during the 2015 and 2016 legislative session. Points were also earned for sponsoring environmental bills.

Significant environmental bills that became law included the phase-out of cesspools and the extension and expansion of several renewable-energy incentives. ECRI criticized House speaker Nicholas Mattiello (B-), D-Cranston, for abruptly stripping those incentives from the 2017 budget due to campaign contribution flap.

“Speaker Mattiello’s unwise action shows a lack of regard for the importance of renewable energy to the state’s environment and economy," according to the recently released report.

ECRI praised Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (A+), D-Jamestown, and Rep. Aaron Regunberg (A), D-Providence, for salvaging most of those incentives with a bill introduced near the end of the 2016 session. Sen. William Conley (A-), D-East Providence, was recognized for sponsoring the Senate version of the bill.

Rep. Teresa Tanzi (A+), D-Narragansett, was applauded for sponsoring the cesspool bill and for advancing the $35 million Green Economy bond referendum that will be on the November ballot.

Follow the money

RI legislators not returning illegal campaign donations

By Steve Ahlquist in Rhode Island’s Future

Despite the NRA paying a record fine for making illegal campaign donations to Rhode Island politicians, to date, not one current office holder in the state has seen fit to return the money.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was fined by the RI Board of Elections for funneling illegal donations to RI politicians, including House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed. 

One estimate puts the total amount of contributions at over $160,000, over a 10 year period from 2004 to 2014. 

Due to the detective work of Sam Bell, executive director of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America, the NRA was fined $63,000 and the NRA’s Rhode Island PAC was formally dissolved.

Technically, any money received by any candidate in Rhode Island that comes from theNRA Political Victory Fund PAC before January 2014 was illegal. 

That doesn’t mean that it’s a crime to keep the money after the fact, and it’s likely that the politicians did not know that the campaign donations were illegal before Bell made his case.

That said, the bottom line is that the money these politicians accepted from the NRA is tainted, and the influence this money has on our General Assembly can be felt acutely when observing the legislature in action.

Are you still wondering why our General Assembly can’t seem to pass common sense gun control legislation?

Between 2004 and 2014, House Speaker Nick Mattiello received $2,975 from the NRA. All these donations appear to be illegal, tainted contributions. The Speaker has kept every penny. Seventeen other representatives have also taken thousands of dollars.

Joseph McNamara is the head of the RI Democratic Party, the same party whose national platform calls for banning assault weapons and strengthening gun laws to prevent violence. McNamara accepted $700 in illegal NRA contributions over the years.

During the same 10 year period, Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed has accepted, and kept, what appears to be $6,075 in illegal contributions from the NRA. 

Seventeen other senators took illegal NRA cash, including Senate Majority Leader Domenic Ruggerio, who raked in $3350 and Senate Judiciary Chair Michael McCaffrey, whose committee handles every bill about guns that comes to the Senate, to the tune of $3500.

Rep Jan Malik, who was recently challenged by his primary opponent Jason Knight to return his illegal donations, took $1075. On the last day of the most recent legislative session, Rep Malik voted for a House bill that would have made it easier to get concealed carry permits in RI before changing his vote after the fact.

I went through the campaign finance reports available here, and carefully made a list of all incumbents who have accepted NRA money between 2004 and 2014.

Here’s the list:

In addition to Representatives and Senators, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has accepted $1150 in illegal donations.

Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F    03/30/2004    $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F    03/07/2006    $250.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F    04/27/2007    $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F    12/31/2009    $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F    03/04/2009    $300.00

Former Speaker of the House, William Murphy, now a lobbyist, raked in a series of illegal NRA contributions. He now rakes in even more as a lobbyist for gun interests.
co

Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    02/05/2004    $500.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    02/05/2004    $500.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    04/14/2006    $350.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    04/27/2007    $1,000.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    03/31/2005    $875.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    02/22/2009    $1,000.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J    01/31/2008    $1,000.00

Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    11/05/2006    $250.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    04/27/2007    $150.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    04/01/2008    $150.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    07/06/2010    $450.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    04/04/2011    $450.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    06/06/2012    $450.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    02/13/2013    $800.00
Representative    MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS    05/28/2009    $225.00

Representative    CARNEVALE, JOHN M    06/05/2010    $200.00
Representative    CARNEVALE, JOHN M    04/12/2011    $200.00

Representative    CHIPPENDALE, MICHAEL W    10/15/2012    $500.00

Representative    CORVESE, ARTHUR J    05/08/2004    $300.00
Representative    CORVESE, ARTHUR J    05/16/2005    $300.00
Representative    CORVESE, ARTHUR J    07/11/2006    $300.00

Representative    COSTA, DOREEN MARIE    10/15/2012    $500.00

Representative    DESIMONE, JOHN J    07/08/2004    $150.00

Representative    FELLELA, DEBORAH A    08/20/2006    $250.00
Representative    FELLELA, DEBORAH A    04/27/2007    $100.00
Representative    FELLELA, DEBORAH A    01/12/2010    $150.00
Representative    FELLELA, DEBORAH A    04/12/2011    $200.00

Representative    JACQUARD, ROBERT B    07/19/2004    $300.00
Representative    JACQUARD, ROBERT B    10/20/2004    $500.00
Representative    JACQUARD, ROBERT B    10/12/2006    $350.00
Representative    JACQUARD, ROBERT B    04/12/2011    $200.00

Representative    KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK    07/19/2004    $400.00
Representative    KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK    08/02/2006    $400.00
Representative    KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK    06/11/2009    $400.00
Representative    KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK    06/05/2010    $375.00
Representative    KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK    04/12/2011    $375.00

Representative    LIMA, CHARLENE        04/06/2004    $300.00

Representative    MACBETH, KAREN        11/01/2009    $100.00
Representative    MACBETH, KAREN        05/27/2010    $200.00
Representative    MACBETH, KAREN        12/08/2011    $200.00

Representative    MALIK, JAN        08/18/2004    $200.00
Representative    MALIK, JAN        11/19/2004    $250.00
Representative    MALIK, JAN        06/29/2005    $225.00
Representative    MALIK, JAN        09/06/2006    $300.00
Representative    MALIK, JAN        06/05/2010    $300.00

Representative    MCNAMARA, JOSEPH    05/26/2004    $200.00
Representative    MCNAMARA, JOSEPH    05/25/2005    $300.00
Representative    MCNAMARA, JOSEPH    06/16/2011    $200.00

Representative    MELO, HELIO        03/10/2010    $225.00
Representative    MELO, HELIO        04/12/2011    $200.00

Representative    NEWBERRY, BRIAN C    11/03/2006    $300.00
Representative    NEWBERRY, BRIAN C    05/29/2009    $150.00
Representative    NEWBERRY, BRIAN C    02/24/2010    $150.00
Representative    NEWBERRY, BRIAN C    06/29/2011    $200.00
Representative    NEWBERRY, BRIAN C    04/15/2013    $250.00

Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/02/2004    $100.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/05/2004    $500.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/06/2004    $200.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/07/2004    $100.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/22/2004    $150.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    06/29/2005    $200.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    06/15/2006    $300.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    07/24/2007    $300.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    05/17/2008    $300.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    05/29/2009    $300.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    06/05/2010    $300.00
Representative    TRILLO, JOSEPH A    04/12/2011    $200.00

Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        11/19/2004    $500.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        08/21/2006    $250.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        11/02/2006    $200.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        07/27/2007    $300.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        06/29/2009    $200.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        06/29/2009    $200.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        06/25/2011    $200.00
Representative    UCCI, STEPHEN R        06/15/2010    $200.00

Representative    WINFIELD, THOMAS J    08/22/2004    $200.00
Representative    WINFIELD, THOMAS J    06/15/2006    $200.00
Representative    WINFIELD, THOMAS J    11/06/2006    $90.00
Representative    WINFIELD, THOMAS J    08/10/2007    $225.00

Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    02/24/2011    $1,000.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    02/02/2012    $1,000.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    08/12/2013    $800.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    04/22/2004    $375.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    05/14/2007    $500.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    05/17/2008    $400.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    02/11/2009    $1,000.00
Senator    PAIVA WEED, M TERESA    02/24/2010    $1,000.00

Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    07/10/2004    $150.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    05/25/2005    $225.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    06/21/2006    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    11/03/2006    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    05/07/2007    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    04/15/2008    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    06/03/2009    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    06/12/2010    $300.00
Senator    CICCONE III, FRANK A    06/21/2013    $400.00

Senator    COTE, MARC A        03/23/2004    $200.00
Senator    COTE, MARC A        05/16/2005    $200.00
Senator    COTE, MARC A        06/15/2006    $200.00
Senator    COTE, MARC A        04/16/2008    $200.00
Senator    COTE, MARC A        04/06/2010    $200.00

Senator    DAPONTE, DANIEL        02/24/2010    $200.00
Senator    DAPONTE, DANIEL        04/12/2011    $200.00

Senator    DOYLE II, JAMES E    06/17/2006    $150.00
Senator    DOYLE II, JAMES E    03/31/2008    $300.00

Senator    FELAG JR, WALTER S    07/04/2004    $200.00
Senator    FELAG JR, WALTER S    09/01/2006    $300.00
Senator    FELAG JR, WALTER S    06/15/2008    $300.00
Senator    FELAG JR, WALTER S    03/03/2010    $300.00
Senator    FELAG JR, WALTER S    04/12/2011    $300.00

Senator    FOGARTY, PAUL W        05/13/2004    $100.00
Senator    FOGARTY, PAUL W        07/01/2005    $150.00
Senator    FOGARTY, PAUL W        09/21/2007    $150.00
Senator    FOGARTY, PAUL W        01/10/2008    $150.00
Senator    FOGARTY, PAUL W        06/11/2009    $200.00

Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        06/01/2004    $150.00
Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        05/24/2005    $150.00
Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        05/17/2008    $150.00
Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        08/05/2009    $200.00
Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        04/28/2011    $200.00
Senator    GALLO, HANNA M        04/12/2011    $200.00

Senator    GOODWIN, MARYELLEN    08/16/2004    $150.00
Senator    GOODWIN, MARYELLEN    07/09/2010    $200.00
Senator    GOODWIN, MARYELLEN    05/13/2011    $200.00

Senator    LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P    06/08/2009    $200.00
Senator    LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P    06/10/2010    $200.00
Senator    LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P    04/12/2011    $200.00

Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    07/21/2004    $500.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    07/21/2005    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    08/06/2006    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    08/07/2007    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    06/24/2008    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    06/05/2009    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    06/15/2010    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    05/20/2011    $750.00
Senator    MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J    06/28/2013    $400.00

Senator    PICARD, ROGER A        07/19/2004    $200.00
Senator    PICARD, ROGER A        08/03/2005    $200.00
Senator    PICARD, ROGER A        05/15/2006    $250.00
Senator    PICARD, ROGER A        06/20/2009    $300.00
Senator    PICARD, ROGER A        06/12/2010    $150.00

Senator    RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P    05/10/2006    $300.00
Senator    RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P    07/24/2007    $300.00
Senator    RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P    06/30/2008    $300.00
Senator    RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P    02/26/2013    $250.00
Senator    RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P    07/19/2004    $300.00

Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    05/19/2004    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    05/25/2005    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    05/10/2006    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    04/27/2007    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    05/17/2008    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    02/21/2013    $500.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    05/29/2009    $300.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    02/24/2011    $450.00
Senator    RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J    02/08/2012    $500.00

Senator    SERPA, PATRICIA A    07/01/2009    $150.00
Senator    SERPA, PATRICIA A    06/05/2010    $150.00
Senator    SERPA, PATRICIA A    07/18/2011    $200.00
Senator    SERPA, PATRICIA A    03/30/2013    $250.00

Senator    SHEEHAN, JAMES C    05/04/2004    $150.00
Senator    SHEEHAN, JAMES C    07/08/2005    $150.00
Senator    SHEEHAN, JAMES C    07/24/2007    $100.00

Senator    SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN    07/28/2004    $200.00
Senator    SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN    10/18/2004    $100.00
Senator    SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN    04/08/2008    $200.00
Senator    SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN    03/02/2010    $200.00
Senator    SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN    06/16/2011    $200.00

Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    04/26/2004    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    04/05/2005    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    09/01/2006    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    05/02/2007    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    05/17/2008    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    06/07/2009    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    06/05/2010    $300.00
Senator    WALASKA, WILLIAM A    04/12/2011    $300.00

RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE    04/29/2004    $300.00

RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE    09/15/2005    $300.00

RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE    04/06/2006    $200.00

SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE      04/21/2004    $625.00

SENATE DEMOCRATS 2004 PAC             08/16/2004    $600.00

Steve Ahlquist is an award-winning journalist, writer, artist and founding member of the Humanists of Rhode Island, a non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion, optimism, courage and action. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of any organization of which he is a member. atomicsteve@gmail.com and Twitter: @SteveAhlquist

VIDEO: Filippi turns Charlestown Memorial Day Parade into a self-serving political sideshow

Charlestown Citizens Alliance backs their boy’s play

By Will Collette

This is what Memorial Day is supposed to be about. View this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL695-8gVzE

State Representative Blake “Flip” Filippi (District 36) is a master at turning concocted controversy into self-aggrandizing media opportunities. He’s so good at it that he has actually given classes to other political candidates, probably those as shallow and self-serving as himself, on his techniques.

We’ll go into some examples of that later, but let’s look at Flip’s latest stunt which is to claim that he has been “blacklisted” from speaking at the Charlestown Memorial Day Parade. This has put him directly at odds with the Parade Committee’s long-time chair, Jim Mageau.

Filippi is being aided in his fight by none other than Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA Party) leader Tom Gentz, boss of the Charlestown Town Council, who demanded that Filippi be given a speaking slot on the agenda.

Boss Gentz also has demanded that the independent, non-profit Charlestown Memorial Day Parade Committee oust Mageau for not giving Flip what he wants.

I rarely ever agree with Jim Mageau on anything – as even a cursory glance through Progressive Charlestown articles on Mageau will show (154 articles: CLICK HERE) – but on this matter, Mageau is right. And Flip and Boss Gentz are totally out of line.

Let’s start with a consistent principle Mageau has applied to the Charlestown Memorial Day Parade. Mageau does not allow this annual ceremony honoring America’s veterans to be sullied by partisan politics.

Tom Gentz, for all his feigned “shock” at this controversy, knows this all too well, because Gentz has not been allowed to use the Parade as a political platform either.

In the Channel 10 news coverage of this flap, Flip attempts to portray Mageau’s decision as a “pay-to-play deal,” that Mageau expected Filippi to come up with a legislative grant for the Parade and, because Flip doesn’t believe in legislative grants on principle, Mageau “black-listed: Filippi.

As the CCA Party describes it in their official web blog “State Representative Punished for not Providing Legislative Grant to Charlestown Memorial Day Parade” and that “Speakers are evidently required to pay before they approach the podium.”

Complete, total bovine excrement.