Upholding your promises is vital, the legislative process is kind of like an old-school Saturday morning cartoon, and the most important thing lawmakers can do is to keep their life in order.
This was some of the advice shared Tuesday with 16 newly elected lawmakers, as part of an orientation at the Statehouse.
House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said the experience reminded him of his own Smith Hill orientation, after he first won election in 2006. “This is going to be one of the best experiences of your life,” Mattiello told the members of the Class of 2016. “You’ve worked hard to get here — I know what that’s like,” quipped the speaker, who survived a close re-election challenge from Republican Steven Frias.
Speaking from the rostrum in the House chamber, Mattiello kept his advice concise and to the point: lawmakers should pay attention to the needs of their district; “Your word is your bond; don’t give your word too freely”; “develop a thick skin; you’re never going to please everybody … This is not a popularity contest.”
Mattiello, who rose to the speakership in 2014, after federal and state investigators raided the home and Statehouse office of his predecessor, Gordon Fox, also urged incoming reps and senators not to forget their other responsibilities: “Make sure you keep your life in order.”
Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed struck an idealistic note. She called the incoming freshman participants in the lively experiment that began in Rhode Island in 1636. Paiva Weed also encouraged the new lawmakers to ask questions and draw on the knowledge of legislative staffers.
The 16 new lawmakers include four senators and 12 reps. Just three of the newcomers are Republicans.
As part of their orientation, they heard from staffers like House legal counsel Richard Raspallo. He went on to offer a more detailed explanation, but said the process for bills making their way through the legislature is similar to the old Saturday morning cartoon Schoolhouse Rock.
The incoming freshman will be sworn in when the General Assembly resumes action on January 3. Top issues in the new session are expected to include a cut to the state car tax and the potential legalization of marijuana.
Rep-elect Evan Shanley (D-Warwick), who won the seat being being vacated by Republican Joe Trillo, said the economy is his top priority: “I want to shift to make it easier for people to start and grow businesses here, particularly people that are from here and that are invested in the community and that are going to stick around here. So that’s number one for me.”
Rep-elect Robert Quattrocchi (R-Scituate), one of the three new Republican lawmakers, said he got involved in politics due to 38 Studios and ran for state rep due to concerns about a lack of jobs for young people in Rhode Island. He defeated Democratic Rep. Michael Marcello, in a conservative-leaning district.
Quattrocchi said his initial focus at the Statehouse will be on getting his institutional bearings: “I’m totally going in with more ears open and eyes open and mouth closed right now, you know, try to pay attention to what’s going on and build from that, honestly, build from that and learn.”
Republicans will be down two seats when the General Assembly begins action in January, with five of 38 senators and 11 of 75 state reps. Here’s a list of the 16 incoming lawmakers:
• Representative-elect Moira J. Walsh (D-Dist. 3, Providence).
• Representative-elect Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
• Representative-elect Ramon Perez (D-Dist. 13, Providence, Johnston).
• Representative-elect Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick).
• Representative-elect Evan Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick).
• Representative-elect Julie Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter).
• Representative-elect Robert Quattrocchi (R-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston).
• Representative-elect Alex Marszalkowski (D-Dist. 52, Cumberland).
• Representative-elect Helder Cunha (D-Dist. 64, East Providence).
• Representative-elect Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren).
• Representative-elect Susan Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth).
• Representative-elect Kenneth J. Mendonça (R-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown).
• Senator-elect Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence).
• Senator-elect James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton).
• Senator-elect Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield)
• Senator-elect Jeanine Calkin (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).
