This comes as no surprise, but it is relevant: RI House Speaker Nick Mattiello, D-Cranston is demoting embattled Rep. John Carnevale, D-Providence, from the Democratic House leadership team.
Even at the Statehouse, loyalty has its limits. In this case, pragmatism and campaign exigencies have triumphed. At the capitol, there is nothing like self-preservation as a motivation.
Mattiello initially stuck by Carnevale, but as the Providence state rep’s actions have evolved from stupid to bizarre, and garnered unflattering media coverage across Rhode Island, the speaker has decided (wisely) that Carnevale has become a major distraction for House Democrats.
Matttiello said he can’t stop voters in Carnevale’s House District 13, anchored by the city’s Silver Lake neighborhood, from sending him back to the Statehouse in the September primary. But, the speaker said, “I can control who will be part of my leadership team after the election. John will not be part of that team.’’
Carnvale hails from a once-influential Silver Lake political family –his brother, the late Anthony `Buddy’ Carnevale was a revered Statehouse power and state rep from the neighborhood –but his recent political troubles over his residence have made him both laughingstock and liability to the Democrats who control the House by a wide margin.
Mattiello’s statement comes as the State Board of Elections and the Providence Board of Canvassers are investigating whether Carnevale actually lives in the district he represents. The election board complaint against Carnevale was instigated by Brandon Bell, Republican state chairman. The probes began after WPRI investigative reporter Tim White disclosed that while Carnevale claims to live in a tenement house on Barbara Street that he owns in his district, he really lives in a home he owns in Johnston. When he purchased the home, Carnevale told the bank in mortgage documents that he would live in the house.
Later, White had another story asserting that Carnevale asked a Providence police officer – Carnevale is a retired Providence cop, who has a disability pension –to write him parking tickets to that it would appear that he lived at the Providence address.
Abandoning Carnevale may not be easy for Mattiello. (Carnevale is close to House Majority Leader John DeSimone, D-Providence) But it is the smart political move to remove an issue not only from Republicans vying for legislative seats, but from about 10 Democrats from the progressive side of the party who are challenging Statehouse Democratic incumbents in primaries. With the campaign season already in full-swing, Mattiello doesn’t need the headache of voters accosting Democratic candidates knocking on doors with criticism of Carnevale.
Also, given the ongoing law enforcement probe of former State Rep. Ray Gallison of Bristol, another Mattiello ally, the speaker has decided to cut Carnevale loose.
