Shawna Lawton, one of two Republicans running for the chance to challenge House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, is drawing attention to how her GOP rival, Steven Frias, has volunteered for an organization that has received legislative grants.
In a Facebook post, Lawton wrote that in 2016, “The Cranston Historical Society received a grant for $5,000 from the House and a $500 grant from the Senate. My opponent in the upcoming Primary, Steven Frias has said we need to eliminate the legislative grants. Here is where it gets interesting. Steven Frias is the Finance Committee Chair for The Cranston Historical Society. Do you want more of the same, or do you want change?”
Contacted by RI Public Radio, Frias said people should not refuse to do volunteer work for an organization simply because it receives legislative grants.
“Because I oppose legislative grants, I have had absolutely no involvement with any requests for legislative grants by the Cranston Historical Society over the years,” Frias said. “I made it quite clear over the years to the president of Cranston Historical Society, Sandra Moyer, that although I would help the Cranston Historical Society as Finance Chairman, I would not be involved with any request for legislative grants. Legislative grants for the Cranston Historical Society were pursued by other board members.”
The resignation earlier this year of former House Finance chairman Ray Gallison of Bristol sparked a renewed focus on legislative grants, since a similar kind of grant, known as community service grants, had helped pay Gallison’s salary with an education nonprofit group. Critics maintain legislative grants are a way for legislative leaders to curry favor; Mattiello contends the grant process is not political.
Frias and Lawton will square off in the September 13 primary. The winner of that race will face Mattiello in the November general election.
