Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello appears to have the votes lined up to retain his powerful post, and the top three members of his leadership team are poised to win re-election during a closed Democratic caucus on Thursday.
Mattiello is staging the caucus at 6 pm Thursday Chapel Grille in Cranston, in part to get count on how many state representatives will support him for re-election as speaker at the start of the 2019 House session.
Meanwhile, the top three members of Mattiello’s leadership — Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi of Warwick, Whip John Edwards of Tiverton, and Deputy Whip Christopher Blazjewski of Providence – have the speaker’s support to win re-election to those posts during the caucus.
Eighteen current and newly elected state representatives issued a call earlier this week for a change in leadership in the House. They say the chamber needs a change to usher in more transparency and openness in the legislative process.
Meanwhile, an ad hoc group formed by the RI chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence urged continued opposition to the speaker after am Election Day victory in his state rep race.
“We knew we were taking a huge risk when we entered this race,” former rep Linda Finn, the leader of the effort, said in a statement, “but we felt strongly and continue to believe that the people of Rhode Island deserve leadership that is free from the taint of corruption, and that will not continue to hold back the state’s economy as well as legislative packages that impact women, children and families. We call on all those in the legislature who support clean government that works for the people of Rhode Island to oppose Mattiello for speaker of the House.”
Mattiello has characterized his opponents as ultra-progressives who would have a negative effect on the state’s economy.
As a practical matter, the math favors Mattiello, since there are 75 members in the House. Even with a possible uptick in defections, the speaker appears to have an easy path to winning the 38 votes necessary to remain as speaker.
“I am humbled to have the enthusiastic and strong support from more than 40 of my colleagues in advance of the House Democratic caucus tomorrow night,” Mattiello said in a statement. “We will be putting forward the slate of the same leadership team that has been moving our state forward in a positive direction. We intend to work with all of our colleagues to continue our strong focus on building a better economy and addressing all the needs of our citizens.”
Mattiello’s biggest obstacle to retaining the speakership may have been Cranston Republican Steve Frias, who fell short Tuesday while making his second run for the House district 15 state rep seat held by the speaker since he first won election in 2006. Mattiello won with 52.1 percent of the vote, defeating Frias by 310 votes.
Mattiello has served as speaker since succeeding Gordon Fox in 2014.
At least two of the current reps who want a different speaker, Teresa Tanzi of South Kingstown and Deborah Ruggiero of Jamestown, said they plan to attend the caucus.
“I think it’s important to see what is going on,” Ruggiero told The Public’s Radio. “It is so clear that people want an open, transparent process. It’s what I promised my constituents, that I would vote for a leader that provided that. We need change at the Statehouse, changing the House rules so bills aren’t coming on the floor the last couple of days.”
It remains unclear whether the faction of reps opposed to Mattiello’s speakership will put forward an alternative candidate for speaker or the other top leadership posts.
Ruggerio acknowledged the opposition faction may not number more than 25 representatives.
But she said many lawmakers back changes to the legislative process. Ruggiero said, for example, she supports eliminating the suspension of House rules typical at the end of session, when scores of bills move from committee to the House floor with lightning speed, sometimes before reps have had a chance to read revised legislation.
Tanzi said citizens and lawmakers should have a minimum of 48 hours to review amendments to legislation before bills move forward. Mattiello deserves credit for imposing a deadline to end budget debates well ahead of midnight, Tanzi said. But the typical end of session practice of passing heaps of bills with little discussion is past due for an overhaul, she said.
