NEW: Guillaume de Ramel To Run For RI Secretary of State in 2014
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Democrat Guillaume de Ramel announced today he will run for Rhode Island Secretary of State in 2014.
Increased transparency, accountability and improved technology are some of the goals for de Ramel as he seeks to improve the interaction between the business community and the office of secretary of state.
"The secretary of state's office can play a larger role in streamlining and making the process for doing business in Rhode Island more efficient," said de Ramel, 38. "I'm running to make Rhode Island the most open, accountable, and transparent state in New England,” he added.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Together, weʼve witnessed much change since the 2006 election, but the one thing that has unfortunately not improved is Rhode Islandʼs status as one of the least business friendly states in the country. The secretary of stateʼs office needs to lead and play a larger role in helping to streamline to make government work more efficiently, the process for doing business in RI, now and in the future,” de Ramel said.
Guillaume de Ramel
A political outsider, de Ramel's prior election experience was nearly winning a contested primary for this office in 2006. In that race he earned 47% of the vote and won 27 of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.
Over the past several years, de Ramel has been strongly focused and engaged in business creation and community service work. “I have been involved in several local projects that have made a real impact across Rhode Island during very trying economic times,” said de Ramel. One of which was leading a family effort that resulted in a $15 million gift to seed the new Norman Prince Neuroscience Institute at Rhode
Island Hospital.
Guillaume de Ramel grew up on Aquidneck Island and earned a B.A. from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a M.S. in Real Estate Development from Columbia University in New York City. He also graduated from the United States Marine Corps' Officer Candidates School, Platoon Leaders Class, Jr. in 1996. He and his wife Molly are raising their two children on Aquidneck Island.
