Smith Hill Showdown: Is the House Deputy Majority Leader at Risk?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
With less than two months until the Democratic primary, the gloves are coming off in one of the state’s most anticipated General Assembly races.
House District 44 (Lincoln, Smithfield and Johnston) candidate Gregory Costantino, a Democrat, on Monday ripped Deputy Majority Leader Peter Petrarca following a Providence Journal article that confirmed Rhode Islanders are paying among the highest rates in the country for car repairs.
The story came less than two months after Petrarca played a behind the scenes role as the General Assembly passed last-minute legislation that required insurance companies and auto repair shops work out an agreement over the cost of repair work. Critics say the bill, which was ultimately vetoed by Governor Chafee, would have directly benefited Petrarca’s family business, Providence Auto Body.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“For too long my opponent, the current representative has ignored those people and has chosen instead to promote the private self interest of himself and his family,” Costantino said. “And what does he have to show for it?”
Costantino, whose brother Steven mounted an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Providence in 2010, planned to run for the seat as an Independent two years ago, but eventually backed away from his candidacy. Petrarca eventually won re-election by less than seven percentage points.
It is no secret on Smith Hill that Petrarca hopes to have an even larger role on the next House Speaker’s leadership team, although current Speaker Gordon Fox has given no indication that he’ll step away from the post in the next legislative session.
But first, Costantino represents a major hurdle for Petrarca, who failed to pick up the endorsement of the Johnston Democrats earlier this year. Costantino claims the costs of auto repairs have skyrocketed during the time Petrarca has been in office.
”This climb in the cost of auto body repairs neatly coincides with my opponent's term in office which began in 2003 and presently continues,” he said. And while he was careful, or some might say devious, he did not sign or vote for [the auto body bill in 2012]. But rest assured, we can reasonably assume that he did speak privately to his colleagues, solicit their support and urge passage of the measure. It seems to be common knowledge.”
Separately, Costantino made headlines earlier this year when he announces plans to sue the city of Providence and Councilman Luis Aponte over a $37,000 check he claims the city had no right to issue to Aponte over six years ago.
In April 2005, he attempted to purchase a foreclosed two-story home located at 3 Husted Court in the 10th Ward, which is represented by Aponte. Costantino says he gave a check to Aponte to give to the tax collector, but after there were problems with the foreclosure, the city cut a check to Aponte rather than Costantino. Aponte never returned the money to Costantino.
The issue is still being resolved.
The winner of the Sept. 11 Democratic primary will take on Republican James Archer in the general election.
