Top 15 Lawmakers to Watch in 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Who are the emerging leaders of the General Assembly? The rising stars? Who will define the debate this year? GoLocalProv asked Statehouse insiders, party activists, and other experts to weigh in. Here’s who they are keeping an eye on in 2011.
HOUSE
Cale Keable, D-Burrillville and Glocester Replaced the new Democratic Party chairman, Ed Pacheco in the House. He’s a young state rep, who’s an accomplished lawyer that used to work at a major firm in Boston. “He will be someone who will want to make his mark quickly and want to get involved in high profile issues,” one Statehouse source tells us.
J. Patrick O’Neill, D-Pawtucket As the Majority Whip, this two-term state rep will be one of Speaker Fox’s top lieutenants this year. “He’s a potential speaker in the making,” one Statehouse source says. “He’s been a kind of star in the making. He’s taken the lead on a lot of issues.” Last year, he sponsored the highly controversial wind farm bill—which successfully passed both the House and Senate.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Michael Marcello, D-Cranston, Scituate Another star in the making, this two-term state rep won a position as the vice chair of the Judiciary Committee this year. “He might be the heir apparent to be the chair someday,” one Statehouse source says. A reform-minded Democrat in a largely Republican district, he has a track record of taking on issues unpopular with his own party. This year he is expected to introduce legislation doing with straight-ticket voting, better known as the “master lever.”
Doreen Costa, R-Exeter, North Kingstown A leader of the Tea Party movement, this new state rep will be closely watched by many inside and outside of the Statehouse. She has already sparked controversy—and scored her first legislative win—sponsoring a resolution calling for Christmas trees to be called Christmas trees, not “holiday trees.” She also already is taking the lead on bread-and-butter Republican issues, with legislation she plans to introduce this week that would eliminate a state minimum tax on businesses. “The best thing about Doreen is she’s everywhere,” said Travis Rowley, chairman of the Young Republicans. “You can’t get ahead of her.”
Helio Melo, D-East Providence Has stepped out from behind the shadows to take over as chair of the Finance Committee—which crafts the budget for the state. He’s not exactly a household name, but many Rhode Islanders are familiar with his work—he was the prime sponsor of the income tax overhaul last year. Will this Costantino favorite continue on the legacy of his predecessor?
Brian Newberry, R-Burrillville, North Smithfield This two-term state rep has quickly earned the respect of House members on both sides of the aisle and is already the Minority Whip. We hear he’s a future Minority Leader in the making—assuming, of course, that the GOP stays in the Minority for the foreseeable future.
Joy Hearn, D-Barrington, East Providence This Barrington public school librarian was one of the leaders of the successful fight for an education funding formula last year—historic legislation that had been 15 years in the making. “Speaker Fox put her on the Finance Committee because of her focus on education and educating funding,” one Statehouse source said. “She’s going to be the House’s expert on education issues.”
Deborah Ruggerio, D-Jamestown, Middletown If there’s a new issue that comes up, you can be sure Ruggerio has been hard at work researching it, one Democrat Party activist says. Ruggerio has only been in the House for two years, but she’s already established herself as a leader on the environment, economic development, and small business. She’s also regarded as a great communicator and a lawmaker who balances constituent interests with what’s good for the state as a whole. We hear that Speaker Gordon Fox could make her the co-chair of the Joint Commission to Study Economic Development of Port Facilities in RI. This host of the “Amazing Women” radio show seems to have certainly earned that title for herself.
Teresa Tanzi, D-Narragansett, South Kingstown Became something of a progressive hero after taking out conservative Democrat David Caprio. After her primary win, she spent her time helping out other Democrats in the General Election. “I think she has a lot of energy for the whole thing,” one Democratic Party insider says. “There’s a lot of people who get elected and want to get a job for someone. I think she has bigger ambitions for what she wants to do.”
Chris Blazejewski, D-Providence Took David Segal’s seat in the House. Can he fill his predecessor’s shoes? Progressives certainly hope so. Many are already looking for him to be a leader in the House on issues like gay marriage. “He’ll start to be seen as someone who’s out there—one of the fresh faces,” one Statehouse source says.
Dan Reilly, R- Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth This 21-year-old Providence College student was beat out by Senator Nick Kettle for the distinction of being the youngest member of the General Assembly this year (see below). Reilly worked hard for the seat—winning a brutal election re-match against Democratic stalwart Amy Rice. “He’s a great speaker,” Rowley said. “I think people have a hard time winning a debate against him. I would look for him to become a strong voice.”
SENATE
Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence, North Providence As the senior-most member of the Senate, he’s not exactly an unfamiliar face, but as the new Number 2 guy in the Senate, he is sure to get much more scrutiny this year. And his position as a high-ranking official in the New England Laborers’ union is sure to stoke the ire of taxpayer groups. “He’s become the new flash point for people who think labor has too much power in the Senate,” one source says.
Dawson Hodgson, R-East Greenwich, Warwick, North Kingstown He is one of the freshmen Republicans elected to the Senate and has already won key seats on the Labor and Judiciary committees. He’s also starting off his first term as a member of the minority leadership team. “He’s definitely somebody who’s up and coming,” one source tells GoLocalProv. “He’s definitely going to be out in the public eye and try to shake things up,” another Statehouse source says.
Maryellen Goodwin, D-Providence A solid Democratic voice in the Senate, Goodwin has been a rising leader in the chamber, most recently chairing a committee on gaming. This year, she is the Majority Whip. “Every year she gets a little bit stronger,” said Meghan Grady, a Democratic Party activist. “I think the big question for her is, ‘What’s next?’”
Nick Kettle, R-Coventry, Foster, Scituate This dishwasher-turned-state Senator came out of nowhere to knock out an 18-year incumbent in the primary and prevail in a crowded field of three candidates in the General Election. A 20-year-old sophomore at Rhode Island College, he is the youngest member of the General Assembly. A subscriber to the Ron Paul brand of libertarianism, it will certainly be interesting to see what he does in the Democrat-dominated Senate.
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