General Treasurer Candidate Diossa Failed to Disclose Interest in Compassion Center in Ethics Filing
Friday, August 05, 2022
James Diossa, now a candidate for General Treasurer, was a board member of a compassion center who applied for a state license in 2020.
He was serving as mayor of Central Falls when his syndicate applied for its license.
There was no prohibition from him applying while he was mayor.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBut, Diossa never disclosed the business relations in his mandated Financial Disclosure form required by the RI Ethics Commission.
"Financial disclosure statements covering the prior year must be filed annually by certain categories of public officials, and within thirty (30) days of assuming office for certain newly appointed or hired public officials. Candidates for elective office must file within thirty (30) days of filing a Declaration of Candidacy or Notice of Organization," according to the Ethics Commission.
Diossa filed the form and disclosed other business interests, including his role as mayor of Central Falls, and his membership on the board of charter school Blackstone Valley Prep.
He also disclosed he served on the board of RI Interlocal Risk Management, Family Service of RI, RI League of Cities and Towns, NE Tech, Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket and Project Goal.
In a statement to GoLocal, Diossa said he did not need to disclose his interest.
“I withdrew my name from the application in 2021 before the state made any decision to grant or deny the application. Additionally, the state did not grant the compassion center license, so while I am listed as a board member, the entity was never incorporated and the board never met. As such, it is outside the purview of the state’s disclosure requirements. The ethics laws are intended to prevent conflicts of interest. I never acquired any conflicting interest because the application was never approved, and therefore I never acquired any power,” said Diossa.
But Diossa's claims are not correct.
The Ethics Commission's disclosure form specifically requires:
"Family Executive Positions - Add a response if you, your spouse or dependent child held a management position or were a director, officer, partner or trustee of any business, organization or other entity (for-profit or non-profit), whether paid or unpaid for such service."
His financial disclosure did not include his directorship in the Edward O. Hawkins Compassion Center on of the applicant for a compassion center license.
And, despite Diossa's claim the "entity was never incorporated," state records show that it was incorporated and other politicians were involved.
Another board member was former State Senator Rhoda Perry and the incorporator was former State Senator Dan Connors. Their application was not successful and the corporate entity's charter has been revoked by the state.
Diossa is locked in a battle for the Democratic primary with Stefan Pryor, the former Secretary of Commerce under governors Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee. Diossa is the endorsed Democrat, and on Thursday, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced his endorsement of the former Central Falls mayor.
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