Newport’s Florez Taps Controversial Prov Politico to Run His Campaign for Senate
Friday, June 23, 2017
State Senate candidate John Florez has paid more than $4,200 in consulting fees to Luis Estadra for campaign work in his effort to replace Teresa Paiva Weed in Senate District 13. Estrada is a highly experienced political consultant who worked for Angel Taveras, is a convicted felon, and has close ties to State House insider Matt Jerzyk.
Estrada worked with Jerzyk on the 2010 campaign for Angel Taveras for Mayor Providence as well as the effort to expand gaming at Newport Grand in 2014.
Presently, Jerzyk serves as legal counsel to the House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi and last year worked on Speaker Nick Mattiello’s staff.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAbout Estrada
Estrada was convicted more than three decades ago of numerous felonies and spent 22 years in jail. He was sentenced to seventy years - sixty to serve for the crimes.
He is still on parole today, and presently works for a Providence law firm.
Florez issued a statement to GoLocal defending the hiring of Estrada and endorsed his efforts to overcome his background.
“I am proud to have Luis Estrada as my campaign manager and I stand by him 100%. Luis made a mistake more than 30 years ago when he was in his early 20s and he paid the price for that mistake. As a liberal democrat, I believe in second chances and rehabilitation. Luis is a great redemption story and he has not only been a model citizen, but he has worked tirelessly to prevent young, at-risk youth from making the same mistakes that he did,” said Florez.
Similarly, Estrada thanked Florez for his support.
“Today I really learned the caliber of John Florez's character. Faced with the negative impact of my own life to his candidacy and my own personal desire in helping move the needle for those less fortunate by making people see and believe people can change, I offered to tender my resignation. John's unwavering position that it would be so hypocritical to talk about reform and not include it in his own life just lent itself to make me like him more as a candidate,” said Estrada.
“In my life I have been blessed by people like John, Taveras, Richard K. Corley (Warwick City Councilman) and even my current employer Sullivan Whitehead & DeLuca. All believe in second chances. If I worked in the back kitchen of a restaurant people would not pay attention to me today and those like me would be kept a dark secret as I was reminded today: If you don't want your name out there, then get out of politics. I will not get out as long as I can prove that many of us can make a difference,” added Estrada.
Personal Story
Estrada told some of his story to The Rooms Project — an effort to tell the stories of addicts.
“…but the final trial, the fifth trial, was the most devastating outcome, which was actually the jury found me guilty and I was sentenced to seventy years. At the time of my conviction, I had just turned twenty-three that year, had already battled the system since I was twenty-two. I’d finally lost and the judge sentenced me the following year, I believe when he sentenced me to seventy years, sixty to serve. I still have pending cases. I feel for some people that experienced almost every aspect of the cruel system because I’ve been charged with things I have done, I’ve been charged with things I haven’t done, and I’ve gotten away with things that I have done.”
“He currently serves on the boards of RICAREs, Open Door, and the Probation and Parole FACTS program. The leaking of this information to the press is just another example of the dirty politics that this state needs to get past," said Florez. "I look forward to continuing to my positive campaign – focusing on the issues important to Newport and Jamestown residents.”
Estrada has also worked on the campaign for Mayor James Diossa in Central Falls and was a paid consultant. Jerzyk also serves as Solicitor for the City of Central Falls.
Election Deadlines:
June 20: Deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to local boards of canvassers
June 27: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the primary
June 28 - July 17: Emergency ballot period for the primary
July 18: PRIMARY
July 23: Last day to register to vote for the election
August 1: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the election
August 2 - August 21: Emergency ballot period for the election
August 22: ELECTION
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