RI State House Staff Revolving Door Continues
Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Rhode Island legislative leaders Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio are spinning the revolving door.
Staffers are coming and going and where it stops nobody knows.
Since January 1, 26 legislative staffers who worked for the Joint Committee of Legislative Services (JCLS) have been let go or left on their own.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
One Job, Two People — Combined Salary $319,162.63
Presently, the top position has two people serving— Shekarchi’s new JCLS executive director Henry Kinch has come over from the judiciary where he was the clerk of the court for Providence County and, the executive director Frank Montanaro continues in his role. Montanaro continues to receive his salary but is only working on certain aspects of his job.
According to Shekarchi’s spokesman Larry Berman — who was also spokesmen for former speakers Gordon Fox and Nick Mattiello —told GoLocal is a statement, “Frank Montanaro has a temporary title of director of facilities, operations, and capital projects. He is helping in the transition in the short-term while finishing with various capital projects that he was previously overseeing.”
“Frank Montanaro’s salary during the transition period is $167,948.63, the same as in his previous salary as JCLS director,” said Berman
According to documents provided by legislative leaders to GoLocal, Kinch earns $151,214.
Who Has Left
According to legislative leaders, the 26 staffers who have left are just the beginning -- other staff changes are coming. According to multiple sources, most jobs in the General Assembly did not have job descriptions. "The ongoing legislative restructuring has resulted in a savings of more than $1 million in salaries to date, with more changes to come," said Berman.
Of those departing a number have close ties to former Speaker Nick Mattiello -- his former chief of staff Leo Skenyon and Garrett Demers to name a few. Demers is the son of Mattiello's close ally James Demers, who was at the center of the controversy at the Rhode Island Convention Center which led to a Rhode Island grand jury investigation. Attorney General has yet to report on the outcome of that grand jury.
New Hires
As previously reported a number of new hires have been brought into key roles. Both Chambers have new chiefs of staff. Three weeks ago Jake Bissaillon was promoted from a top staffer for Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey to chief of staff for Senate President to Ruggerio. Ray Simone left U.S. Senator Jack Reed's Rhode Island office in January to join as Shekarchi's top staffer.
It is unknown when the staff changes will end. The door is still spinning -- and spending.
Related Articles
- New Hope for Cures, Guest MINDSETTER™ Joseph Shekarchi
- RI Political Cooperative Backs Goldin to Replace Ruggerio As Senate President, 2nd Group in Two Days
- Shekarchi Introduces Bill to Streamline Regulations for RI Companies Using Blockchain
- Council Approves Fane Tower Height Variance; Mattiello & Ruggerio Urge Elorza to Support Project
- UPDATED: Senate President Ruggerio Pushes for Mobile Sports Betting
- Ruggerio: “Unprecedented Last Minute Political Stunt” Fails, Abortion Bill Goes to Senate HHS
- Fane Tower Gets Design Approval - Victory for Ruggerio and Loss for Elorza
- Senator Nesselbush Blasts Senate President, Ruggerio Responds
- Ruggerio Introduces Bills to Bring More Transparency to St. Joseph Pension Plan
- Ruggerio and McCaffrey Retain Leadership in Senate — Pearson to Chair Finance, Coyne Judiciary
- Mattiello and Ruggerio Hit Back at Raimondo: Say Her Budget Was Anti-Business & Increased Taxes
- UPDATED: RI Latino PAC Calls for Ruggerio’s Removal As Senate President
- Ruggerio: Advocating for Minority on Supreme Court Would Be Improper, But Pushes Lynch Prata
- Raimondo Sues Over General Assembly Marijuana and Hemp Oversight - Mattiello and Ruggerio Swipe Back
- NEW: Filippi Blasts Mattiello, Shekarchi, Ruggerio, and Algiere for Blocking JCLS Meetings
- RI Healthcare Curveball: Ruggerio to Introduce Bill to Place Moratorium on For-Profit Hospitals
- Senate President Ruggerio Announces Leadership and Committee Chairs
- NEW: Mattiello, Ruggerio Request Additional IGT Documents from Raimondo
- 20 Top Political RI Moneymakers: Surprise Shekarchi Edges Out Mattiello
- Mattiello and Ruggerio Forced to Remove “Political” Photos from Website After GoLocal Report
- VIDEO: Legislators Push Mattiello, Ruggerio to Expand Statute of Limitations on Sex Abuse Crimes
- Regunberg, $80K Adviser to Elorza, Blasts Ruggerio Over Abortion Bill
- 2020 Election Profile: Joseph Shekarchi, House District 23
- Shekarchi Says Revenue Neutral Tax Break Needed to Help RI Small Businesses
- GOP and Senate President Ruggerio Spar Over Legality of Sports Betting in RI
- Majority Leader Shekarchi Proposes Bill to Cut Taxes For Small Business Impacted by Trump Tax Reform
- Shekarchi Not Running for Warwick Mayoral Seat: “I’m Focused on the State House”
- UPDATED: Mattiello & Shekarchi Win Reelection to House Leadership, Coalition Calls for Rule Changes
- Shekarchi to Introduce Blockchain and Tax Code Legislation in 2019
- Shekarchi Has Votes for Speaker, Say Multiple Sources
- Shekarchi Appoints House Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccine, Dr. Fine to Testify
- Shekarchi: “If Any State Representative Committed Federal Crimes, House Will Act Swiftly”
- Long-Time Sen. Reed Aide Simone Will Serve As Speaker Shekarchi’s Chief of Staff
- Ruggerio, Shekarchi Reverse Course, Introduce Legislation Making RI Promise Program Permanent
- Shekarchi Shakes Up House with New Committee Assignments
- AARP RI Challenges Raimondo, McKee, Shekarchi and Ruggerio to “End Vaccination Chaos”
- Shekarchi’s Law Firm Tied To Dozens of Eviction Hearings, Raises Concerns as RI Faces Housing Crisis
- Progressive Group Calls for Members to Abstain From Voting for Shekarchi for Speaker
- IRS Affirms Shekarchi’s Tax Cut for RI Businesses Impacted by Trump Tax Reform
- RI House Poised to Vote on Budget, Shekarchi Defends Shift of CARES Act Monies to Support Government
- 21 to Watch in RI in 2021: Joseph Shekarchi
- A New Opportunity with Speaker Shekarchi - Mayor James A. Diossa
- Shekarchi’s Affordable Housing Bills Fail to Address Permanent Source of Funding
