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April 28, 2006

Board of Elections chief resigns

PROVIDENCE -- Roger N. Begin, head of the state's Board of Elections, resigned today, after repeated demands for his departure from both political enemies and board members.

Begin, 53, has been the focus of intense, overlapping controversies as chairman of the Board of Elections. But he said he is leaving office because the demands of his career as a private financial advisor don't leave enough time to give the chairmanship the attention it deserves.

The resignation leaves a powerful political position open for Governor Carcieri to fill for the rest of Begin's term, which ends June 1, 2007.

Begin had lost the support of most of the other board members, who voted "no confidence" in him twice in recent years.

The board drew sharp criticism for investigating allegations of campaign finance violations in 2002 by the state Republican Party. Begin also made the controversial decision to ban Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey from hosting a local radio show.

-- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 4:05 PM | Permalink

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