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November 3, 2006

Former Roger Williams chief to speak out for Chafee

PROVIDENCE -- A former chief of staff for Roger Williams Medical Center will speak at a Lincoln Chafee press conference this afternoon, the second consecutive day the incumbent Republican senator has hosted a press conference seeking media attention in his campaign's waning days.

The hospital official, Dr. Phillip O'Dowd, a former president of the hospital's medical staff, has spoken out against Chafee's opponent in recent days. The doctor said that he met three times with Sheldon Whitehouse, then the Rhode Island Attorney General, in the fall of 1999 and presented him with documents regarding possible crimes by Urciuoli, the hospital's president.

But rather than investigate, O'Dowd said, Whitehouse told him that the matter would best be handled civilly because hospital leaders did not want to press criminal charges.

Last month Urciuoli was convicted of federal corruption charges that he put a state senator, John A. Celona, on the hospital's payroll for his political influence.

Today's press conference, the second in as many days hosted by the Chafee campaign, is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Law offices of Breslin, Sweeney and Earl, on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick.

-- Projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 12:34 PM | Permalink

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