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July 12, 2007

E. Providence canvasser dispute drawing GOP chief

EAST PROVIDENCE -- State Republican Party Chairman Giovanni Cicione will attend tonight's meeting of the City Council, which is considering disciplinary action against Thomas C. Riley, the lone Republican on the Canvassing Board.

“I want to put the East Providence City Council on notice that the state Republican Party is monitoring their actions and will demand fair treatment of Tom Riley, the sole Republican on their Canvassing Board,” Cicione said in a news release today.

“They can’t find time to do their job, but they make time for this witch hunt. This is why East Providence has one of the most embarrassing records on fair elections and why the state police have had to take action in past years.”

Other state GOP leaders may also attend.

But City Canvassing Authority Chairwoman Dorothy O’Gara made clear she had enough of remarks made about her by Riley in e-mails. She asked the council to do something. In a June 20 certified letter to Riley, the city Law Department said O’Gara described Riley’s correspondence as “hateful and incorrect.” She also called it “vulgar, insulting, slanderous slurs” that were “reprehensible and unacceptable,” the letter said.

The state GOP news release says Riley asserts O'Gara has ignored his repeated requests for the Canvassing Authority to hold a hearing on allegations of voter fraud in East Providence in the 2006 primary and general elections.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall. Riley requested the hearing be open to the public.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:54 PM | Permalink

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