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May 20, 2008

After long wait, governor nominates 3 to Elections Board

PROVIDENCE -- Following months -- if not years -- of delays, the governor today announced three new nominees to the state’s Board of Elections, filling vacancies that some had said could lead to a “political crisis” in this state if not addressed.

The nominations are John Clarke of West Warwick, Martin E. Joyce, Jr., of Cumberland and Richard H. Pierce of Cranston. Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Clarke is the owner and president of “The Insurance Store, Inc.,” according to his resume. He also serves as the parliamentarian for the Rhode Island Republican Party and is a former member of the West Warwick Canvassing Board. In 2006, Clarke ran unsuccessfully against Senate Finance Chairman Stephen D. Alves for his District 9 seat in West Warwick. His Board of Elections term would expire in 2013.

Joyce is a former director of personnel for the city of Pawtucket and before that, personnel director in Central Falls. In recent years, he has served as an investigator on the state Labor Relations Board and as a consumer protection investigator with the Attorney General’s office, according to the governor’s spokesman. Joyce’s term would expire in 2017.

Pierce, a lawyer with the Providence firm Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, is a former Cranston City Council member and a past Cranston School Committee member, governor's spokesman Jeff Neal said. Pierce has twice previously been nominated to the Board of Elections, but was never confirmed by the Senate, prompting the governor to withdraw his name on both occasions. Pierce’s term would expire in 2021.

In a letter to Governor Carcieri last month, Common Cause Executive Director Christine Lopes said the organization was “gravely concerned that if appointments to fill three vacancies are not submitted immediately for Senate confirmation, a major political crisis faces Rhode Island."

-- Cynthia Needham of the Journal State House Bureau

Member Judith Bailey resigned in 2005; Roger Begin departed in 2006; and, Thomas V. Iannitti turned in his resignation in March, according to Executive Director Robert Kando.

Until today, Governor Carcieri had not filled any of the three seats, despite a law that dictates that he must appoint replacements within 30 days.

Last month, Kando said if a fourth member, Florence Gormley, resigns as expected this summer, the board would be unable to convene a four-member quorum that is necessary to oversee and administer elections and certify the results of primary and general elections.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:24 PM | Permalink

May 20, 2008

After long wait, governor nominates 3 to Elections Board

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