Projo Politics Blog

A handful of Republicans have come forward today to express interest in running for the state party leadership team.

Only one of them, however, is seeking the top spot. David Cote, chairman of the South Kingstown Republican Town Committee, has paired with his counterpart in North Kingstown, Joe White, in seeking the chair and vice chairmanship, respectively.

Cote and White submitted a joint letter of intent to the state party office today. The deadline for submissions is Friday; a state party official said he expects more candidates to come forward in the next two days.

Barrington attorney Giovanni Cicione is also in the running to chair the state GOP. He says he has the endorsement of Governor Carcieri, support that virtually ensures Cicione will be voted in by the state Republican Convention March 15. Carcieri's office, however, has refused to comment on Cicione's status.

In their letter to the state party, Cote and White outline a series of methods to boost fundraising, candidate recruitment, resource allocation and message development.

Cote, who currently serves as the secretary of the state party, tries to make a strong case for his nomination in the letter:

"If the RIGOP is to succeed with its mission in 2008, it must be run like a business," he writes. "As a director of one of the largest technology corporations in the world with responsibility for $500 million in annual revenue, a 24-year veteran of the high tech industry, and a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Master of Business Administration, I have experience of how to run the RIGOP like a successful business where appropriate."

Cote's resume lists his position as AT&T hosting GM/director.

The other candidate to come forward today is Portsmouth businessman John Robitaille, who is seeking the vice chairman's post. Robitaille suffered a 4-vote loss to state Rep. Amy G. Rice, D-Portsmouth, in November.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Comments

Will said:

"Barrington attorney Giovanni Cicione is also in the running to chair the state GOP. He says he has the endorsement of Governor Carcieri, support that virtually ensures Cicione will be voted in by the state Republican Convention March 15. Carcieri's office, however, has refused to comment on Cicione's status."

"Appearances" can be deceiving. The question should be, "who are the best qualified people to lead our party into the future for the good of the party as a whole?"

Link | March 1, 2007 2:11 AM
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