Projo Politics Blog

And finally, in this season of new beginnings, the General Assembly has a new leader of a different sort.

Richard W. “Rick” Singleton has assumed the unofficial title of leader of the Assembly’s independent caucus. While it may sound good, the Cumberland representative’s new group consists of just one member: himself.

Singleton became an independent in September after shedding his Republican Party affiliation largely in response to national Republicans’ backing of the war in Iraq. He got a mixed welcome when he showed up for the first day of the new session last week.

“There were a couple people who weren’t bubbling over with excitement to see me,” Singleton told Political Scene. “They said, ‘Here comes the independent man.’ I said there are two of us in the building — one on top and one in the chamber.”

House Speaker Murphy did not miss the opportunity to congratulate Singleton on his new title after Singleton announced there would be a meeting of the independent caucus in the House lounge after Wednesday’s session.

“What was that, Leader Singleton?” Murphy quipped.

Later, the speaker explained the comment to Political Scene: “Representative Singleton is now the leader of the minority party in the House. I guess that makes Representative [Robert] Watson the leader of the in-between party.”

Singleton, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to take the jabs too seriously.

And he said he likes his new seat in the House chamber. He’s been moved out of the small Republican grouping near the front of the room to Representative Coderre’s former seat in the back.

“It’s a great seat,” Singleton said. “I’m right in the middle of the whole thing. I like being on the aisle, easy to get in and out of.”

He said he has decided to caucus with the Democrats: “I think I’d like to see how the other side operates.”

dbarbari@projo.com

 

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