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June 24, 2008

GOP director Perry to challenge Sen. Paiva Weed

Donna Perry, the state Republican Party executive director, announced today she is running against Senate Majority Leader Teresa Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat, in the race for Senate District 13.

Perry, of Jamestown, said in a news release today that she concluded it's the right time to challenge Paiva Weed, who Perry contends does not represent constituents' interests.

“Teresa Paiva Weed’s actions and statements during this past session have been a shameful display of incredibly poor leadership,” Perry asserted in the statement.

She added: “It seems [Paiva Weed] would rather defend her corporate casino client on expanded gambling even though Newporters didn’t want it; she doesn’t think legislators need to contribute to their health plan while average Rhode Islanders can barely afford their own family’s health costs; and, she thinks no one has a right to find out if a worker is here illegally and she blocked a sensible bill to do that."

Giovanni Cicione, chairman of the state Republicans, said in the statement that the party is fully behind Perry's run and that she "will be a terrific candidate who can make a very persuasive strong case against Teresa Paiva Weed."

The statement says Perry has worked in government, politics and media on and off for more than two decades. The sister of conservative radio talk show host John DePetro, she covered local news as a radio reporter in the 1980s, worked on Capitol Hill and at the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C.

"She was affiliated with the Women’s National Republican Club in New York while living in New York City in the late nineties," and in recent years she worked part time in the governor’s media’s office before becoming state party executive director. She is also chairwoman of the Jamestown Republican Town Committee.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:27 AM | Permalink

Comments

Where do I send donations?

it's too bad that she's related to John "Fat Lesbian" DePetro.

Posted by: Greg at June 24, 2008 12:31 PM

Thank you, Donna Perry! Someone needs to "WEED" OUT the Senate!

Posted by: Marilyn Campbell at June 24, 2008 1:14 PM

Yeah-great for Rhode Island? Someone who can continue the disastrous policies of Bush-Carcieri. We'll see how "The Independent Man" DePetro handles this one. Rhode Islanders are suffering under Republican rule.

Posted by: Frank Martin at June 24, 2008 3:20 PM

All Rhode Islanders should support Ms Perry's run against Paiva Weed who is out of control and in lock step with Montalbano.

Jim
Narragansett,RI

Posted by: jim baldwin at June 25, 2008 5:49 AM

As an independent I cherish the thought of balance in both houses. Good government can rarely be achieved without balance. Private industries provides the best there is to have when choice is provided. The State is no different. The existing imbalance has to change if we are to realize better government. I know this thought has been stated previously but, it can never be stated too often. Thank you Ms. Perry for providing a choice.

Posted by: lucien desrosiers at June 25, 2008 7:55 AM

Another bigoted Republican Political HACK just like her brother.
RE ELECT WEED!

Posted by: Dennis at June 25, 2008 1:01 PM

June 24, 2008

GOP director Perry to challenge Sen. Paiva Weed

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