The four members of the tiny Senate Republican bloc are in a leadership fight.

Sen. Dennis Algiere confirmed today that he is in a 2-to-2 fight with fellow Senate Republican Leo Blais for a job that he, Algiere, has had since 1997: Senate minority leader.

Algiere, of Westerly, had counted on at least 3 votes, including his own, from the 5 Republicans in the 38-member Senate. But with the election-day defeat of one of his supporters, Sen. June Gibbs, of Middletown, Algiere said the only votes he is confident of getting now are his own and that of Sen. David Bates, of Barrington.

Algiere said Blais called to tell him he was "challenging him'' for the minority leaders' post and believed he had enlisted the support of Senator-elect Francis T. Maher Jr. of Exeter.

In an interview today, Blais called Algiere a "good man,'' but said he believes the Republican "caucus needs to go in a new direction,...more conservative views are needed in this time of fiscal uncertainty...(and) we need to do a better job in all quarters in delivering the Rhode Island Republican message and recruiting, electing and maintaining Republican members of the General Assembly.''

Blais contended that he is "the better man for the job.''

With no precedent for what happens when there is a tie, Algiere said: "No one knows what happens'' now.

The minority leader holds a seat on the leadership panel known as the Joint Committee on Legislature Services that oversees hiring and purchasing for the year-round operations of the part-time General Assembly. The minority leader is also an ex officio member of every Senate committee. He also has a say in which Republican senator sits on which Senate committee, and an actual role in appointments to an array of legislative study-commissions.

Algiere is a vice-president at the Washington Trust Company.

Blais is president and chief executive officer of Pawtuxet Valley Prescription & Surgical Center Inc. Last fall, his business filed for protection from its creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

According to bankruptcy court records, lawyers for the bank said the pharmacy's accounting and inventory figures were in disarray, leaving the bank with no confidence that Pawtuxet Valley officials had any idea "whether they're making money" or "whether they will make money."

Today, Blais said, his pharmacy is operating under a reorganization plan approved by the federal bankruptcy court September 26.

He is not out of the woods yet, however.

The Rhode island Department of Health has scheduled an administrative hearing for December 18 on the results of an investigation into alleged violations uncovered during an inspection of his business. With his pharmacy license at stake, Blais would not comment on the findings that led to the investigation by state regulators. But he said: "I don't believe we have done anything wrong.''

The six surviving House Republicans selected their own 2009 leaders earlier this week.
Rep. Robert Watson, of East Greenwich, was reelected as minority leader, while Rep. John Loughlin, of -Tiverton, was elected minority whip to replace defeated Rep. Nicholas Gorham, of Coventry, in that role.

Asked why the Republicans who suffered a net loss of seven House seats on election day did not announce their caucus, Loughin quipped: "We could have had the meeting in my Crown Victoria and everyone would have had seat belts and cup holders.''