Projo Politics Blog

Others include: Mario Celico, Westerly; Parker Denaco, Dover, N.H.; Bruce I. Kogan, Bristol; Karen Andes, Newton Center, Mass.; Oliverio & Marcaccio, Providence; Law office of Vincent F. Ragosta Jr., Providence; John J. Harrington, Warwick; Richard R. Ackerman, Woonsocket; Frederic A. Marzilli, East Providence; Eugene A. Gasbarro, Providence; Bernard H. Singleton, Wakefield; Little Medeiros Kinder Bulman & Whitney, Providence; Matthew M. Bodah, Newport; and Gerard P. Cobleigh, Warwick.

Some are better known than others, including Singleton, a state pensioner, former top official in the National Education Association of Rhode Island and state labor director in the DiPrete administration; and Cobleigh, who is one of the lead lawyers for the largest of the state employee unions and Tassoni's former employer: Council 94, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees.

The qualifications to get on the state's list of potential mediators include: "a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university'' and a minimum of five years experience "as an arbitrator and/or mediator for labor management matters, or a lawyer representing parties'' in such matters.

Tassoni is a 1976 Smithfield High School graduate, who lists the New Horizon Computer Learning Center in Cranston, the George Meany Labor Institute in Washington D.C. and the Institute for Labor Studies and Research in Cranston as his higher-education experience.

As for his "relevant skills and experience,'' he notes on his resume that he is chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government, and a member of the Senate Labor Committee who has over the years, in his union roles, had to "negotiate union contracts and resolve union grievances'' and "research, prepare and present cases for arbitration.''

In a brief, impromptu interview at the State House, Tassoni said he had not yet lined up any mediation jobs. But he said he was excited about launching his new company in that direction. As he said last March, when he was still toying with the idea of running for lieutenant governor: "I worked for Amica Insurance for 10 years. I worked for private business. I went into the union. I'm well-rounded.''

He also made public the reference letters he provided the state as part of his application package.

They included letters from Robert Kulik, executive director of the Woonsocket Housing Authority, who said Tassoni "was always striving for a solution that was fair and equitable,'' and lawyer and mediator Vincent F. Ragosta Jr. who described his sometime adversary in past labor disputes as "a formidable, vigorous and tireless advocate for the labor organizations and workers he represents.''

Others writing on his behalf included Paul Sprague, Coventry's human resource director; and Council 94 lawyers Cobleigh and Carly Beauvais Iafrate.

At the point he left his $87,000 a year union job at Council 94 last spring, he said, he "parted ways with Council 94 to start my own business....It is called The Sentinel Group, and it is going to help small businesses to get ahead since we have no economic development in the state." He denied that his departure stemmed from a reported dispute over the union's reimbursement for his cell-phone expenses.

Tassoni said he has no plans to resign his Senate labor committee post, and sees no need to ask the state Ethics Commission whether his bid for state labor work poses a problem until he lines up a potential contract.

"It wouldn't be advantageous for me to resign anything, because I don't have any clients yet'' in that arena, he said in response to inquiries on Wednesday. "I think I raise the issue once I get called to be a mediator.''