Rep. Anastasia P. Williams offered an eloquent endorsement of Gordon Fox to the House chamber last week.
By the end of the night, Fox was the speaker and Williams had been named chairwoman of the House Committee on Labor.
A Providence Democrat, Williams later acknowledged that her philosophy differs substantially from the more conservative former chairman Arthur J. Corvese, D-North Providence.
She also acknowledged that she has been a longtime member of the executive committee of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, the largest coalition of labor unions in the state.
Her page on the legislature's Web site lists various associations and memberships, but excludes the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, where she serves as the chairwoman.
We confirmed Williams' unpaid service as an AFL-CIO board member in the organization's most recent tax filing.
The House Labor Committee reviews legislation that affects workplace issues, including binding arbitration and the state's minimum wage.
"I have no idea if it is a conflict," Williams said of her AFL-CIO connection, adding that she would seek the guidance of the state Ethics Commission. "If it is in any way shape a conflict, I will certainly remove myself [from the AFL-CIO board] immediately."