Rifuture.org and Newport9 have already posted about this. I was holding off, since I sometimes question whether it is better to address certain unethical actions in Rhode Island Democratic politics and be accused of “focusing on the negative” or “whining,” or to try to rise above these actions and do things which counteract their negative effects. In this case, I have decided the best thing to do is both.
The action in question is that of the Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs. Guillaume de Ramel, who is running for Secretary of State, is calling attention to the unethical practices of the association in endorsing his opponent, Ralph Mollis. His concerns, stated in a letter to the association, are as follows:
My concerns with your flawed process are the following:
You encouraged a vote Tuesday night of the Democratic city and town chairs knowing full well that a majority of the committees had not cast votes on the Secretary of State’s race as individual committees. I have been told that you have pressured many of the city and town chairs to support Mayor Mollis and encouraged them not to invite me to appear before their committees to even be heard. You suspended your rules last night to push the vote through.
Other than in the blogs, we have not heard from other Democratic organizations or leaders in the state, expressing concern about this ethical breach, until now. John M. Rosa, Chair of the Democratic Town Committee of Charlestown, is willing to stand up and do the right thing. Here is a copy of his letter to the Association:
Ernest Carlucci, President
Rhode Island Association of
Democratic City and Town
ChairpersonsRe: The Secretary of State Endorsement
Dear Mr. Carlucci:
A Matter of serious concern was brought to my attention regarding a meeting of the City and Town Chairs Association in February. Although I was unable to attend members of our Town Committee who did attend voiced concerns regarding the endorsement procedures enacted at that meeting.
The majority of Democrat’s across the State had not yet voted their support for Candidates.This type of good old boy, Back room politics has no place in today’s Democratic Party.
Your actions and tactics has negated the validity of the endorsement process and damaged the credibility of the association.
We have to agree with the Guillaume de Ramel campaign that this undemocratic action on your part was taken to benefit the Secretary of State candidacy of Mayor Ralph Mollis, whose campaign you manage.
Each city and town committee should have had the chance to meet the candidates, make carefully considered judgments, and voted their support. Instead, you forced many committee representatives into the bad choice of either not voting at the Association level, or voting without their committee authorization.
John M. Rosa IV, Chair
Charlestown Democratic Town Committee
We will be doing an interview on Kmareka with Guillaume de Ramel. Not because he’s a friend of mine, although he seems like a good person and someone who would be nice to know. We will be doing an interview with him because when you visit his website and review his experience and ideas, you realize that he is a very good candidate for the position of Secretary of State.
The fact that the Democratic Chairs Association forced a vote to endorse Ralph Mollis makes me suspicious of his leadership ability. Other things about the financial problems of North Providence also make me wary of him.
Democrats in Rhode Island deserve a chance to assess the qualifications of all candidates in a primary. Trying to railroad people like Guillaume de Ramel out of a race is not only unethical. It also hurts Rhode Island. Instead of having the opportunity to elect a leader with great educational and professional qualifications that extend beyond the borders of our tiny state, we are left with the only option being another Rhode Island insider working the party machine.
We deserve better. Other Democratic leaders in the state need to stand up and decry the behavior of the Democratic Chairs Association.
Kmareka.com 
Excellent! In additon to his take on the above scandal, I’m eager to hear what de Ramel has to say in general, how he feels about the job Matt Brown has done, and what de Ramel would add, or how he might do things differently.
Excellent! In additon to his take on the above scandal, I’m eager to hear what de Ramel has to say in general, how he feels about the job Matt Brown has done, and what de Ramel would add, or how he might do things differently.
What do you expect from the North Providence Gang. Things just never change there and this Mollis character will find out just what the rest of the state thinks about North Providence pols as he campaigns across RI. Just add em to the John Celona crew another great North Providence pol to be proud of.
Leadership can be very elusive for some. Taking contributions from individuals of questionable character and influence does not engender an honest approach to reform in government.
I raised this very question to a Town Chair last week. He was miffed, but I did not have the sense he was planning to do anything about it.
The public intuitively knows (just look at the polling of Democratic “leaders” in the General Assembly) that it is one thing to adhere to middle class values and another thing when those we trust to represent us have different values.
Your remedy is sound, but for one significant flaw… who are the “leaders” who are going to decry those already in power. The real risk is it is the perfect opportunity to lose compassionate influence to a GOP who will present itself as the better alternative at the state level.
It remains to be seen whether Charlie’s speech has convictions to stem corruption when you see where the funds for his campaign are coming.
In reply to Henry’s Mom, I attended de Ramel’s announcement and it was made very clear that it was felt that Matt’s service as State Sec. was lack luster with progress being attributed to Langevin (what happended to Inman?).
Carl, I agree. This scandal is already giving Sue Stenhouse an advantage. The longer the democrats don’t address it, the bigger her advantage will grow.
I disagree with the comment that deRamel thinks that Brown as SOS was lackluster. I was at the deRamel speech and have spoken to him on various occasions and he said that all the previous secretaries including the current have done good things for the office. I know that he credits Langevin with the purchase of the great voting machines we have now pre the 2000 debacle in Fla. and the creation of the one stop business center. I know that he credits Inman with his great work on the historic aspect of the office and the improving of the business center and I know he speaks highly about Brown and what he has done for opening up the lobbyist disclosure,the HAVA implementation and the town crier open meeting system. So I did not find him to put down any Sec. they all had positives during their time in office according to him and he gives them all the credit they deserve.