NEA Leader Still on Chafee Team

NEA Leader Still on Chafee Team

NEA Rhode Island Executive Director Bob Walsh will continue to serve on a transition advisory committee for Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee—despite being out for surgery and the recent arrest of one of his deputies, according to a spokesman.

“This is a long-standing surgical procedure that has been on the books for months,” spokesman Mike Trainor told GoLocalProv. He said it had been planned for months. Walsh will undergo surgery tomorrow morning and be in recovery for about a week, according to Trainor.

“So he’s very much a member of the advisory committee,” Trainor said.

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He also indicated that Walsh’s role in the transition process will be unaffected by the arrest of John Leidecker, an assistant executive director of the state chapter of the NEA. Leidecker is charged with impersonating state Rep. Doug Gablinske using a false e-mail account.

“Governor-elect Chafee is aware of this development (and) wants the process to go forward,” Trainor said, adding that Chafee would reserve any judgment until the police investigation and possible adjudication are completed.