Cicilline Creates Jobs for Former City Hall and Congressional Staff at RI Foundation

Cicilline Creates Jobs for Former City Hall and Congressional Staff at RI Foundation

David Cicilline has created two top-tier jobs at the Rhode Island Foundation and has filled those positions with long-time political players.

Since the former Democratic politician Cicilline joined the Rhode Island Foundation the non-profit has added two new staff titles — positions that did not exist under Cicilline’s predecessor Neil Steinberg

The mission of the Foundation is "a proactive community and philanthropic leader dedicated to meeting the needs of the people of Rhode Island."

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Cicilline took over the CEO position on June 1, giving up a seat in Congress to take the Foundation leadership position and a $650,000 annual salary.

 

New Positions for Long-tIme Cicilline Politicos

One of the two new foundation employees is Rogelio "Roger" Suchite, who now serves in the new role “Special Assistant to the President & CEO.”

He has been with Cicilline since he worked in the Cicilline family law firm in the 1990s. At the time, David Cicilline practiced with his brother John, and his father, John “Jack” Cicilline.

David Cicilline's brother John has had a checkered career and pleaded guilty to four felony charges, including conspiracy, making false statements, and obstruction of justice in 2008. He was reinstated to the bar in 2014.

The Cicilline brothers owned a building on Atwells Avenue from 1992 and through to 2015, according to city documents. Now, the building is owned solely by John Cicilline. The building was rented to nightclubs that had a number of legal issues with the city of Providence. Prior, the building had been the home of Heritage Loan and Investment - the bank run by Joe Mollicone. Mollicone was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to repay $12 million for embezzlement and related charges. His crimes triggered one of the worst banking crises in U.S. history.

Jack Cicilline spent many years as a defense attorney to Raymond Patriarca — the head of the New England crime family. The senior Cicilline also represented a  number of other prominent members of La Cosa Nostra.

The other new slot created at the Rhode Island Foundation is the “chief-of staff” position. That position has been filled by former Cicilline campaign manager and staffer Chris Bizzacco.

Bizzacco has worked on and off for more than 20 years for Cicilline. The two started working together beginning in 2001 when Cicilline first ran for mayor of Providence. Bizzacco ran Cicilline's campaign.

 

Politics at the Foundation

Cicilline has added a new political bent to the Foundation.

On Monday, GoLocal unveiled that Cicilline was headlining a Rhode Island Democratic Party fundraiser at Bally’s casino. The Foundation refused to answer questions about the appropriateness of the CEO leading partisan political fundraisers.

By Wednesday, after the GoLocal report, Cicilline's Democratic fundraiser was canceled.

The Rhode Island Democratic Party announced the cancellation in a statement.

"Unfortunately, we are postponing the True Blue Celebration, scheduled for this Friday, to a later date. Former Congressman Cicilline will not be able to attend, due to the limitations of his new position."

"Tickets will be refunded upon request, or can be applied to a future event."

The agency's previous CEO, Neil Steinberg, was an active Democratic donor. He personally has donated more than $20,000 to federal and state Democrats, according to campaign finance reports.

Steinberg, during his tenure as head of the RI Foundation made a series of political donations to high-profile Democrats. Steinberg donated $2,000 to former Governor Gina Raimondo, $1,750 to former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, as well as making donations to former Speakers Gordon Fox and Nick Mattiello, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes and Nellie Gorbea.

Steinberg donated thousands more to congressional Democrats over the years. According to federal and state campaign records, Steinberg has only made one donation to a Republican, and it was before his heading the RI Foundation. In 2002, Steinberg donated $250 to Republican Governor Don Carcieri. 

 

RI Foundation Refuses to Answer Questions

The Rhode Island Foundation has refused to respond to questions about whether the head of the foundation's participation in partisan politics was appropriate.

GoLocal asked the Rhode Island Foundation:

- Is it appropriate for members of the leadership of the Rhode Island Foundation to participate in partisan political events?

- Is there any policy for staff? (if so, could you share it).

- Do you think Cicilline's participation in the Democratic fundraiser raises concerns that he is using the foundation as a political platform?

- Could this type of high-profile political fundraising alienate non-political donors?