Lathrop Wins Major Union Endorsement Over Diossa for General Treasurer

Lathrop Wins Major Union Endorsement Over Diossa for General Treasurer

Union leader Michael Downey announced on Thursday the endorsement of Republican James Lathrop in the race for General Treasurer.

This is a trifecta of major endorsements for Lathrop. Downey heads RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO.

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Previously, Wall Street watchdog Ted Siedle had endorsed Lathrop, and GoLocal, Rhode Island's only locally-owned statewide news organization, has also endorsed Lathrop.

In a mailer, AFSCME writes, “Your union supports James Lathrop for General Treasurer because he is the best choice to protect your retirement security.”

The union adds, “James is committed to transparency, and will ensure that your money is invested responsibility d the rate of return is maximized.”

 

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A GoLocal investigative series has raised questions about more than three dozen trips the Lathrop’s opponent former Mayor James Diossa took during his tenure.

GoLocal wrote in its endorsement:

Diossa is not a credible candidate. At best, he has demonstrated incompetence, or he has intentionally and inappropriately covered up the misuse of public funds.

To date, the documents received by GoLocal via an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request filed on Aug. 12, show that Diossa spent approximately $100,000 on travel as mayor – and those documents are incomplete. Some of those trips were paid for by third parties, and others were paid for by taxpayers.

In totality, Diossa spent months on foreign and domestic trips, in many cases, in 4-star hotels.

GoLocal is deeply concerned about his ability to manage about $10 billion in state retirement funds. Diossa has no professional training or other experience that would suggest that he is qualified to be general treasurer.