RI Campaign 2010 – Gemma to Formally Announce Tues.

RI Campaign 2010 – Gemma to Formally Announce Tues.

Businessman Anthony Gemma will formally announce his run for the First District Congressional seat tomorrow morning. He will be having an announcement party later that day from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Providence Biltmore, according to his Facebook page. Gemma faces an already crowded field of candidates—former state party chairman Bill Lynch, state Rep David Segal, and Providence mayor David Cicilline

Conservative Group Issues Endorsements

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly—a conservative group that calls itself the “Republican wing of the Republican Party”—announced yesterday it had endorsed several candidates, including John Loughlin for the First District Congressional seat; Mark Zaccaria in the Second District—over Bill Clegg and Michael Gardiner; Kerry King for treasurer, and John Robitaille over Victor Moffitt for governor.

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In the absence of any candidates for Secretary of State, RIRA held off on any endorsements and it explicitly endorsed no one for lieutenant governor, instead passing a resolution saying it believed the office should be eliminated, according to Will Ricci, a board member. Cool Moose candidate Bob Healey is running for the office and wants to get rid of it, but RIRA bylaws prevent any endorsement of non-Republican candidates, Ricci said. Republican Bob Tingle is expected to run, but has not formally announced, according to Ricci.

The group also called on Gov. Don Carcieri to veto the proposed state budget and passed a resolution opposing the Deepwater Wind project off Block Island, which Carcieri supports.

AG Candidate Gets Union Endorsement

Steve Archambault, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, yesterday announced he had been endorsed by the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 51. “I am pleased to have won the support of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union,” Archambault said. “As Attorney General, I will stand up for Rhode Island consumers and working families as they continue to face tough economic challenges.”