RIDOT Chief of Staff Slammed for Taking Campaign Money From Agency Employees

RIDOT Chief of Staff Slammed for Taking Campaign Money From Agency Employees

John Igliozzi, the chief-of-staff to RIDOT director Peter Alviti and an active political candidate for Rhode Island Attorney General, raised about a little less than $20,000 in the fourth quarter, according to his campaign finance report released on Wednesday.

Among the donors were registered State House lobbyists and a multitude of private attorneys. 

Two donors were RIDOT employees — the agency where Igliozzi sits high on the organizational chart.

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According to Igliozzi’s campaign finance report, Stephen Almago, Assistant Director of Administrative Services, donated $500.

And, RIDOT’s Ronald Ricci, Administrator in Real Estate, donated $150 to Igliozzi.

Igliozzi was served with a U.S. Justice Department demand letter last Friday for RIDOT records regarding the Washington Bridge failure.

 

Donations from RIDOT Officials Draw Comments from RI Common Cause

John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, told GoLocal, "It's not illegal for Igliozzi to take campaign donations from RIDOT employees, but it doesn't show good judgment. People enjoy a First Amendment right to make donations to the candidate of their choice, but candidates are under no obligation to accept them.”

“Rhode Island has an ugly history of elected officials soliciting campaign donations from employees — most notably Buddy Cianci — which is why that practice is now illegal,” said Marion.

“Several high-profile officials have been sanctioned for soliciting donations from subordinates, including Don Carcieri and Ralph Mollis. Even if Igliozzi didn't solicit these donations, he shouldn't have accepted them,” Marion added.

Other donors to Igliozzi included George Santopietro of Coia & Lepore ($500), James Safford ($500), and Mark DePasquale of Green Energy ($500.)

 

Fundraiser, Gridlock, and McKee

As GoLocal was first to report, the Igliozzi fundraiser was held just one day after the Washington Bridge was closed down — during a period in which tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders were trapped for hours in gridlock.

Governor Dan McKee attended the fundraiser.

McKee's attendance drew strong criticism from RI Republican party chair Joe Powers, who said in a statement, "Governor Dan McKee's misplaced priorities are glaringly apparent in his decision to participate in a high-priced political fundraiser instead of prioritizing the urgent needs of the people he was elected to serve. Remember, it was Governor Dan McKee who said, 'It was all hands on deck.' I guess unless your hands are busy grabbing appetizers at a high-ticket fundraiser for your political allies."

Igliozzi refused to respond to questions from GoLocal.