The Rhode Island Senate has elected a new Senate President following the death of Dominick Ruggerio.
Senator Valarie Lawson will now lead the chamber, saying serving as President of the Rhode Island Senate is an awesome responsibility and one that she will work tirelessly to uphold.
“The trust my colleagues have placed in me means more than I can express. Serving as President of the Rhode Island Senate is an awesome responsibility, one that I will work tirelessly to uphold. I congratulate Majority Leader Ciccone and look forward to working alongside him. As the Senate enters the final, busy weeks of the legislative session, we are still in mourning. As we acknowledge the tremendous loss our chamber has experienced in recent years, we will honor the memory, friendship, and incredible service of our cherished colleagues by working together for our constituents, our communities, and our state,” said President Lawson.
The Democratic Caucus also elected Frank Ciccone as its majority leader.
“I am humbled to be chosen by my colleagues as Majority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate. I want to congratulate President Lawson, and I look forward to working with our leadership team and our entire membership as we enter this critical phase of the legislative session. We all bring different ideas and priorities to our work together, and I have tremendous admiration and respect for all my colleagues. Together, let us work through our differences to honor the memory and legacy of our friend, Dominick Ruggerio,” said Leader Ciccone.
President Lawson was first elected to the Senate in 2018. She has been an active voice on a range of issues, including education, public health, protections for senior citizens, and the East Providence community. She has also led efforts to expand paid family leave through the Temporary Caregiver Insurance, or TCI, program.
(Photo: Rhode Island General Assembly)