The papers must be turned in no later than this Thursday, February 2nd at 4:00 P.M. to each local Boards of Canvassers or Town Clerk’s office.

Please remember that the back side of the papers must be filled out by the person who collected the signatures, and his signature must be witnessed by a Notary Public. If you turn them in yourself, you can get them notarized in Town Hall. If you have someone else turn them in for you, they must be notarized in advance.

If you have other questions or need a notary public, please contact Dave Talan ASAP, and we will arrange to take care of this. He can be reached at 941-3662 or DaveTalan [at] aol [dot] com.

Governor Chafee gives us more of the same.

“I think the governor missed an opportunity tonight by delivering a political speech aimed only at those in the chamber when he could have really connected with the real men and women of Rhode Island who are having increasing trouble paying the taxes Gov. Chafee relies on to fund all the spending he proposed” said Mark Zaccaria, Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party.

“I am highly suspicious that the Governor’s Cabinet on Jobs, as proposed in last night’s speech, is to be headed by Director Fogerty. Why call it the Governor’s Cabinet if the governor, himself, is to have nothing to do with it?”

Zaccaria noted that the budget, as proposed, summarily attaches cost burdens – through new taxes – to the overhead calculations of every business in The Ocean State. “Unfortunately, not one word of cost justification is offered, The Governor simply needs the money to fund the spending growth he wants so he’s jacking up fees and taxes to do it. I foresee substantial unintended consequences. This budget only proposes more short and long term spending without any suggestion that expenses must be cut. I count that as living in a dream World” Zaccaria exclaimed.

“The Bad News is that this proposed budget is ample proof that our Governor just doesn’t understand the problem. The Good News, sadly, is that this proposal will be Dead on Arrival when it gets to the House and Senate. Yet isn’t it a shame that we go through all this Kabuki theater with no thought to what’s best for the real working taxpayers of our state?” said Zaccaria.

“The Governor spent more than half his speech citing Assets available to make Rhode Island better, but these all turned out to be just his senior staffers getting a shout out from their boss. That’s politics, not substance. When the Governor got to C for Corruption he spent barely one minute saying it’s bad and we should do something about it. In neither of these cases did Gov. Chafee make a case for how he was going to exploit the assets or resolve the corruption. Again Politics not Substance” continued Zaccaria.

“The only way we can get Rhode Island back on track is to elect more fiscally conservative Republicans. While the Governor is looking to spend more of your money, we are the only ones looking out for your pocketbooks” ended Zaccaria.

Press Release: Rhode Island Republican Party

Registered voters from EAST PROVIDENCE, PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, or BARRINGTON are invited to stop by this FREE event to sign the nomination papers for all of the GOP candidates for President (Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, etc.). To get on the ballot in RI for the April 24th primary, each candidate must obtain at least 1,000 valid signatures by the February 2nd deadline. Please note that you are not required to be a registered Republican to sign the candidates’ nomination papers, just a currently registered voter.

Those attending may also “vote” for their favorite GOP presidential candidate in our Florida Primary Straw Poll ($1 per vote), as well as watch the results of the Florida Primary as they come in. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the GOP candidates, local campaigns, and our city committee. Speakers include new R.I. Republican Party Chair MARK ZACCARIA and U.S. Senate candidate BARRY HINCKLEY. There will be a Cash Bar, as well as complimentary snacks and desserts available.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact EPGOP Chair Bob Carlin at chair [at] epgop [dot] org or 345-6608 or visit our website at www.epgop.org. RSVP is not required.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Carlin, Jr.
Chairman, East Providence Republican City Committee

P.S. Even if you’re not from one of the above towns, please feel free to stop by!

You have read recently that all but 2 of the Republican Presidential candidates failed to even get on the ballot for Virginia’s Primary, due to that state’s ridiculously restrictive ballot access laws. But Rhode Island’s laws are even WORSE than Virginia’s. We could be looking at NONE of the candidates getting on R.I.’s ballot, thanks to major changes in the R.I. law, passed in 2011 and taking effect in 2012.

But we are taking steps to make sure that this embarrassment does not happen here. We are in charge of getting all the GOP candidates on the April 24 R.I. Primary ballot. We are organizing a team effort, to make sure R.I. Republican voters are able to choose from ALL 7 of the Presidential candidates.

First, a brief explanation of why this is so difficult in R.I. We have just 2 weeks to get 1,000 valid signatures for these candidates, from January 19 to February 2. (This is down from the 5 weeks we had previously, in warmer weather). Also, in normal states, signatures are turned in to one central location. In R.I., signatures must be turned in to the City or Town Hall where the signer resides. (So, for instance, if you are a Providence voter, and sign a paper that is turned in to Pawtucket, your signature would be disqualified.). This makes it impractical to gather signatures at shopping centers or at athletic events, where people come from numerous different communities.

The only thing about R.I. law that makes things easier, is that one person can sign papers for ALL of the candidates (not just for the one that they support). We are asking people to sign every paper, so that ALL the candidates get on; rather than NONE of them, if we each go our separate ways.

So here is what YOU can do.

* SIGNATURE PARTIES
We are organizing events in most of the 39 Cities & Towns, where residents can come and sign all the papers. The GOP City & Town Chairmen’s Caucus (President Mark Smiley from Warren) is working with the 39 local GOP Committees, to set these up.
We will notify you, via E-Mail, about the time & place for the Signature Party in your own community. (THE SCHEDULE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES IS LISTED BELOW). We ask you to take the time to go to the event in your Town, and sign all the papers.
These Signature Parties will also be social events, where you get to meet and greet the GOP leaders in your Town (and maybe get more involved with your local GOP organization).

* GET SIGNATURES YOURSELF
If you would be willing to get signatures on all the papers from 10 or more of your friends and neighbors, just REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL (DaveTalan [at] aol [dot] com), and we will deliver the papers to you on January 19 (together with instructions on how to handle them).
We will help you get all the papers properly notarized, and turn them in for you.
(Note: If you replied a week ago, to your monthly R.I. GOP Update, and it bounced back to you, then reply again. That Update had a space mistakenly included in the return address, which caused some replies to be rejected.)

SO HERE IS THE CURRENT SCHEDULE OF SIGNATURE PARTIES !!
(In a few days, we will send you an updated schedule, once we hear from more communities. We will also send you an E-Mail with more details about the Signature Party in your own particular City or Town.)

RHODE ISLAND GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIGNATURE PARTIES

Thursday January 19 – CUMBERLAND monthly meeting – 6:00 to 7:30 P.M.
at Public Library (Hayden Center room #1), 1464 Diamond Hill Rd.

Thursday January 19 – WARWICK monthly meeting – 7:00 P.M.
at Avedisian headquarters, 1800 Post Rd. (Airport Plaza; below and left of Staples)

Thursday January 19 – CHARLESTOWN, RICHMOND, HOPKINTON & EXETER
Meet & Greet – 7:00 P.M. – at Boucher’s Wood River Inn, Rt. 138 & Rt. 3 in Richmond (1139 Main St. in Wyoming)

Thursday January 19 – JOHNSTON Tea Party monthly meeting – 7:00 P.M.
at Ribs & Co. restaurant, 1383 Atwood Ave.

Saturday January 21 – EAST GREENWICH hosting monthly South County breakfast
8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. – at Pal’s Restaurant, 43 Division St. (down the hill from Varnum Armory). Breakfast (10 Towns) from 8:00 to 9:30; East Greenwich remains until 11:00

Saturday January 21 – PAWTUCKET breakfast & straw poll – 9:00 A.M. to noon
at Comfort Inn, 2 George St. CENTRAL FALLS also invited.

Saturday January 21 – NORTH KINGSTOWN candidate school (but can come just to sign papers) – 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. – at Sonoma Pub, 7366 Post Rd. (corner of Camp St.)

Saturday January 21 – WARREN, BRISTOL, BARRINGTON straw poll party – 6:00 P.M. until South Carolina primary results come in – at Perella’s Ristorante, 311 Metacom Ave. in Warren

Sunday January 22 – LINCOLN monthly meeting – 7:00 P.M. -
at new Senior Center, 150 Jenckes Hill Rd.

Monday January 23 – LITTLE COMPTON – 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.
at the Brownell House (Village Improvement Society) on the Commons (44 Commons)

Monday January 23 – SMITHFIELD straw poll – 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.
at Ronzio’s Pizza, 9 Cedar Swamp Rd. (Rt. 5), behind McDonald’s in Apple Valley Mall (Rt. 44). NORTH SMITHFIELD & GLOCESTER invited if they do not have their own event.

Monday January 23 – FOSTER monthly meeting – 7:00 P.M.
at the Benjamin Eddy building (next to Town Hall), 6 South Killingly Rd.

Tuesday January 24 – PROVIDENCE – 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. – at the Holy Rosary Band Society Hall, 157 Gano St. (off exit 3 to Rt. 195; between Red Cross Hdqtrs. & Pitman St.)

Tuesday January 24 – SOUTH KINGSTOWN, NARRAGANSETT – 7:00 P.M.
at Casey’s Grill & Bar, 191 Old Tower Hill Rd. in Wakefield (just off Rt. 1)

Tuesday January 24 – SCITUATE (Northwest Tea Party monthly meeting) – 6:00 to 7:45 P.M. – at North Scituate Public Library, 606 W. Greenville Rd.
5 neighboring communities also invited (Burrillville, Foster, Glocester, Smithfield, North Smithfield.)

Tuesday January 24 – WARWICK (Freedom Is Fundamental Book Club) – 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
- at Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane (room 101)

Wednesday January 25 – BARRINGTON monthly meeting – 7:30 P.M. -
at Town Hall, in Council chambers (283 County Rd.)

Friday January 27 – WEST WARWICK (also COVENTRY) – time & location TBA

Friday January 27 – MIDDLETOWN – time & location TBA

Saturday January 28 – NORTH PROVIDENCE breakfast – 8:00 to 11:00 A.M.
at Lymansville Memorial VFW Post 10011, 354 Fruit Hill Ave.

Saturday January 28 – JAMESTOWN – time & locations TBA

Saturday January 28 – NEWPORT – time & location TBA

Tuesday January 31 – JOHNSTON – 6:30 P.M. to until the crowd dies down
at the home of George & Kathy Resnick, 10 Paradise Lane

Tuesday January 31 – EAST PROVIDENCE Florida Primary straw poll – 7:00 to 10:00 P.M.
at Santa Maria Cultural Center, 846 Broadway. Neighboring communities also invited.

Wednesday February 1 – TIVERTON – 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. – at the clubhouse of Villages on Mount Hope Bay, 120 Schooner Drive

=========================================================

The following Cities & Towns plan to do a signature party, but date and location still to be determined.

(?) BURRILLVILLE
(?) WEST GREENWICH
WESTERLY
WOONSOCKET
==========================================================
We have not heard yet from the following Cities & Towns.

CRANSTON
GLOCESTER
NEW SHOREHAM
NORTH SMITHFIELD
PORTSMOUTH

The meeting will once again be held at the Rhode Island Shriners’ building, at One Rhodes Place (at the intersection with Broad Street), in historic Pawtuxet Village, Cranston, RI 02905. This is the same location which has been used for the last few meetings. There is a cash bar and food available in the adjoining room.

The agenda which was e-mailed to RIGOP members last week was very basic. However, we have every reason to expect some important, as well as time-sensitive issues to be discussed, so please make an effort to attend this first RIGOP meeting of the 2012 election cycle.

Only current RIGOP Delegates or their Designated Alternates may vote on any contested matter, although any Republican is welcome to attend RIGOP meetings. If you are not a member of the RI Republican State Central Committee, you are not expected or required to attend.

Any inquiries about the RIGOP meeting can be directed to the RIGOP office at (401) 732-8282.

Inquiries specific to RIRA may still be directed to RIRA President Ray McKay at (401) 487-2514 or president [at] ri-ra [dot] org. Thank you.

After the first round of balloting, the results were:

Mark Zaccaria – 82 (46.33%)
Raymond McKay – 59 (33.33%)
Tina McKendall – 36 (20.33%)

A total of 177 votes were cast by the Delegates present.

No candidate received a simple majority after the first round of balloting (a majority in this case would have been 89 of 177).

Prior to a possible second round of balloting, RIRA President Raymond McKay withdrew his name from consideration and endorsed Mark Zaccaria.

Several minutes later, Tina McKendall also withdrew from the race and endorsed Mark Zaccaria.

Being one candidate left on the ballot, Mark was then elected by acclamation as the new RIGOP Chairman.

Mark then delivered his acceptance speech and was congratulated by all with a standing ovation.

As the meeting adjourned several hours earlier than most expected, many went to the adjoining bar to wind-down.

Congratulations, to our new RIGOP Chairman Mark Zaccaria!

Dear fellow RIGOP Delegates and the RIRA membership:

My friends, I am writing to you as a Party friend and loyalist with the deepest appreciation and respect for the consideration, time, and effort put forth by the RIGOP Nominations Committee for their Official Endorsement of my candidacy to be the next Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party. I am truly honored by your confidence in me, and my vision to build-up the RIGOP. I am ready for this challenge.

As you know, the Special Election to choose the next Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party will be held this Wednesday, December 21, 2012 at the RI Shriners at 1 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI. The election will be held in the very same room where we just held the very successful and enjoyable 7th Annual RIRA Christmas Dinner Party on Saturday night. The special election meeting on Wednesday is scheduled to begin promptly at 7:00 P.M., so please arrive early for the credentialing process. There is also a cash bar and dinner menu at the RI Shriners, which you are encouraged to enjoy.

Let me state a few things, to clear up any possible confusion or misperceptions. As I have said many times, it is the grassroots of politics that will help move this Party forward. That means, a leader must lead, but also listen and hear from those whom he would ask to follow him. It was made very clear to me during the RIGOP Nominations Committee process that it would be impractical for me to lead two similar, but obviously different Republican organizations, and to do both well simultaneously.

Let me say this for the record and so there is no misunderstanding: If I am so fortunate as to be elected Chairman of the RIGOP on Wednesday evening, I will submit my resignation as President of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly.

With that said, please know that I am absolutely determined that I will not do to RIRA, what the prior Chair of the RIGOP unintentionally did to the RIGOP by leaving his position so abruptly. The RIRA Board of Directors, as well as myself, have already planned for a very smooth transition to new leadership once I am elected as the new Republican Party Chairman. That being said, RIRA Bylaws are somewhat more complex than those of the RIGOP.

• First, the RIRA Board of Directors must meet to approve my written request to resign. I know this will not be an issue.
• Second, unlike the RIGOP, my leaving the helm of RIRA does not necessitate holding a “special election” to determine my replacement. RIRA already has very clear leadership transition procedures in place.
• Third, as the RIRA Board of Directors already has a regularly scheduled meeting planned for January 7, 2012, and being that we are right in the middle of the Christmas season already, I believe that staying with that previously announced meeting schedule would be best for all of us to be able to enjoy a stress-free, enjoyable, and politics-free Christmastime.

I realize that after over 6 years as the RIRA President, this change will not be easy for some RIRA members to absorb at first. However, it has often been said that “the only constant in life is change.” I want to change the RIGOP and make it something that we can all be proud to belong to. That is my mission, and I know that it is RIRA’s as well. Although I will no longer be the public face or spokesman of RIRA, I will still remain active within the organization. Those RIRA members who may be concerned that their grassroots Republican organization which was built up over a period of 10-plus years will fall apart at the seams without me at the helm, need not worry. RIRA is much bigger than one person. As I’ve often said: “This is not about me.” This is about all of us.

If I am so fortunate as to be elected as your next RIGOP Chairman on Wednesday, I am ready, willing, and able to take on this new challenge — and it will be a challenge. Together, we will create a viable, identifiable, and competently-run Republican Party organization in this “bluest of blue states” which we can all be proud of.

As my role model, President Ronald Reagan often said, “Our best days are yet to come.”

The hard work ahead of us will yield the fruits of change that we, and this State, so desperately yearn for, and rightfully deserve.

Thank you so much for your time, and I ask for your vote of confidence on Wednesday evening.

Conservatively yours,

Raymond T. McKay

President, RIRA
Candidate for RIGOP Chairman

The special election meeting will be held at the RI Shriners – Imperial Room, at One Rhodes Place, in Cranston, where the prior two RIGOP meetings have been held — and where we just held the RIRA 7th Annual Christmas Dinner Party on Saturday night.

Of course, only credentialed RIGOP Delegates or their Designated Alternates may vote in this special election, but anyone can attend to observe. Any questions concerning the meeting can be referred to the RIGOP office at (401) 732-8282.

On December 21, 20011 there will be a special election for Chairman. All candidates for Chairman shall be responsible for submitting a letter to the RIGOP expressing his or her intent to seek the office of Chairman. This letter must include accurate contact information (phone and email) for the Nominating Committee Chairperson. An electronic submission of this letter must be sent to and received by contact [at] rigop [dot] org no later than 7:00 pm on December 11, 2011. If the candidate cannot make an electronic submission of his letter, the candidate must submit a written letter to the RIGOP at 1800 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886. A written letter must be received by the RIGOP no later than 5:00 pm on December 9, 2011.

Candidates who have properly filed a letter of intent will be contacted by the Nominating Committee Chairperson. The chairperson of the Nominating Committee will set the time and date of Nominating Committee meeting and schedule the time at which candidates for chairman will speak. If a candidate is unable to attend, they may send a representative to attend on their behalf, attend by telephone conference or video conference, or submit information in writing or by electronic media.

When the Acting Chairman opens the floor for nominations for chairman at the December 21, 2011 meeting, the only nominations that will be in order will be those of candidates who submitted a letter expressing their intent to run for chairman by the deadline. There will be only two nominating speeches for each candidate. Each speech is limited to three (3) minutes. Nominating speeches will not be required if the race is uncontested.

Voting will be by secret ballot as is the custom of the RIGOP in any election for an officer position unless the race is uncontested. If the race is uncontested, the chairman will be elected by a voice vote. When a Member receives a ballot, they shall circle the name of the candidate for whom they wish to cast their ballot for the office being voted. The election is won by attaining a majority of the votes eligible to be cast. The majority of votes cast is defined as more than half of the votes cast by persons legally entitled to vote, excluding blanks or abstentions. Abstentions and blank ballots will not be included in determining the number of votes needed to win the election. Prior to the election, each candidate shall designate one (1) Member to serve as that candidate’s representative (“teller”) during the tabulation of votes and this person will be allowed to observe the counting of the ballots during a secret ballot election.

As soon as the results of the balloting are available, the presiding officer shall announce the ballot results starting with the number of votes received by the candidate with the highest number of votes. If there are multiple candidates, and a majority is not attained, there will be additional rounds of voting until an election results in a majority vote. Any speech announcing the withdrawal of a candidate can be made following a vote and before the next vote is taken. The speech must be made in one (1) minute or less by the candidate or an authorized representative of the candidate.

Source: Rhode Island Republican Party

The special election to elect a new RIGOP Chair will be held this Wednesday evening.

Source: RIGOP Nominations Commmitee