Rhode Island Senate District 4 candidate Stefano Famiglietti has secured the support of his district’s party committee in the four-way Democratic special primary to fill the open seat left by the late Sen. Dominick Ruggerio.
Famiglietti, an attorney and North Providence City Councilor, was unanimously endorsed by the five-person Senate District 4 Democratic Committee, the Rhode Island Democratic Party announced Monday. The committee interviewed all four Democratic contenders for the open seat before making its selection Thursday.
The July 8 primary is set to feature former state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Lenny Cioe and Manny Taveras. Whoever wins the primary will then run against Republican Alexander Asermely and independent Stephen Tocco in an Aug. 5. general special election.
Candidates must still submit at least 100 signatures of registered district voters by June 10 to qualify for the ballot.
The special election to represent parts of North Providence and a small section of northern Providence marks the first time the district will have a new state senator in 40 years, following the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Ruggerio died on April 21.
Ruggerio’s sister, Lisa Ruggerio Aceto, is one of five people on the Democratic Senate district committee, which is led by chair Lisa Andoscia. Nicole Verdi, Rhode Island’s Democratic National Convention committeewoman, is also the vice chair of the Senate district party committee.
Famiglietti thanked the committee for their endorsement in a statement.
“I am now looking forward to a successful campaign this summer and am hopeful for a victory so I may continue to serve our community,” he said. “It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to advocate for the residents of North Providence as a member of the North Providence Town Council, and am looking forward to representing my community on a broader level, while bringing that same energy to the State House.”
Voters have until June 8 to register or disaffiliate, ahead of the July 8 primary election. Early voting is set to begin June 18, running through July 7.
The winner of the election will serve the rest of Ruggerio’s two-year term, through 2026.
State lawmakers are paid $19,817 a year.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
