Young Dems: replace Caprio with a liberal party chair
The Young
Democrats of Rhode Island says the next chairman of the state Democratic Party
should reflect “both the best interests of Rhode Island and the principles of
the national Democratic Party.”
“That
includes,” they said in an email, “firm commitments to reproductive justice,
gun safety reforms, repealing voter ID, and making government more accessible
and transparent.”
David
Caprio resigned yesterday from the
post after an NBC 10 Parker Gavigan scoop about his beach concession stand
contract. Gavigan reported that Caprio assumed the contracts after Cranston
state Rep. Peter Palumbo won the bid, dropped out and then took a job managing
the concession stands for Caprio.
Caprio
is a conservative Democrat who was ousted from his legislative seat by
progressive Democrat Teresa Tanzi in 2010. Caprio was recommended as chairman by former Speaker Gordon Fox.
Here’s
the Young Democrats full press release:
We
now must look to the future; YDRI congratulates Representative Grace Diaz on
her elevation to Acting Chair, and we wish her the best of luck during this
time of transition.
The
RI Democratic Party Chair plays a powerful but underappreciated role. The Chair
facilitates connections between candidates and incumbents at every level of our
state’s democracy, from our city and town committees up through the Governor’s
office. The Chair wields and distributes both financial and informational
resources, including fundraising support and access to our party’s voter
tracking database.
Most
importantly, the Chair must act as a visible embodiment of and vigorous
advocate for the ideals of the Democratic Party.
It
is with these responsibilities in mind that the Young Democrats of Rhode Island
urges that we, as soon as possible, nominate a new chair that reflects both the
best interests of Rhode Island and the principles of the national Democratic
Party.
That includes firm commitments to reproductive justice, gun safety
reforms, repealing voter ID, and making government more accessible and
transparent, positions that are keystones of the national Democratic Platform
and popular with Rhode Islanders.
As always, we are confident that a Rhode
Island Democratic Party built on these principles will help level the playing
field, expand economic opportunities, and raise the quality of life for Rhode
Islanders—young and old—across our state.
Bob Plain is the
editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a
reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and
across the country.