Commission appointed to prep for potential constitutional convention

The exterior of the Rhode Island State House is shown in the afternoon. All four seats on the 12-member commission preparing for a possible constitutional convention that are reserved for members of the public have been filled by political insiders, namely former lawmakers or staffers. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

The newly appointed bipartisan commission preparing for the possibility of a constitutional convention in Rhode Island has less than six weeks to complete its job.

The 12 members announced last week are tentatively scheduled to hold their first meeting on July 24 at the State House. The group must hold public hearings and gather input for a report to be completed by Sept. 1. It will disband after that date.

The report will suggest potential issues that could be addressed by a constitutional convention — often referred to as a ConCon —  for inclusion in the voter handbook mailed to all registered voters before the Nov. 5 election.

Constitutional conventions: a relic of old or a chance for reform? It’s time for voters to decide

If the commission is short on time, could the same be said for its bandwidth?

That’s a fair question given its composition: four representatives, four senators and four members of the public. The latter category has been filled by former lawmakers and former State House staffers.

“Legislative leadership lacks imagination when it comes to appointments,” Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion told Rhode Island Current. “It’s disappointing to see that [in] a state rich in colleges and universities, including a law school, there isn’t an actual expert in constitutional law on the commission.”

The four House members are: Judiciary Chairman Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat; Deputy Speaker Raymond Hull, a Providence Democrat; Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat; and Minority Whip David Place, a Burrillville Republican.

The four Senate members are: Judiciary Chairwoman Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat; Sen. Robert Britto, an East Providence Democrat, state Sen. Matthew LaMountain, a Warwick Democrat; and Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican.

The four members of the public all have ties to Smith Hill.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi selected former State Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, a Jamestown Democrat who served in the legislature from 2009 to 2023 and was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor.

“Rhode Island’s state constitution allows voters to weigh in every ten years on whether there should be a state constitutional convention,” Ruggiero said in a statement Monday. “Who knows what voters will decide this  November- ten years ago they voted no convention, 55%;  but it is the right of the people to make that decision. I am honored to serve and look forward to the conversation on ConCon at our  first meeting on Wednesday July 24.”

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio selected Stephen Iannazzi, his former chief of staff who resigned in 2021 to become regional director of government affairs for Cox Communications.

House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale picked Daniel Reilly, who served as a state representative for House District 72 (which includes parts of Portsmouth and Middletown) between 2011 and 2013 and again from 2015 to 2017. Since 2022 Reilly has worked as legal counsel for the House GOP.

De la Cruz chose Joseph Larisa, Jr., who served as chief of staff and executive counsel to former Gov. Lincoln Almond. He was also mayor of East Providence.

Rhode Island is one of five states , along with Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa and New Hampshire, where people automatically have the chance to vote to hold a constitutional convention every 10 years. The General Assembly may also propose amendments during any election year.

Overall, 14 states mandated periodic constitutional convention referenda.

Rhode Island’s convention question typically goes on the ballot in years ending in the number four, but voters rejected ballot questions seeking to convene one in 1994, 2004 and 2014. The state’s most recent convention in 1986 saw delegates create an Ethics Commission, restore felons’ voting rights, and clarify Rhode Islanders’ rights to the shoreline.

Proponents for holding a convention to change Rhode Island’s governing documents say it gives the public a chance to update how the state government operates. Opponents argue a constitutional convention could roll back many of the state’s civil protections.

Should a majority of Rhode Islanders want to move ahead with a convention, the state would have to set up a special election to select 75 convention delegates to represent each of the state House districts.

This story was updated to include comment from former State Rep. Deborah Ruggiero.

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