Political Scene: Dozens of lawmakers correct their disclosure filings

May 30--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- You've seen the headlines.

One out of four state lawmakers has, in recent weeks, filed corrected versions of the annual disclosure statements they were required to file with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission by April 29.

They were each required to disclose "each instance in which you, your spouse or dependent child received ... $1,000 or more gross income from an employer during 2015 ... [including] income through public employment or from service as an elected or appointed official."

At least 38 lawmakers filed reports after the deadline. Some were simply late. But 31 of those new filings contained information that was either missing or different from what appeared in the lawmakers' initial reports.

Many of the lawmakers' amendments were relatively minor: an acknowledgement, for example, that they each received income from their part-time, $15,414-a-year roles as state lawmakers, which they had disclosed elsewhere on the form in response to a different question: "Current positions?"

But others corrected significant omissions.

Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-Providence, belatedly acknowledged her employment by the city of Providence's planning department, and her chairmanship of the financially troubled John Hope Settlement House, a $300,000 General Assembly grant recipient that is currently in court appealing a Rhode Island Department of Education aid cutoff stemming from concerns about how past dollars were spent.

Sen. James Doyle, D-Pawtucket, filed a series of amendments, in which he belatedly acknowledged he owed "in excess of $1,000" to a number of previously undisclosed creditors, including the Internal Revenue Service, which has placed federal tax liens ranging from a low of $5,453 to a high of $53,904 on his property since 2012.

It is not clear how much, if anything, he still owes the IRS or the other creditors he listed, which include the Pawtucket credit union (ABVFCU), which holds his mortgage; Invacare Corp., which describes itself as the world's leading manufacturer of home and long-term-care medical products; Wells Fargo & Co.; and "U.S. Bank."

(The list does not reflect the repeated legal efforts since March 2013 by Phoenix Administrators, a medical billing company, to collect $6,843, plus interest, from Doyle's company, Doyle Respiratory LLC. Asked why, Doyle said he did not personally guarantee that payment plan.)

As to how he got to this point, Doyle said, "I just keep plugging along, doing the best I can," but costs have gone up, reimbursement rates have dropped and insurance companies are sometimes slow to pay.

"I'm a middle-class kid in a rich man's business" that requires "very, very expensive medical equipment," he said.

"I guarantee there's hundreds and thousands of people that are in the same situation that I am," but "they don't have to disclose it," he said. "I'm a legislator and part of being in the legislature is you have to disclose personal things, so I'm a big boy. I know that is part of the game."

Here is a summary of the corrections made by lawmakers who filed an amended report for 2015 in recent weeks. In addition, grants cited in other reports that are related to their most recent financial statement are also mentioned here.

REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Newport

Under family income, he added that he is retired, U.S. Army.

Under family executive positions, he added that in 2015, his wife, Cheryl, was on the board of governors of the Newport Housing Authority, which was budgeted to receive a $5,483 legislative grant this year.

Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence

Under sources of income, he added that he is a state representative, District 12.

He had previously reported his ownership of Essence Construction, and that his wife, Zoraida Almeida, works in the billing department at the Providence Community Health Center, which was budgeted to receive a $19,238 community-service grant this year.

Under family management positions, he added: board member, Roger Williams Day Care Center.

Rep. Gregg Amore, D-East Providence

Under sources of income, he added that he is a state representative, District 65.

Under family executive positions, he added that he was a board member of the East Providence Education Association and Friends of Townie Athletics, and that his wife, Lee, was the treasurer of Saints Matthew & Mark Episcopal Church, in Barrington.

He had previously disclosed that in 2015 he was an East Providence school teacher and his wife was a senior accountant for Lifespan Corp.

Rep. Christopher Blazejewski, D-Providence

Under family executive positions, he added that his wife, Ami M. Gada, was a director of GSD Laundries, Inc., in North Providence.

He had previously reported that he was a state representative, District 2, and a lawyer at Sherin and Lodgen, in Boston, and his wife was a teacher at Johnston Senior High School.

Rep. Doreen Costa, R-North Kingstown

Under executive positions, she added: Operation Stand Down board member (volunteer), and Cocumscussoc Association (Smiths Castle) board member (volunteer).

Costa sponsored a $5,000 grant earmarked for the Cocumscussoc Association this year. A $15,000 community service grant was earmarked for Operation Stand Down.

Under sources of income, she had previously disclosed that she was a state representative, District 31, and owner of Charles Street Coffee, and her husband, James Costa, was an engineer at WPRI Fox Linn Television. (Costa is currently a sales marketing representative for WEEI radio.)

Rep. Gregory Costantino, D-Lincoln

Under sources of income, he added that in 2015, his wife, Lisa Costantino, was a food category manager at Colbea Enterprise Inc. and his daughter, Sofia, worked as a bookkeeper at Laundry World.

Under sources of income and executive positions, he had previously disclosed that he was a state representative, District 44; vice president, Venda Ravioli; president, Laundry World, Cost Broad Realty, Cost Realty, Check Cashing R US in Providence and Central Falls, 355 Broad St LLC, Reservoir Ave Property LLC, and SCG Realty LLC. He also listed his wife as president of Cannoli LLC.

- Under executive positions, he added: board member, John Hope Settlement House (which is slated to receive a $300,000 community service grant from the legislature).

Rep. Robert Craven, D-North Kingstown

Under family executive positions, he added that in 2015 his wife, Susan Craven, was president of the Narragansett Teachers Union.

He had previously disclosed that in addition to his legislative role, he was an assistant solicitor in Charlestown and East Providence, and his wife, a public school teacher in Narragansett.

Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence

Under sources of income, she added: state representative, District 11.

She had previously disclosed her employment by the city of Providence as a "senior advisor, community relations."

Under executive positions, she added: board member, Providence Community Library.

Rep. Kathleen Fogarty, D-South Kingstown

Under sources of income, she added that she is a state representative, District 35, and that, in 2015, her daughter, Lauren Fogarty, was a takeout counter clerk at Aunt Carrie's, and her son, Brendan Fogarty Jr., was a bank teller at Bank of America and an accountant at the BluePearl Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Animal Hospital.

Fogarty had previously disclosed that she worked for Raytheon as an industrial security specialist, and her husband, Brendan J. Fogarty Sr., was a "programming services officer" in the R.I. Department of Transportation.

Rep. Raymond Hull, D-Providence

Under sources of income, he added that he is a state representative, District 6.

He had previously reported his employment as a sergeant in the Providence Police Department, and his role as treasurer of the Special Signal Fire Association.

Rep. Karen MacBeth, R-Cumberland

Under sources of income, she added: state representative, District 52.

She had previously reported that she is a principal in the Woonsocket school system.

Rep. Shelby Maldonado, D-Central Falls

Under sources of income, she added that she is a state representative, District 56.

She had previously disclosed her employment as director of communications for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 51, an organizer for UNITE Here Local 217, and her role as a Blackstone Academy Charter School board member.

Rep. Jan Malik, D-Warren

Under sources of income, he added Malik's Liquors, in Warren, which he co-owns with his wife, Mary Malik, and state representative, District 67.

He had previously reported his full-time job, in 2015, with the Warren Highway Department.

Rep. Joseph McNamara, D-Warwick

Under executive positions, he added: R.I. Democratic State Committee, chair, volunteer; Eagle Scout Board of Review, Troop 4, volunteer board member; Friends of Salter Grove, volunteer board member; New England Board of Higher Education, volunteer board member; College Unbound, volunteer board member; R.I. Marine Archaeology, volunteer member.

- Under sources of income, he had previously listed his role as a lawmaker and the pensions that he and his wife, Diane, receive as retired educators.

Rep. Mary Messier, D-Pawtucket

Under sources of income, including "income for services rendered to a state or municipal agency," she added: "State of Rhode Island (retired teacher); City of Pawtucket Fire Department (late husband's pension); State Fire Association (late husband's pension); state representative, District 62.

She had previously written "NA" in response to the occupational income questions.

Rep. Michael Morin, D-Woonsocket

Under sources of income, he added: City of Woonsocket, fire marshal, and state representative, District 49.

Under executive positions, he added: member, Rotary Club of Woonsocket, and board of directors, Stadium Theatre (which was budgeted for a $30,000 community service grant this year).

Rep. Robert Nardolillo, R-Coventry

Under sources of income, he added: state representative, District 28.

He had previously reported that he was a funeral director at the Nardolillo Funeral Home, and his wife, Jacqueline, an administrator at Cataract Surgery, of Milford, Massachusetts.

Rep. Jared Nunes, D-Coventry

Under sources of income, he added: state representative, District 25.

He had earlier reported that he was secretary/treasurer of RT Nunes and Sons, and part owner of 4N Properties.

Rep. Scott Slater, D-Providence

Under sources of income, he added: state representative, District 10.

Under executive positions, he added that his wife, Bianca Rodriguez-Slater, was a board member of the Providence Community Library (which is slated to get an $18,000 legislative grant he co-sponsored this year), and that he was on the board of the Providence Public Building Authority.

He had previously reported that he was a budget analyst for the city of Providence, and that his wife -- the president of the R.I. Bolivian American Association (which is slated for a $5,000 legislative grant this year) -- was doing "intake" in the R.I. Public Defender's Office.

Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-Providence

Under sources of income, she added that she is a state representative, District 9, and that she works in Providence's Department of Planning & Development.

Under executive positions, she added her membership on a Women & Minorities Committee, located in the 6th District Court building in Providence, and that she chairs the John Hope Settlement House.

Rep. Thomas Winfield, D-Smithfield

Under sources of income, he added: State representative, District 53

He had previously reported that he owns Anderson-Winfield Funeral Homes and that his wife, Rebecca, taught at the Rhode Island College Cooperative Preschool.

SENATORS

Sen. Cynthia Coyne, D-Barrington

Under the heading "additional information," she wrote: "On May 6, 2016 I wrote to the Ethics Commission and advised that I had mistakenly reported that my husband, Gerald Coyne, served on the Board of Directors for the Katie Brown Educational Program during 2015. Please be advised that he completed his term on that Board in September, 2014 and no longer serves."

- She had previously reported her paid role as a senator, District 32, her "retired pay" as a retired lieutenant in the Rhode Island State Police, her work as an assessor/consultant to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, and her husband Gerald's job as deputy attorney general for the state of Rhode Island.

Sen. Louis DiPalma, D-Middletown

Under executive positions, he added: board member, New England Board of Higher Education

He had previously reported his employment as chief engineer, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, his paid role as a senator, District 12, and his wife's position as a teacher at St. Philomena School.

Sen. James Doyle, D-Pawtucket

Under sources of income, he added: senator, District 8.

Under family debts, he added a list of creditors that included: "ABUFCU," IRS, Invacare Corp., Wells Fargo, "US Bank."

He had previously reported his ownership of Doyle Respiratory, and his wife's employment as a wedding and banquet manager at the Pawtucket Country Club.

Sen. Paul Fogarty, D-Glocester

Under family sources of income, he added: senator, District 23

He had previously reported his 2015 employment as a "Sears Holdings/Qualified License Holder," and his wife Nancy's employment at CharterCARE Health Partners as director of quality & performance improvement.

Sen. Hannah Gallo, D-Cranston

Under sources of income, she added: senator, District 27.

Under executive positions, she added: volunteer board member, New England Board of Higher Education.

She had previously disclosed her employment as a speech language pathologist in the Cranston school system, her husband Russell's employment as an office manager in the Department of Labor & Training, and daughter Laura Gallo's employment as an administrative assistant in the state judiciary.

Sen. Mark Gee, R-East Greenwich

Under sources of income, he added: senator, District 35.

He had previously reported his employment as president/principal of Data Resources. He reported that his wife, Dana, was president of Spot Design Inc. with "team/school apparel customers" that included the Hanaford Elementary School Parent Teacher Group, East Greenwich; the East Greenwich High School track team; and the Scituate School Department.

Sen. Frank Lombardi, D-Cranston

Under family income sources, he added: senator, District 26

He had previously listed his income as a lawyer and soccer referee, and his wife's 2015 employment as a teacher, St. Mary Academy-Bay View.

Sen. Frank Lombardo, D-Johnston

Under sources of income, he added: senator, District 25.

He had previously listed his employment as president of Frank Lombardo & Sons, an HVAC contractor; his wife, Patricia, as a secretary for the town of Johnston; and daughter Victoria as a clerk in the R.I. Public Defender's Office.

- Sen. Erin Lynch Prata, D-Warwick

Under sources of income, she clarified that it is her husband, James A. Prata Jr., not her, that worked in 2015 for Gatehouse Media, parent company of The Providence Journal, as a packaging and delivery supervisor.

She had previously disclosed that she is a lawyer and a state senator, District 31, and mistakenly listed herself, in the online filing, as the Gatehouse employee in place of her husband.

Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown

Under executive positions, she added that she was a treasurer/deaconess and her husband Michael a trustee of the Queen's River Baptist Church, and that he was also the VFW Post 916 junior vice commander. She sponsored a $500 grant this year for the VFW post.

She had previously disclosed that she and her husband co-own Sosnowski Farm, in West Kingston, and that she derived income as a state senator, District 37.

Katherine Gregg

[email protected]

(401) 277-7078

On Twitter: @kathyprojo

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