Supporters of Linda Finn, a former state rep seeking a comeback this fall, are crying foul after the state Democratic Party endorsed rival Democrat James Cawley in the race for the District 72 seat.
State Democratic Chairman Joseph McNamara, a rep from Warwick, could not be reached for comment.
Party spokeswoman Ann Gooding offered this explanation for why Cawley got the Democratic endorsement instead of a former rep: “Cawley asked for that endorsement, Finn did not.”
However, Finn’s campaign manager, Michael Beauregard, said via email, “Linda called the Chairman to request the endorsement multiple times.”
Beauregard said the chairs of local Democratic town committees in Portsmouth and Middletown emailed McNamara, asking for the state party endorsement. The party chair is not bound to honor such requests.
The snub was first reported by Steve Ahlquist at Rhode Island’s Future.
In a July 6 email to McNamara, Middletown Democratic Chairman Bob Sylvia lambasted the party endorsement of Cawley.
“I feel sidestepped, overlooked and highly offended,” Sylvia wrote, “that YOU, and the state Democratic Party have without seeking local input” endorsed Cawley. Sylvia called the actions “classless and unprofessional,” and he asked for Cawley’s endorsement to be revoked. Sylvia said letting the endorsement stand would send a message that the state party doesn’t care “for the local troops who do the grunt work.”
Finn and Cawley are the two Democrats running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Daniel Reilly. Republican Kenneth Mendonca is also running.
Finn gained office by beating Reilly in 2012. Reilly won the seat back in 2014.
Finn is a strong supporter of gun control — a stance that puts her at odds with the position taken by House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.
Here’s the list of legislative candidates who received the state party endorsement:
District 7 – Daniel P. McKiernan
District 12 – Joseph S. Almeida
District 23 – K. Joseph Shekarchi
District 24 – Evan P. Shanley
District 26 – AnthonyJ. Paolino
District 27 – Patricia A. Serpa
District 34 – Teresa Tanzi
District 43 – Deborah A. Fellela
District 49 – Michael A Morin
District 50 – Stephen M. Casey
District 51 – Robert D. Phillips
District 53 – Thomas J. Winfield
District 56 – Shelby Maldonado
District 57 – James N. McLaughlin
District 72 – James J. Cawley
