Carnevale during his time as a state rep.
Carnevale during his time as a state rep.

Former state Representative John Carnevale — who was found by the Providence Board of Canvassers in 2016 to not be a legal voter in the district he represented — wants his old post back.

Carnevale, a Democrat, has filed a declaration at City Hall indicating he’s running for the seat now held by Rep. Ramon Perez (D-Providence).

In 2016, Carnevale decided against seeking re-election after the finding by the Board of Canvassers.

But he’s circulated campaign literature this year, indicating that he planned to seek a comeback.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has said that he plans to support Perez for re-election. Another Democrat, Mario Mendez, is also expected to run for the House District 13 seat.

WPRI-TV, which first raised questions about Carnevale’s residency in 2016, reports that he still faces criminal charges from the matter, with a pre-trial hearing planned for Thursday.

One of the state’s top political reporters, Ian Donnis joined The Public’s Radio in 2009. Ian has reported on Rhode Island politics since 1999, arriving in the state just two weeks before the FBI...