Posted on 09/15/2007 7:03:52 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj
I learned today Former Republican United States Rhode Island Senator Lincoln D.Chafee changed his affiliation to Unaffiliated as a voter in Exeter*, where he is now registered, the change I recall took place on July 10TH.
His wife, Stephanie is registered in Providence as a Republican*. The Senator is a former Exeter resident and Warwick Mayor and City Councilman. What is amazing is the media has NOT picked this up yet and it happened several weeks ago!
Ironically former Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey still maintains his GOP interest and was at the South County Republican Breakfast were I learned this about the Senator morning. My town, Hopkinton, was host. Mayor Laffey is now out with a new book did not mention this switch. It was mentioned by someone else.
Rhode Island does not have Independent Voter registration but you can register Unaffiliated. Under Rhode Island law any change in affiliation takes ninety days from filing the registration change. However an Unaffiliated Voter becomes identified with a political party immediately by voting in a party primary or filing as a candidate of that party.
On a personal level, I like BOTH men. Mayor Laffey was VERY SUPPORTIVE of me on the national convention delegate fiasco orchestrated by former Rhode Island State GOP Chair Patricia Morgan with R.I. State Rep. Susan Story, R-Barrington, also involved in process by chairing the effort to recommend delegate candidates. He appeared on both delegate slates.
Former Sen. Chafee was supportive of keeping Mrs. Morgan as Rhode Island GOP Chair. However to Sen. Chafee's credit he was the only prominent politician to call me when I was on the Hopkinton Town Council in regards to opposing "Big Box Store" development off an exit on Interstate#95 in my town. I would have felt better even if the state GOP Chair's pick was the Governor's he would have discussed the problems with Mrs. Morgan with the Governor.
A positive light on the GOP scene is our new State GOP Chair in Rhode Island "Gio" Cicione is a "breath of fresh air" from his predecessor. We recently lost another Rhode Island Republican State Representative "Rick" Singleton who for now is "man without a party."
Unfortunately the imbalance between the Democrats and Republicans in Rhode Island that the GOP has not controlled the Rhode Island House of Representatives since 1939-41 and the Rhode Island State Senate from 1957-59.
--Scott Bill Hirst
*Please note original post edited due to error in location of Mr. and Mrs. Chafee's being registered to vote.
Don’t let the door hit you in the a**.
How can he leave where he’s never been?
Old news. This happened about 25 years ago.
Thank you for that information. I was unaware of this.
He was a REPUBLICAN??/ and MARRIED??? Yikes.
I’ve never reallly known the feeling of “indifference” until now. Somehow it’s so free-ing to not give a cr*p if someone stays or goes. An Opus for Chafee: You say you’re gone. We didn’t realize you were here. Ooops, our bad.
Lincoln Chafee was a Republican??????
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