Before Sen. Stephen D. Alves, D-West Warwick, was installed as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee by former Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons in August 2002, he was preceded by some officials well known to Rhode Island voters.

His immediate predecessor was Sen. Frank T. Caprio, D-Providence, who had been a state senator for 12 years and Finance Committee chairman from 2001 to 2002, and was removed after he and Irons had a public disagreement during a budget briefing.

Caprio was preceded by J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich, who held the seat from 1993 to 2001. Others who have held the position in the last 25 years are:

1991-1992: Providence Sen. James D’Ambra

1989-1990: Sen. Richard Patterson, D-Providence

1987-1988: Sen. David R. Carlin Jr., D-Newport

1985-1986: Sen. Donald R. Hickey, D-Providence

1983-1984: Sen. Robert J. McKenna, D-Newport-Middletown