11.16.2000 00:05
Insider likely to get secretary of state job
But a campaign is afoot to instead name a woman or a member of a minority group. Names mentioned include Representatives Nancy Benoit and Elizabeth M. Dennigan, former state Rep. Ray Rickman, and Sen. Charles D. Walton.

By CHRISTOPHER ROWLAND
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE -- Now that Secretary of State James R. Langevin is heading to Congress, a debate is building in the state's Democratic Party over whom House Speaker John B. Harwood should push as successor for the plum State House vacancy.

Should the speaker reward a loyal House colleague with the $80,000-a-year post? Or should he reach out and diversify the party's image?

Harwood's powerful hold on the House gives him great influence over the General Assembly's job of picking a replacement to complete Langevin's term. Sources say Harwood has all but settled on a long-time ally and hockey pal, Deputy Speaker Edward S. Inman III, of Coventry.

But a number of voices are urging the speaker to abandon Inman and instead advance a woman or a member of racial minority group. Such a move, these advocates say, would break the monopoly white men have on Rhode Island's roster of congressional seats and state general offices.

It also would help the Democratic Party shake off its image, they say, as the dominion of white male State House insiders.

"They've been getting away without showing diversity in the past," Clifford Montiero, president of the state's NAACP, said of Democratic leaders.

The open seat, he said, gives Harwood and party leaders a chance to "step up and hit a home run" by naming someone outside the usual state government power circles.

Among the Democrats who have expressed an interest are state Rep. Nancy Benoit, of Woonsocket; Rep. Elizabeth M. Dennigan, of East Providence; and former state Rep. Ray Rickman, a black man from Providence who has run twice for the job, unsuccessfully. Another name that has come up is that of Sen. Charles D. Walton, of Providence, who is the only black member of the state Senate.

Some of these current and former lawmakers say they might run for the seat in 2002, even if the speaker passes them over.

Former congressional candidate Kate Coyne-McCoy, a frequent advocate for women in politics, said she has nothing against Inman. But she expressed disappointment that a white man appears to have the inside track.

"If the Ivy League college system can embrace an African-American woman, surely the Democratic Party could embrace a woman for an elected leadership position," said Coyne-McCoy, who came up short in her campaign against Langevin in the 2nd Congressional District primary. Her Ivy League reference was to Brown University's historic selection of Ruth Simmons for its presidency.

The state's Democratic Party, Coyne-McCoy said, "is viewed as a very narrow sort of entity. It is not broad-based. It is not viewed as inclusive.

"It is really sad that the party that purports to be for the people, for the little guy, has yet to aggressively put forth a woman for statewide office or a woman in a real leadership position."

Coyne-McCoy did not win party backing in her primary against Langevin. But some women have won the endorsement in high-profile campaigns. Former state Sen. Myrth York ran with the party's blessing against Republican Governor Almond in 1998, but lost. The party also has endorsed women for the U.S. Senate, secretary of state and attorney general in the last decade.

But this secretary of state vacancy is a much greater prize than any endorsement.

Whoever gets the seat will have a tremendous advantage heading into the 2002 election, not to mention a healthy state salary and control over a $5.4-million budget and 56 political patronage jobs.

State law gives the General Assembly power to fill Langevin's vacancy. The assembly will convene in joint session as the Grand Committee sometime in January to make its selection. Because the 100-member House has two-thirds of the votes, Harwood holds the key to the selection process.

A Democratic Party source said state party Chairman William Lynch has expressed concerns to Harwood about the possible selection of Inman. Lynch told Harwood, the source said, that the party's image could suffer if it is not seen as being diverse enough.

But Harwood is apparently playing by State House rules on this vacancy. And State House rules reward loyalty and friendships.

Harwood and House Majority Leader Gerard Martineau did not return telephone calls from The Journal this week.

Inman was among a band of 15 or so representatives who supported Harwood well before the speaker ascended to the top job in the House. Harwood rewarded Inman by making him part of the House leadership team in 1992 and then elevating him to deputy speaker, a largely ceremonial role, in 1998.

Inman said in an interview that his 14 years of lawmaking experience and participation in House leadership qualify him for the secretary of state's office.

And as part of a family with young children and two working parents, Inman said, he represents a large slice of the Rhode Island population. Inman is a junior high school social-studies teacher in the Cranston public schools and, like Harwood, is a former standout high-school hockey player. Harwood and Inman play together in a men's recreational hockey league.

Inman pointed to the smattering of racial diversity in the House delegation as evidence that the party is responsive to the issue. Of the 100 current House members, 7 are members of minority groups.

"The Democratic Party has been on the cutting edge of promoting women and minority candidates," Inman said. "It's here. Parity is here."

"We've got to realize, too," he said, "that [the vacant secretary of state seat] has to go to someone who is qualified and someone who has been working hard for the Democratic Party and working hard for the state."

But others say they are equally as qualified, or more so. Rickman said he has worked very hard to learn how the secretary of state's office works and is more familiar with it than the other candidates.

"I'm the person who studied elections the most, cares the most about the office, and ran twice and I'd like to be rewarded, and not only for myself. I'm part of a community that's the most loyal Democrats in Rhode Island," he said.

Rickman said he spoke in Los Angeles with Harwood, during the Democratic National Convention, about his interest. At the time, he said, Harwood told him he was his second choice. His first was former state Rep. Frank Anzeveno, who took himself out of the running. Now that the first choice is Inman, Rickman quipped, "I'm still second choice."

"Loyalty and comradeship between the speaker and Eddie Inman" are the overriding considerations in this selection, Rickman said. "This is a political decision, and I believe Eddie Inman is going to get this, and that's the beginning and the end of the story."

Back to: Vote 2000	Printer-Friendly Version
Read/Post to our Bulletin Board on this topic