His opponent in the race for secretary of state complained to the state Ethics Commission that the North Providence mayor solicited donations from town employees.

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, June 29, 2006

BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- With a blast at his opponent in the race for secretary of state, North Providence Mayor A. Ralph Mollis said yesterday he will return any contributions from town employees for a $125 fundraiser tonight at the Metacomet Country Club.

Mollis made that announcement after his Democratic opponent, Guillaume de Ramel, filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission about a fundraising letter the Mollis campaign sent to past contributors, including an estimated 70 town employees.

Mollis acknowledged on Monday some town employees received a letter from his chief of staff, John Fleming, who also comanages his campaign, asking for a contribution.

He said the letter was sent to all past contributors, most of whom are not employees. The state ethics code bars candidates from seeking contributions from their subordinates, directly or indirectly. Mollis said he had asked a lawyer for advice on whether the letter violated the ethics code.

In a statement accompanying his complaint to the Ethics Commission, de Ramel said: "It is unfortunate Mayor Mollis thinks he needs a legal opinion to sort out an issue that is not so complicated. When you solicit political donations from your employees you are putting them in a compromising situation. I'm confident some employees feel compelled to donate to the mayor and to keep their jobs. This is another example of the inside politics of the past, where patronage is exchanged for campaign cash, and it is not an acceptable practice."

Mollis said he was unaware of de Ramel's complaint. He said he decided to return the contributions because they were "minimal" anyway, and because "our campaign is going too well to give my opponent something to criticize me for."

He said it was "strange" that de Ramel lodged the complaint. "I know for a fact that he has been sending out solicitations to people working in the secretary of state's office, the people he would be directly supervising if he ever were elected."

Tony Marcella, a de Ramel spokesman, acknowledged that some employees of the secretary of state's office received a request for a campaign contribution in a mass mailing. Marcella said de Ramel decided yesterday to return the one contribution he received last year from an employee and not to accept any contributions from any current employees.

Peter Mancini, deputy chief investigator for the Ethics Commission, said he could not confirm that a complaint was filed until it is accepted by the executive director, Kent Willever.

rdujardi@projo.com / (401) 277-7384