Ernie Almonte: I Have the Education, Experience, Ethics to Get the Job Done as General Treasurer

I’m running as an independent candidate for General Treasurer because I believe Rhode Islanders deserve more than they’ve gotten from their elected officials. The people in power in this state have too often put political parties before voters, and it’s holding us back.

I’m invested in Rhode Island. I grew up here in a three-family home, shining shoes to pay for school. I met my wife Kathy bagging groceries at Almacs. Kathy and I have been married for 32 years and raised five sons in this state.

I decided to run for office when three of our five sons graduated from local colleges and universities, and couldn’t find jobs in Rhode Island. When they looked in states like Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina, they received multiple job offers.

To me, that’s unacceptable.

As a state, we should be exporting goods and services, but we absolutely cannot afford to export our next generation.

General Treasurer is a technical position. It’s more than a stepping stone for higher office.

I have the education, experience, ethics, and maturity to start getting the job done on day one.

I’ve worked 35 years as a CPA and auditor. I am a Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified in Financial Forensics.

As Rhode Island’s Auditor General, I audited all the federal and state money spent in Rhode Island and worked with cities and towns to help dig them out of huge deficits. I was the first Auditor General to make all my reports publicly available online.

I am the only candidate with the experience and qualifications to get the job done on day one.

I don’t need any on-the-job training.

I’ve worked my whole career to get here. All of my experience has lead me to this point. I am by far the most qualified candidate for this position.

I continue to give back to Rhode Island, serving in leadership roles of various non-profit organizations supporting veterans education, health care, battered women, and abused children.

I hope you will visit my website, Almonte2014.com, to learn more about me and my plan to secure our pension portfolio, help our cities and towns get back on track, improve accountability in government, and implement financial literacy education across Rhode Island.

In the meantime, check out my first commercial here: “Experience.”