Caprio Resigns as Democratic Party Chairman

With only a few weeks until the September primary, David A. Caprio has resigned as the chairman of the state Democratic Party.

In a statement, Caprio said the job is “demanding and time consuming, especially in an election year. There are numerous, talented Democrats seeking office. I cannot, at this time, dedicate the necessary time and energy to assist them in their respective campaigns.”

The abrupt resignation comes just a day after NBC10 reported that Caprio, along with Cranston Rep. Peter Palumbo, were under investigation by the State Police over the operations of beach concessions at state beaches in Narragansett.

Palumbo was the winning bidder for a contract to run beach concessions at Roger Wheeler, Misquamicut and Scarborough State Beach, but withdrew his bid after he said he couldn’t come up with the money to open up.

Caprio, the next highest bidder, landed with the contract -- at a cost of about $200,000 less than Palumbo.

But Palumbo ended up working beach concessions anyway, as an employee of Caprio.

Palumbo, when asked by NBC10, said he needed the job and was glad his friend, Caprio, got the bid.

Reached by telephone today, Caprio said he would not comment on the issue. He said “it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment right now,” citing the ongoing investigation.

His resignation announcement came about an hour later.

Grace Diaz, a representative out of Providence, will become the acting chairwoman of the party.

State Police Major Todd Catlow said detectives started an investigation after getting a tip about the beach contract. He would not elaborate further on the investigation.

He did say that the state Attorney General’s office and U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha have met with the state police on the matter.

In a separate statement, Cranston Representative and House Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello said Caprio “did an outstanding job as chairman” and the decision was reached “on his own accord.”

“David has always put the best interest of the party ahead of his own interests,” Mattiello said.

Caprio is the son of well-known Municipal Court Judge Frank Caprio and is brother to Frank Caprio, the former state treasurer who lost a bid for Governor in 2010 and is now running for treasurer once again.

Caprio served Narragansett and South Kingstown as a District 34 representative from 1999 until he was upset by Teresa Tanzi in 2010.