Sav Rebecchi Hopes to Score Upset Tuesday

NEWPORT, RI – Sav Rebecchi had to smile when he saw a headline in the small town weekly newspaper. The writer called him "Long shot Rebecchi," and the name temporarily stuck. If he had missed the newspaper edition, he would have known all about it when he walked into the barber shop.

"Hey, Long Shot," the barber shouted.

So, that's okay with Rebecchi, who knew he would have an uphill battle when he decided to challenge longtime incumbent and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed.

"But look," he said. "The Cubs won."

Rebecchi, a retired businessman, doesn't believe anybody should be in office 24 consecutive years, as Paiva Weed will be if she prevails on Tuesday. And he has something to say about the benefits of term limits.

"Term limits have many benefits in promoting better governing," he said. First, a limit "eliminates the attraction for people who are interested in making public service a career," he said and "opens the door to more participation from new candidates who may have been discouraged."

Most people do find it daunting to challenge a career politician "with years of handing out favors in a district," he said. Last spring, for one example, the General Assembly planned to handed out $11 million in community-service grants – funneled through state agencies such as the Department of Elderly Affairs -- and another $2 million in grants for local organizations running the gamut from the Little League to Newport’s Ancient Order of Hibernians.

All the grants became embroiled in controversy due to the recent federal investigation into the activities of former state Rep. Ray Gallison. It was discovered $2 million in so-called community-service grants went to a non-profit organization, which employed him as executive director.

Also, in March, another community-service grant came under fire when the Providence Journal reported a portion benefited Keith Stokes, the former economic development chairman, connected with the Studio 38 debacle.

And another grant for $300,000 to the John Hope Settlement House was questioned when state Rep. Anastasia Williams did not mention she is the organization's chairwoman.

Although Paiva-Weed and House Speaker Joseph Mattiello supported reforms in the community-service grants, both defended the practice of handing out small legislative grants, which, opponents say, are used to reward political allies.

Paiva-Weed did not want to comment, but according to Statehouse records, she requested $12,000 for Jamestown non-profit organizations. The amounts were: $5,000 for Friends of the Jamestown Seniors; $1,000 for the Friends of Conanicut Battery; $5,000 for the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department; and $1,000 for the Taylor Point Restoration Committee. She also requested $55,500 for Newport organizations, as follows: Alliance for a Livable Newport (Daffodillion), $500; Newport's Ancient Order of Hibernians, $1,000; the Artillery Company of Newport, $3,000; Christmas in Newport, $4,000; EBCAP—Newport Family and Child Opportunity Zone, $5,000; Edward King House Senior Citizens Center, Inc., $6,000; Friends of Ballard Park, $3,000; the International Tennis Hall of Fame, $2,000; Island Moving Company, $5,000; Lions Club of Newport, $1,000; Newport Community School, $2,500; Newport County Development Council (Newport Gallery Night), $2,500; Newport Partnership for Families, $5,000; Newport Rugby Football Club, $2,500; RI Ocean State Unit 118 Military Women Across the Nation, $2,500; RI Publications Society, $6,000; Seaman's Church Institute, $500; St. Joseph’s Church Food Pantry, $3,000; Turning Around Ministries, $500.

"Back in 2002," Rebecchi said, "Jamestown implemented term limits for Boards and Commissions and the result was that more people came forward to serve. We learned that citizens would not even try to apply for a seat because they assumed long term members were locked into their position as political appointees."

He served six years on the Quonset Development Corporation "back in the beginning when it was completely reorganized," he said. "I believe that the reason we were able to accomplish so much had a lot to do with the fact that it was set up with term limits for the Board of Directors. The terms are three years, and a Director can only serve for two terms meaning 6 years max."

"During my first term, I worked with a top notch group of dedicated volunteer Board members who worked as if our first term would be our last. From 2004 to 2007 the toughest decisions were made and all ideas were considered with a single purpose of making the Park a job producing asset for the State," he said.

"I served on the Strategic Planning Committee and Governance Board that worked diligently for three years to face a slew of political pressure to preserve the favors that were handed out prior to our Board taking over," he added. "None of us expected to be serving a second term so we worked with the urgency of getting things done right while we were there. Fortunately most everyone returned for a second term and we were able to see that things we put in place were implemented the way they were intended."

He left when he was termed out.

"Quonset is a clear example of how Term Limits can produce good governing," he said.

Rebecchi previously lived in East Providence. One of his daughters is Jennifer Lee, the talent behind Disney's Frozen.

Related Story: In 12th Campaign, Paiva Weed Still Goes Out in the Neighborhoods and Knocks on Doors

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