Politics & Government
Craven, Others Sworn in to General Assembly
In a session full of pomp, circumstance, family and friends, the members of the 2013-14 General Assembly convene for the first time.
Democrat Robert E. Craven was one of only 16 new members of the Rhode Island General Assembly sworn in Tuesday at the State House. Craven joined the House's 75 other members during the swearing in ceremony, which saw Rep. Gordon D. Fox retain his seat as Speaker of the House.
Craven beat out Republican incumbent Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt in November elections, following a tough primary between Ehrhardt and fellow Republican Sharon Gamba. Though it will be Craven's first term in the General Assembly, he's no stranger to politics. In the 1990s, he served on the North Kingstown Town Council and was Assistant Attorney General in the 1980s.
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Also sworn in on the House side was Rep. Doreen Costa (R - NK, Exeter) who beat out her Democratic challenger Steve Campo in the general election.
Across the way, in the Senate chambers, 38 senators were sworn in, including Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R- EG, NK, SK, Narr.) and Sen. James Sheehan (D - NK, Narr.).
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Sen. Teresa Paiva-Weed (D-Newport, Jamestown) regained the presidency, with Hodgson casting the lone "nay" vote.
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