A Survey of the Rhode Island Business Community's Campaign Contributions

SURVEY OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS COMMUNITY

© 2015 NewDURING Harbor Group, LLC THE 2014 STATE ELECTIONS 1 This document summarizes and Central Rhode Island) and campaign contributions made the Rhode Island Public by Rhode Island business Expenditure Council (RIPEC). leaders to state and local It should be noted that Rhode candidates in Rhode Island Island law does not require Survey of during the 2014 election year. contributions of $100 or less to The numbers in this document be reported by name on are drawn from campaign candidate campaign finance Campaign finance records for the reports. Any contributions in calendar year 2014 which are these amounts that were not Contributions by available on the State Board of reported by name are not part Elections website. No of the totals in this survey. Rhode Island contributors are mentioned by name. The document was The sources for all data in this Business compiled in large part by document are on the website of Nathan McGuire (Boston the Rhode Island State Board College, Class of 2016), Kate of Elections. In some Leaders During Mancosh (Furman University, instances those records may Class of 2017) and Matthew be inaccurate, difficult to read, the 2014 State Romano (Boston College, contradictory, or non-existent. Class of 2018). This may affect the accuracy of some of the data in this survey. Elections For the purposes of this survey, “business leaders” are defined as members of the governing body listed on the respective websites of the four largest chambers of commerce (Greater Providence, Northern Rhode Island, Newport County, © 2015 New Harbor Group 2 Business Community

Who Gives? Of the 253 people who served on the governing boards of the four largest 55% chambers of 45% commerce and Contributed RIPEC, 140 made

Did not contribute reportable contributions to state or local candidates 113 140 in 2014. Individuals Individuals

Contribution Ranges

$2,000 + 58 Individuals 23%

45% $0 $1,000 - $2,000 113 Individuals 23 Individuals 9%

Up to $1,000 23% 59 Individuals

The Top 26 Contributors What the Top 26 Contributed

10% Other Top 26 51% 49%

$132,670 $129,357.11 90%

Total of 253 Individuals Total of the $262,027.11 Contributed

© 2015 New Harbor Group 5 Survey Key This survey compiles recorded contributions made by business leaders to individuals, or in a number of broad categories. Those individuals and categories are listed below:

• Organization PAC – A donation to the Political Action Committee (PAC) for the Chamber where the individual is a member of the governing board. Only the Greater Providence and Northern Rhode Island chambers have a PAC.

• PAC – A donation to any PAC other than an assembly leadership PAC.

• Governor Lincoln Chafee; General Treasurer Gina Raimondo; Clay Pell; Mayor Angel Taveras; Ken Block; Mayor Allan Fung

• Other General Officer – Other General Officers, including Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis and candidates: • For Lieutenant Governor - Mayor Dan McKee, state Rep. Frank Ferri, Catherine Taylor; • For Secretary of State - Nellie Gorbea, Guillaume DeRamel; • For Attorney General - state Sen. Dawson Hodgson • For General Treasurer - Seth Magaziner, Frank Caprio, Ernie Almonte

• Party Committee – A donation to the state or local party committee of the Democratic or Republican parties.

• Local – A donation to a candidate in a local (non-state) race. These would include Mayor or other municipal executive, town council, school committee or some other municipal officer.

• AL PAC – General Assembly Leadership PACs. These include a donation to the Fund for Democratic Leadership, Fund for Democratic Priorities, RI Senate Democrats PAC, RI Senate Leadership PAC, RI House Leadership PAC, and the House Republican Leadership PAC.

• Assembly Leadership – A donation to the following: Reps. Gordon Fox, Nicholas Mattielo, John DeSimone, Helio Melo, Ray Gallison; Senators M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, Dominick Ruggierio, Daniel DaPonte

• Other Assembly – A donation to any candidate for the General Assembly not listed above. This category has been broken down into: • Incumbent Assembly members running for re-election; • Candidates for the Assembly running against an incumbent, and; • Candidates running for an open Assembly seat. © 2015 New Harbor Group 6 Who did they give to?

Cianci $4,000 Elorza $23,300 Local $19,798 Party Committee $10,100 Other Gen. Officer $53,538 Fung $10,000 Block $1,525 Pell $50 Taveras $28,350 Raimondo $60,855 PAC $14,889 Org. PAC $1,950 AL PAC $4,750 GA Leadership $16,050 GA Challengers $1,862 GA Incumbents $8,110 GA Open Seats $2,900

Of that amount, business leaders contributed: $16,050 Assembly Leadership $8,110 Assembly incumbents who were not members of the Assembly $2,900 leadership Assembly candidates $1,862 running against Assembly candidates incumbents running for open seats

$2,706,557.12 From Other Sources Not from business leaders

$25,000

$20,350

$20,000 $16,050

$15,000

$8,110 $10,000 $7,800 $6,100 $4,300

$5,000 $2,900 $1,862

2012 2014

Contributed Contributed 47% 45% 53% Did not contribute 55% Did not contribute

113 Individuals 117 Individuals 140 Individuals 134 Individuals

Total of 251 individuals who served on the boards of the Total of 253 individuals who served on the boards of the four largest chambers of commerce and RIPEC in 2012. four largest chambers of commerce and RIPEC in 2014.