2010 -- S 3025 ======= LC02958 ======= STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2010 ____________ S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N THANKING SENATOR LEONIDAS P. RAPTAKIS FOR HIS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF DEDICATED AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF RHODE ISLAND AS A MEMBER OF THE RHODE ISLAND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Connors, Algiere, and Blais Date Introduced: June 10, 2010 Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration 1 WHEREAS, The Honorable Leonidas Raptakis was first elected to public office in 1992, 2 representing Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, and Exeter in the House of 3 Representatives. He pledged to represent his constituents with integrity and honor, to oppose 4 government waste, and to fight diligently on behalf of good government and in support of reform 5 issues such as public access to public information and campaign finance reform. He also swore to 6 protect citizens by strengthening Rhode Island’s drunk driving laws and creating a better business 7 environment for small business owners; and 8 WHEREAS, Senator Raptakis was born on November 18, 1959. He graduated from 9 Coventry High School, the Community College of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island College. He is 10 married to Donna Marie Digidio, is the proud father of Alexandra-Marie and Nicholas Peter, and 11 is the owner of Venus Pizza Restaurant; and 12 WHEREAS, He earned a seat in the Senate in November 1996, and he continued to 13 champion the causes of his District 33 constituents. Senator Raptakis gained a reputation for the 14 energy he devoted to the legislative process, and for his commitment to engaging in full and open 15 debate; and 16 WHEREAS, As a restaurateur, he has been a consistent advocate for the small business 17 community throughout his tenure in public service. He has worked to advance regulatory reform 18 issues and vigorously pushed the discussion of how to consolidate business licensing and permit 1 fees, and he has sought to tie the minimum wage to the consumer price index to benefit both 2 workers and businesses; and 3 WHEREAS, He also never hesitated to bring attention to the accomplishments and 4 contributions of Rhode Island’s Greek-American community. Senator Raptakis founded the 5 Greek American Coalition of New England, made up of New England legislators of Greek 6 descent, to advocate for Greek-related issues. He has worked to develop educational materials 7 and curricula on genocide and human rights issues, and to encourage Congress to help establish a 8 Cypriot Republic. Senator Raptakis has represented Rhode Island at the White House’s 9 celebration of Greek Independence Day, and hosted Greek celebrations at the State House for the 10 past 17 years; and 11 WHEREAS, As a Senator representing Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick and East 12 Greenwich, he has been a leading voice for many years in support of stricter laws for drunk 13 drivers and tougher penalties for repeat offenders. He has championed legislation to increase 14 fines, jail time, and license revocation penalties for those convicted of drunk driving and to 15 categorize repeat offenses as felonies. Senator Raptakis has fought to increase voter access to 16 primary elections by shortening disaffiliation periods and providing automatic disaffiliation after 17 a primary. He chaired the Senate commission that studied how public funds are allocated for art 18 in public buildings, and submitted legislation to change reform the procedures; now, therefore be 19 it 20 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 21 hereby thanks Senator Raptakis for his eighteen years of distinguished service as a member of the 22 Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996, and the Rhode Island State Senate 23 from 1997 to 2010. We will miss his integrity and the passion he brought to the State House 24 every day on behalf of all Rhode Islanders; and be it further 25 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to 26 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis. ======= LC02958 ======= 2 .