POLITICAL SCENE
LIZ ANDERSON, SCOTT MAYEROWITZ and KATHERINE GREGG
Journal Staff Writers. The Providence Journal. Providence, R.I.: July 11, 2005.

Big war chest for Caprio
State Sen. Frank Caprio, D-Providence, a candidate for general treasurer next year, has ended the second quarter of the year with $400,094 in his campaign account, including $210,250 in personal loans, according to a report he filed last Thursday with the state Board of Elections.

According to Caprio's report, which covers the period of April 1 to June 30, he started the quarter with $317,218 on hand, and raised $79,725 from individuals, and $3,950 from political action committees. He also tallied $3,150 in interest.
The campaign held several fundraisers over the quarter, including what Caprio described as a "major event" at Roger Williams Park Casino on June 23, which drew about 400 people, and smaller events at the Hope Club and Angelo's restaurant in Providence and Paragon restaurant in Warwick.
Caprio, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Housing and Municipal Government, said the campaign also did direct calling to raise money.

The list of his contributors has Senate colleagues, including Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano; a liberal sprinkling of lawyers, from John Cicilline to John Tarantino; and businessmen such as GTECH senior vice president Donald Sweitzer. Among the political action committees chipping in: the Rhode Island Laborers, Rhode Island Carpenters, Amica and MetLife.

Caprio is the only declared candidate in the race, which will have no incumbent in it in 2006. General Treasurer Paul J. Tavares must leave the office due to term limits.
Warwick City Treasurer David C. Olsen had said in March that he might run as a Republican for the seat; last week, he said he hasn't decided yet, but would announce his plans by early fall.

North Providence Mayor Ralph Mollis, a Democrat, and Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey, a Republican, have also been mentioned as possible candidates, although Laffey has also been flirting with a run for U.S. Senate.

<-- Back to News Section