Cicilline to leave Congress, lead RI Foundation

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2023, 12:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: WPRI 12

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — In a bombshell announcement that will shake up Rhode Island politics, Congressman David Cicilline announced Tuesday morning he is becoming the next president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, leaving the U.S. House after over a decade.

Cicilline, first elected in 2010, said he will step down effective June 1. His staff will continue to operate district offices for the 1st Congressional District until a new representative is chosen in a special election. The rare open seat is likely to draw a host of candidates in the heavily Democratic-leaning district.

Coming in the wake of then-Congressman Jim Langevin’s surprise retirement a year ago, Cicilline’s decision means Rhode Island soon will be represented by two of the most junior members of the House. “Serving the people of Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District has been the honor of my lifetime,” Cicilline, 61, said in a statement. “As president and CEO of one of the largest and oldest community foundations in the nation, I look forward to expanding on the work I have led for nearly thirty years in helping to improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders.”

The foundation’s longtime CEO, Neil Steinberg, announced his intention to retire last year, and a search committee has been vetting potential candidates since then. The job has become one of the most prominent in Rhode Island public life during Steinberg’s tenure, and it also paid over $1 million a year as of 2019, according to IRS filings.

Read more: https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/cicilline-to-leave-congress-lead-ri-foundation/

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Oh nooooo.... I loved Cicilline. He was a true firebrand.


Changing sources.

Original article/link/headline -

Rep. David Cicilline to resign from Congress June 1 to run foundation

CNN — Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, will resign June 1 to run the Rhode Island Foundation, a source familiar with the matter confirms to CNN.

The Boston Globe first reported the announcement.


This story is breaking and will be updated.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/21/politics/david-cicilline-resign-congress

[hlthe2b]

1. Didn't Cicilline fight to be part of Dem Leadership?

damn...

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Yeah

and I think this may have played a part in the decision.

[agingdem]

3. Rhode Island governor Daniel McKee is a Democrat..

he will appoint a Democrat to replace Cicilline... so we lose nothing in the House...

[hlthe2b]

4. Good to hear.

[moose65]

7. No he won't

US House vacancies have to be filled by special elections. Governors do not appoint House members.

[agingdem]

12. so now I know why Kevin is holding on to George Santos..

if there's a special election then a Dem will more than likely take that seat...

[wnylib]

15. Yup.

[bdamomma]

21. oh

this is sad news, they have to get another Democrat in there. I liked Cicilline, he will be missed. The best of luck to him.

[lonely bird]

5. Does this mean a special election?

If so, we can’t let another R-(Vermin) get a seat in the House.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. I don't think that will an issue with that seat.

[lonely bird]

8. That's good

I usually operate under the theory of paranoia.

Just because I am paranoid that doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I get that

We saw what happened in 2009 with Scott Brown taking Ted Kennedy's seat in the Senate so sometimes best not to "assume".

They would be having a special election and his district is pretty blue and it looks like there are a number of strong Democrats who might consider running.

Some background - https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/cicilline-to-leave-congress-lead-ri-foundation/

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. I like him a lot, too.

[nevergiveup]

13. As congress continues be be more and more toxic

we are going to continue to lose great elected progressive members of congress. In 2024 we absolutely must win back the House and hold on to the presidency and the Senate. The Senate will be the most difficult.

[question everything]

14. This is the difference between quoting a local and a national sources

Not being familiar with him I read the whole post wondering whether he is a Democrat. CNN stated that immediately. Perhaps you can still edit the title to add a (D) after his name.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. I only went to a local source because CNN was taking too damn long to update

and the original source that CNN referenced was the Boston Globe that is paywalled (and one of the few that I don't have a sub to) and I was avoiding Politico and The Hill.

I think most DUers know who David Cicilline is. He has made a name for himself.

ETA and LBN rules dictate to use the "exact title" and the OP excerpt includes this -

The rare open seat is likely to draw a host of candidates in the heavily Democratic-leaning district.

I can't imagine a Republican congressman being elected in a "heavily Democratic-leaning district".

[JudyM]

16. He has been one of our best, an incisive, articulate champion gaining in stature.

This is a loss to the party - and so the country - regardless of who replaces him, IMO.

[TeamProg]

18. Darn.. n/t

[Lulu KC]

19. I'll miss him

I always enjoyed hearing him speak back when I was glued to C-Span.

[bottomofthehill]

20. Makes his life so much easier

Triples his pay, only needs to keep one home, no travel back and forth, no campaign every two years, no need to raise and spend millions of dollars for a job that pays $175,000. He has worked hard, found a position that interests him at home in RI and is moving on. His leadership will be a loss to the House Democrats, but it is a good move for him.

[bdamomma]

22. ............

True, all the best to him. He's a good person.