PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Latest on a Rhode Island lawmaker’s residency dispute (all times local):
9 p.m.
Democratic state Rep. John Carnevale could be barred from running for re-election after a city ruling says he’s not an eligible voter.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea said Thursday night that she won’t certify the lawmaker as a candidate for the fall elections unless ordered to do so by the state Board of Elections or state Supreme Court.
Gorbea, a Democrat, made the announcement after the Providence Board of Elections ruled that Carnevale is ineligible to vote because he doesn’t live in the Providence home where he’s been a registered voter.
The state Republican Party asked the city board to investigate after news station WPRI-TV found that Carnevale spends much of his time in a Johnston home outside his legislative district that he hadn’t reported on ethics filings.
Three other Democrats are vying for his seat in the September primary.
6:30 p.m.
Providence’s election board is stripping Democratic state Rep. John Carnevale of his voter registration.
The 2-member Board of Canvassers ruled unanimously Thursday that he’s not an eligible voter because he’s not a resident of the home where he is registered to vote.
Chairwoman Claudia Haugen says there were many inconsistencies in the lawmaker’s testimony before the board.
Carnevale has insisted he lives in the legislative district he represents since an investigation by news station WPRI-TV found that he spends much of his time in a Johnston house he hadn’t declared on ethics filings.
The lawmaker’s claims came under further scrutiny after a police lieutenant said Carnevale asked police to write him parking tickets outside the Providence home.
5:30 p.m.
A police lieutenant has testified that Democratic state Rep. John Carnevale made an “extremely” odd request to have him write a parking ticket on the lawmaker’s vehicle.
Providence Police Lt. Richard Fernandes said at a hearing Thursday of the city’s elections board that it seemed like Carnevale was going to use the ticket to help validate that the lawmaker lives at a Providence home where he’s registered to vote.
Carnevale has insisted he lives in the legislative district he represents since an investigation by news station WPRI-TV found that he spends much of his time in a Johnston house he hadn’t declared on ethics filings.
Providence’s public safety commissioner also testified at the hearing, saying he took offense that Carnevale, a retired lieutenant, appeared to be using the police department to resolve his residency problems.
The board is deciding if it should challenge Carnevale’s voter registration.
12:36 a.m.
Tenants of Rhode Island state Rep. John Carnevale could testify in a hearing where city officials are trying to determine whether the lawmaker really lives in the legislative district he represents.
The Providence Board of Canvassers plans to hold a hearing Thursday to decide whether it should challenge the Democrat’s voter registration.
Carnevale has insisted he lives in Providence since an investigation by news station WPRI-TV found that he owns a house outside his district that he hadn’t declared on ethics filings.
The city’s elections board has disagreed over how to proceed with the case because it currently has only two members.
The state Republican Party says it might appeal to the state Board of Elections if the city doesn’t challenge Carnevale’s registration. State police are also investigating him.
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