Politics
East Providence state representative selected to lead Rhode Island Democrats
State Rep. Jenni Furtado will take over as chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski announced Wednesday. She replaces Elizabeth Beretta-Perik, who resigned a day earlier after her husband was indicted on fraud and racketeering charges.
State Rep. Jenni Furtado of East Providence has been selected as the next chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski announced Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Furtado, the first Peruvian-American elected official in Rhode Island, succeeds Elizabeth Beretta-Perik. Beretta-Perik resigned Tuesday, one day after her husband was indicted on fraud and racketeering charges. The charges are against her husband, not Beretta-Perik.
Furtado’s selection puts a sitting state representative at the head of the party as it moves through an abrupt leadership change.