Warwick freshman legislator chairs major committee

Posted 4/3/14

With the shakeup following the election of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Warwick state Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi may have become the first freshman lawmaker to chair a major committee. Mattiello …

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Warwick freshman legislator chairs major committee

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With the shakeup following the election of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Warwick state Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi may have become the first freshman lawmaker to chair a major committee. Mattiello tapped Shekarchi to chair the House Committee on Labor for the remainder of the 2013-14 legislative session.

Shekarchi wasted no time learning the ropes. He assumed the post Tuesday and pushed through legislation endorsing federal funding for Quonset Point.

“I’ve been told it has never happened before,” Shekarchi said of his status of a freshman chairing a major committee.

Shekarcki, who supported Mattiello as speaker over Rep. Michael Marcello, said Mattiello told him he would be good as either chair of Judiciary or Labor. In response, Shekarchi said, he would be happy to serve wherever the speaker thought he would be best placed.

Another possibility, chairing the Municipal Government Committee, popped up last Thursday. Mattiello named Rep. Robert Craven of North Kingstown, also a freshman legislator, to that post.

“Joe Shekarchi will do an excellent job as chair of this committee because of his many years of outstanding legal work, knowledge of our labor laws and continuing commitment to public service, which began years ago in his home community of Warwick,” Mattiello said in a statement.

Shekarchi has been a member of the Labor Committee since his inauguration in January 2013. He has also been a member of the House Committee on Judiciary, a position he will retain. The Committee on Labor is one of several standing committees of the House of Representatives and deliberates legislation regarding workers’ compensation and labor laws.

Shekarchi, an attorney, serves as legal counsel for the Warwick Housing Authority and also served as the Warwick City Solicitor. He served as campaign manager for Gina Raimondo when she sought the office of general treasurer four years ago.

In addition to his regular legislative duties, Shekarchi is also a member of a special legislative commission created to study Rhode Island’s zoning and subdivision enabling acts and was named to a Warwick study committee reviewing tax exempt properties in that community.

Asked about the legislation affecting Quonset, Shekarchi said he wanted to act quickly so as not to jeopardize the federal funding, which he put at $7 million.

“I was not about to let it fall through the cracks,” he said. He is hopeful of bringing the bill to the House floor today.

Shekarchi said he remains focused on several pieces of legislation, citing his car tax bill that would have vehicle valuations accurately reflect value rather than the highest value and a bill to provide incentives for businesses to grow, thereby providing more jobs for Rhode Islanders. Under his bill, large firms would continue to be eligible to receive a 0.25 percent tax incentive off the net business income tax rate for every 50 new hires. Smaller businesses, those that are partnerships or family owned, would receive a similar break on their personal income tax for every 10 new employees.

Asked whether he has his sights set on being mayor, as has been rumored, Shekarchi replied with a laugh, “I’m not going to run against Scott Avedisian. I have no plans, but to run for re-election,” he added.

Comments

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  • patientman

    Congratulations! He's not wasting any time climbing the ladder.

    Thursday, April 3, 2014 Report this

  • InTheW

    Finally someone with the integrity to challenge these obnoxious auto values.

    Thursday, April 3, 2014 Report this

  • LGould

    We could not have a more honest and capable man in the State House.

    Saturday, April 5, 2014 Report this