SURVEY OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY
THE RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS COMMUNITY
DURING THE 2014 STATE ELECTIONS
© 2015 New Harbor Group, LLC
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Survey of
Campaign
Contributions by
Rhode Island
Business
Leaders During
the 2014 State
Elections
© 2015 New Harbor Group
This document summarizes
campaign contributions made
by Rhode Island business
leaders to state and local
candidates in Rhode Island
during the 2014 election year.
The numbers in this document
are drawn from campaign
finance records for the
calendar year 2014 which are
available on the State Board of
Elections website. No
contributors are mentioned by
name. The document was
compiled in large part by
Nathan McGuire (Boston
College, Class of 2016), Kate
Mancosh (Furman University,
Class of 2017) and Matthew
Romano (Boston College,
Class of 2018).
and Central Rhode Island) and
the Rhode Island Public
Expenditure Council (RIPEC).
It should be noted that Rhode
Island law does not require
contributions of $100 or less to
be reported by name on
candidate campaign finance
reports. Any contributions in
these amounts that were not
reported by name are not part
of the totals in this survey.
The sources for all data in this
document are on the website of
the Rhode Island State Board
of Elections. In some
instances those records may
be inaccurate, difficult to read,
contradictory, or non-existent.
This may affect the accuracy of
some of the data in this survey.
For the purposes of this survey,
“business leaders” are defined
as members of the governing
body listed on the respective
websites of the four largest
chambers of commerce
(Greater Providence, Northern
Rhode Island, Newport County,
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Business Community
Who Gives?
55%
45%
Contributed
Did not contribute
113
Individuals
© 2015 New Harbor Group
140
Individuals
Of the 253 people
who served on the
governing boards of
the four largest
chambers of
commerce and
RIPEC, 140 made
reportable
contributions to state
or local candidates
in 2014.
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How much did they give?
Contribution Ranges
$2,000 +
58 Individuals
23%
$1,000 - $2,000
23 Individuals
45%
9%
Up to $1,000
59 Individuals
© 2015 New Harbor Group
$0
113 Individuals
23%
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Only 26 Contributors Accounted
for the Majority of Contributions
What the Top 26 Contributed
The Top 26 Contributors
10%
Other
Top 26
51%
$132,670
49%
$129,357.11
90%
Total of 253 Individuals
© 2015 New Harbor Group
Total of the $262,027.11 Contributed
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Survey Key
This survey compiles recorded contributions made by business leaders to individuals, or in
a number of broad categories. Those individuals and categories are listed below:
• Organization PAC – A donation to the Political Action Committee (PAC) for the Chamber where the individual is a member of the
governing board. Only the Greater Providence and Northern Rhode Island chambers have a PAC.
• PAC – A donation to any PAC other than an assembly leadership PAC.
• Governor Lincoln Chafee; General Treasurer Gina Raimondo; Clay Pell; Mayor Angel Taveras; Ken Block; Mayor Allan Fung
• Other General Officer – Other General Officers, including Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin,
Secretary of State Ralph Mollis and candidates:
• For Lieutenant Governor - Mayor Dan McKee, state Rep. Frank Ferri, Catherine Taylor;
• For Secretary of State - Nellie Gorbea, Guillaume DeRamel;
• For Attorney General - state Sen. Dawson Hodgson
• For General Treasurer - Seth Magaziner, Frank Caprio, Ernie Almonte
• Party Committee – A donation to the state or local party committee of the Democratic or Republican parties.
• Local – A donation to a candidate in a local (non-state) race. These would include Mayor or other municipal executive, town council,
school committee or some other municipal officer.
• AL PAC – General Assembly Leadership PACs. These include a donation to the Fund for Democratic Leadership, Fund for
Democratic Priorities, RI Senate Democrats PAC, RI Senate Leadership PAC, RI House Leadership PAC, and the House Republican
Leadership PAC.
• Assembly Leadership – A donation to the following: Reps. Gordon Fox, Nicholas Mattielo, John DeSimone, Helio Melo, Ray
Gallison; Senators M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, Dominick Ruggierio, Daniel DaPonte
• Other Assembly – A donation to any candidate for the General Assembly not listed above. This category has been broken down
into:
• Incumbent Assembly members running for re-election;
• Candidates for the Assembly running against an incumbent, and;
• Candidates running for an open Assembly seat.
© 2015 New Harbor Group
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Who did they give to?
Cianci
$4,000
Elorza
$23,300
Local
$19,798
Party Committee
$10,100
Other Gen. Officer
$53,538
Fung
$10,000
Block
$1,525
Pell
$50
Taveras
$28,350
Raimondo
$60,855
PAC
$14,889
Org. PAC
$1,950
AL PAC
$4,750
GA Leadership
$16,050
GA Challengers
$1,862
GA Incumbents
$8,110
GA Open Seats
$2,900
$0
© 2015 New Harbor Group
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
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In 2014, candidates for the General Assembly
raised $2,735,479.12 for their campaigns:
Of that amount, business leaders contributed:
$16,050
Assembly Leadership
$8,110
Assembly incumbents
who were not members
of the Assembly
leadership
$1,862
Assembly candidates
running for open
seats
$2,900
Assembly candidates
running against
incumbents
$2,706,557.12
From Other Sources
Not from business leaders
© 2015 New Harbor Group
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Contributions to the General Assembly from the
Business Community, 2012 vs. 2014
$25,000
$20,350
$20,000
$16,050
$15,000
$7,800
$10,000
$8,110
$6,100
$4,300
$2,900
$5,000
$1,862
$0
Gen. Assy. Leadership
Gen. Assy. Incumbents
2012
© 2015 New Harbor Group
Gen. Assy. Challengers
Gen. Assy. Open Seats
2014
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Who Gives? 2012 vs. 2014
2012
2014
Contributed
Contributed
47%
53%
45%
Did not contribute
55%
Did not contribute
117 Individuals
134 Individuals
Total of 251 individuals who served on the boards of the
four largest chambers of commerce and RIPEC in 2012.
© 2015 New Harbor Group
113 Individuals
140 Individuals
Total of 253 individuals who served on the boards of the
four largest chambers of commerce and RIPEC in 2014.
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