Providence, RI -- Governor Lincoln D. Chafee has nominated for the State Board of Elections former Senator Rhoda Perry and retired Judge Stephen Erickson, and Vice Chairman William West for reappointment.
"Senator Perry and Judge Erickson are proven leaders who bring a wealth of experience and many years of public service to these positions," Governor Chafee said. "I have every confidence that the current Vice Chairman will continue in his duties with the same determination and impartiality."
Former Senator Perry represented Providence's District 3 in the Rhode Island Senate from 1990 to 2012. Her focus areas were health and human service. Currently, she is employed by the City of Pawtucket as an instructor of English as a Second Language, and holds a bachelor's from the University of New Hampshire and a master's from Lesley College.
Retired Judge Erickson of Middletown served as associate judge for the Rhode Island District Court from 1990 to 2010 and as supervising judge for the Third Division District Court (Kent County) from 1997 to 2001. He is currently an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law and principal at Erickson Consulting Services. He holds a bachelor's with high honors from the University of Rhode Island and a JD from Boston University School of Law.
Vice Chairman West of Portsmouth has served on the Board of Elections since 2009. He is a board member of Newport County Community Mental Health Center, a corporator of OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC and a former council member of the Town of Portsmouth.
The State Board of Elections is a state agency charged with regulating the Rhode Island electoral process. This includes the governance and conduct of elections, voter registration, campaign finance, public funding of campaigns and any other duties set by laws of the United States and the State of Rhode Island.