PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 19, 2008) – The candidates for a vacant Foster Town Council seat will find out later this month where they will appear on the July 8 ballot, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis announced today.
Mollis scheduled the lottery for Fri., May 30, at 4 p.m. at 148 West River St., Providence, where his elections division is housed. Mollis is inviting the candidates and Foster residents to attend.
“When I ran for office, I pledged to make government more transparent. There is nothing that will give voters more faith in the fairness of their elections than the chance to see first-hand how the process unfolds,” said Mollis.
Democrat Roger Hawes, Republican Gordon Rogers and Jonathon Vorro, who is running unaffiliated, are facing off for the seat left open by Harold Shippee Sr.’s resignation in March. The lottery will determine the order in which the three candidates will be listed on the July 8 ballot. State law gives Mollis the authority to hold lotteries to determine ballot placement.
June 7 is the deadline for Foster residents to register to vote in the special election. They must be at least age 18, U.S. citizens and have a valid social security number or Rhode Island driver’s license.