Breaking news: Gallison to resign Tuesday

Gallison to resign Tuesday amid state, federal and police probes

Investigation allegedly linked to prostitution

By Victor Paul Alvarez
Posted 5/2/16

House Finance Chairman and Bristol Democrat Ray Gallison will resign his state representative seat tomorrow as news of a law enforcement probe broke this evening.

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Breaking news: Gallison to resign Tuesday

Gallison to resign Tuesday amid state, federal and police probes

Investigation allegedly linked to prostitution

Posted

House Finance Chairman and Bristol Democrat Ray Gallison will resign his state representative seat tomorrow as news of a law enforcement probe broke this evening. A state and federal investigation, among allegations of a prostitution investigation, also contributed to his reported decision to resign.

Rep. Gallison, a longtime fixture in Rhode Island politics and last year’s Bristol Fourth of July Parade Chief Marshal, is a member of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s leadership team. He did not return a phone call and text requesting comment Monday evening. 

A caucus of House Democrats is set for 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. 

Rep. Gallison, a 64-year-old lawyer and member of Alternative Educational Programming, Inc., has held his seat since 2000. He assumed the role of House Finance Chairman after the March 2014 resignation of former Speaker Gordon Fox, currently serving a three-year prison sentence in Pennsylvania for public corruption. Mr. Fox pleaded guilty to bribery, wire fraud and filing false tax returns.

State law dictates no special election for Rep. Gallison’s seat since he will resign after the first Monday in February of an election year. This November’s election will see all 113 General Assembly seats up for vote.

Rep. Gallison represents Bristol and Portsmouth in District 69. Along with his work on the House Finance Committee, his focus has long been with veterans and he was also co-chairman of the Joint Defense Economy Planning Commission.

The NBC 10 I-Team reported tonight that the investigation is a collaborative effort between the Rhode Island State Police and FBI. 

According to NBC 10: “While specific details of the probe remain confidential, sources told the NBC 10 I-Team, the investigation involves prostitution. A federal grand jury has been called and has heard from witnesses, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.”

Rep. Gallison was recently fined $1,600 for botching campaign finance reporting. At the time he said he made a mistake when reporting campaign contributions, corrected his mistake, and it won't ever happen again.

The Board of Elections fined Rep. Gallison $1,600 for his reporting error — $800 from his campaign finance account, $400 from his own pocket, and $400 to be forgiven if he provides bank statements for the rest of 2016 to support his campaign finance reports.

Rep. Gallison was chosen to lead the 2015 Bristol Fourth of July Parade as its chief marshal.

Raymond Gallison, Bristol, House of Representatives, Victor Paul Alvarez

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