President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) has named Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) to serve as senior Deputy Majority Leader.

“It is a true honor to be named as Senior Deputy Majority Leader by President Ruggerio and I am looking forward to working closely with Senate Leadership in order to advance the issues that Rhode Islanders care about the most, including support services for our most vulnerable citizens, education, and ensuring that every Rhode Island resident can provide for themselves and their families,” said Senator DiPalma in a prepared statement.

The senior Deputy Majority Leader works closely with the Majority Leader, who is the putative head of the majority party in the chamber, to ensure that party members are properly informed on measures and votes coming before the body.

In addition to serving as first vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator DiPalma serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Education.

Senator DiPalma was first elected in November 2008.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...