Elizabeth H. Roberts
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth H. Roberts is currently the Lieutenant Governor
of the State
of Rhode Island
. She has served under Republican
Governor Donald Carcieri
and Independent
Lincoln Chafee
. She was elected as a Democrat
in 2006, becoming the state's first female Lieutenant Governor.
Roberts was born April 17, 1957 in Washington, DC. She graduated from Brown University
in 1978 and earned an MBA in Health Care Management from Boston University
in 1984.
Prior to entering politics, Roberts has worked as a business strategy consultant, policy analyst, and health care manager. She is married to Thomas Roberts and they have two daughters, Kathleen and Nora. The Roberts family resides in Cranston, Rhode Island
.
from 1996 until 2006. During her tenure in the state Senate, she was known for being a leading activist on health and medical issues. She was also renowned for her efforts on economic development and job growth, and pushed for cleaner air and water, stronger schools, and increased attention to disaster preparedness.
During her tenure in the state Senate she served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Later, she served as a Co-Chair of Permanent Joint Committee on Healthcare Oversight, which she used as a vehicle to push for reform for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the largest provider of health insurance in Rhode Island.
Roberts also helped expand the state’s prescription drug program for seniors (RIPAE) and helped expand coverage to more families through Rite Care, the state's public health system.
The reform organization Common Cause
named Roberts one of the top two senators in Rhode Island in 2006, giving her the second highest rating in the General Assembly at 91% and an “A” for her reform efforts during the legislative session.
Roberts was elected the state's first female Lieutenant Governor in the 2006 elections held on November 7. She was inaugurated as the 68th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations on January 2, 2007.
Roberts also serves as the Chairwoman of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, the Small Business Advocacy Council, and the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
Roberts floated the possibility of running for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2010 election, but decided to run for reelection as Lieutenant Governor instead.
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. She has served under Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor Donald Carcieri
Donald Carcieri
Donald L. "Don" Carcieri was the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Carcieri has had a varied vocational background, having worked as a manufacturing company executive, aid relief worker, bank executive and teacher.-Personal background:...
and Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
. She was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 2006, becoming the state's first female Lieutenant Governor.
Roberts was born April 17, 1957 in Washington, DC. She graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1978 and earned an MBA in Health Care Management from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1984.
Prior to entering politics, Roberts has worked as a business strategy consultant, policy analyst, and health care manager. She is married to Thomas Roberts and they have two daughters, Kathleen and Nora. The Roberts family resides in Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
.
Political career
Roberts served five two-year terms in the Rhode Island SenateRhode Island Senate
The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year...
from 1996 until 2006. During her tenure in the state Senate, she was known for being a leading activist on health and medical issues. She was also renowned for her efforts on economic development and job growth, and pushed for cleaner air and water, stronger schools, and increased attention to disaster preparedness.
During her tenure in the state Senate she served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Later, she served as a Co-Chair of Permanent Joint Committee on Healthcare Oversight, which she used as a vehicle to push for reform for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the largest provider of health insurance in Rhode Island.
Roberts also helped expand the state’s prescription drug program for seniors (RIPAE) and helped expand coverage to more families through Rite Care, the state's public health system.
The reform organization Common Cause
Common Cause
Common Cause is a self-described nonpartisan, nonprofit lobby and advocacy organization. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican former cabinet secretary under Lyndon Johnson, as a "citizens' lobby" with a mission focused on making U.S. political institutions more open and...
named Roberts one of the top two senators in Rhode Island in 2006, giving her the second highest rating in the General Assembly at 91% and an “A” for her reform efforts during the legislative session.
Roberts was elected the state's first female Lieutenant Governor in the 2006 elections held on November 7. She was inaugurated as the 68th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations on January 2, 2007.
Roberts also serves as the Chairwoman of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, the Small Business Advocacy Council, and the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
Roberts floated the possibility of running for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2010 election, but decided to run for reelection as Lieutenant Governor instead.
External links
- Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Follow the Money - Elizabeth H. Roberts 2006 campaign contributions