William P. Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
William P. Fitzpatrick is an American politician
from Rhode Island
. A Democrat
, he served from 1993 to 1997 in the Rhode Island Senate
.
A computer programmer by trade, Fitzpatrick ran for the Rhode Island Senate from the 11th district in 1992, comprising parts of Cranston
. He defeated seven-term incumbent David H. Sholes in the Democratic primary election held on September 15, 1992 and went on to win the general election. A resident of Edgewood, he served two terms, holding office from January 1993 until January 1997. He was not a candidate for re-election to a third term in November 1996 and was succeeded by Elizabeth H. Roberts
, who went on to be elected Lieutenant Governor.
Fitzpatrick is gay; he confirmed his sexuality to the media just weeks after his election in November 1992. He was the first ever openly gay member of the Rhode Island Legislature. Since Fitzpatrick came out in 1992, seven additional openly gay legislators have held office, all but one serving in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
. Four of them hold office currently: Speaker Gordon D. Fox
(D–Providence), Rep. Deb Ruggiero
(D–Jamestown), Rep. Frank Ferri
(D–Warwick) and Sen. Donna Nesselbush
(D–Pawtucket). The three former members are Mike Pisaturo (D–Cranston), Nancy Hetherington (D–Cranston) and David Cicilline
(D–Providence), who came out publicly during his time as a state representative and was subsequently elected to the mayoralty of Providence and to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from 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...
. 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...
, he served from 1993 to 1997 in the Rhode Island Senate
Rhode 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...
.
A computer programmer by trade, Fitzpatrick ran for the Rhode Island Senate from the 11th district in 1992, comprising parts of Cranston
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...
. He defeated seven-term incumbent David H. Sholes in the Democratic primary election held on September 15, 1992 and went on to win the general election. A resident of Edgewood, he served two terms, holding office from January 1993 until January 1997. He was not a candidate for re-election to a third term in November 1996 and was succeeded by Elizabeth H. Roberts
Elizabeth H. Roberts
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,...
, who went on to be elected Lieutenant Governor.
Fitzpatrick is gay; he confirmed his sexuality to the media just weeks after his election in November 1992. He was the first ever openly gay member of the Rhode Island Legislature. Since Fitzpatrick came out in 1992, seven additional openly gay legislators have held office, all but one serving in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
. Four of them hold office currently: Speaker Gordon D. Fox
Gordon D. Fox
Gordon D. Fox is an American politician from Providence, Rhode Island and the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A Democrat, he was first elected to the legislature in 1992 and was elected speaker on February 11, 2010....
(D–Providence), Rep. Deb Ruggiero
Deb Ruggiero
Deborah L. Ruggiero , commonly known as Deb Ruggiero, is an American radio personality and politician from Jamestown, Rhode Island. A Democrat, she serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 74th district, which contains all of Jamestown and part of Middletown...
(D–Jamestown), Rep. Frank Ferri
Frank Ferri
Frank G. Ferri is an American politician who is a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 22nd district since a special election in November 2007...
(D–Warwick) and Sen. Donna Nesselbush
Donna Nesselbush
Donna M. Nesselbush is an American lawyer, judge and politician from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A Democrat, she serves in the Rhode Island Senate, representing the 15th district...
(D–Pawtucket). The three former members are Mike Pisaturo (D–Cranston), Nancy Hetherington (D–Cranston) and David Cicilline
David Cicilline
David Nicola Cicilline is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is formerly the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, and was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.-Early life, education, and career:...
(D–Providence), who came out publicly during his time as a state representative and was subsequently elected to the mayoralty of Providence and to the U.S. House of Representatives.