Congressman David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island), currently serving his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced he has been selected to lead the Rhode Island Foundation as its president/CEO and will be leaving elected office effective June 1, according to a press release.
Formed in 1916, the Rhode Island Foundation is the state's community foundation and largest funder of nonprofit organizations. As Rhode Island's philanthropic leader, the Rhode Island Foundation supports community programs through grants and investments, provides a forum for dialogue around critical civic issues, and advances strategic priorities to address issues of equity and improve economic, educational, and health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders.
According to WPRI, the position paid more than $1 million a year in 2019.
Cicilline is currently a member of House Democratic Leadership and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee on the Judiciary.
He first entered politics when he was elected to the state General Assembly in 1994 and then became mayor of Providence in 2002, making him the first out gay mayor of that city, LGBTQ Nation noted.
Rhode Island's First Congressional District (which Cicilline represents) leans heavily Democratic, so the party is unlikely to lose the seat in the upcoming special election. Several Democrats are expected to run in the primary, and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera has already announced her intention to run.
He stated, "I am extremely grateful for the support of the people of the First Congressional District, my dedicated staff, and the help of the many organizations and individuals that I have had the privilege to partner with over the past twelve years. While my role will change in the months ahead, my commitment to serving Rhode Islanders will remain as strong as ever as I lead the Rhode Island Foundation through this next exciting period of transformational change in our state."