Election insights from national political analyst Nathan Gonzales

and WPRI’s Ted Nesi

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) will honor two public employees for their outstanding service at its annual meeting on Wednesday, October 23. The recipients of RIPEC’s 48th Annual Public Service Awards are Donna A. Murray, Labor Market Information Director at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT), and Randy R. Rossi, Town Manager of Smithfield.

“RIPEC extends its congratulations and sincere gratitude to Donna and Randy for their service to Rhode Island,” said Keith D. Kelly, President of Citizens Bank Rhode Island and chair of the RIPEC Board of Directors. “Policymakers, the media, and the public have relied on the labor market data produced by the DLT division led by Donna for many years. Randy served in senior positions in Foster and Cranston before his current role as town manager in Smithfield, where he has expanded town initiatives and increased grantmaking opportunities.” 

For the past 48 years, RIPEC has recognized unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to public service in the Ocean State. Murray will be awarded the Gary S. Sasse Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognizes an exceptional state employee. Rossi will be awarded the Robert M. Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognizes an exceptional local employee.

Murray’s division at DLT is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of vital labor market data, which empowers government, the public, and businesses with the information they need to make informed decisions about the economy. Murray is widely regarded as an industry leader and expert and under her leadership the labor market division has received several National Association of State Workforce Agencies awards for its publications, including the prestigious "Building a World Class Workforce" for the division’s training programs.

Rossi has served the Town of Smithfield since 2008, first as finance director and then as town manager beginning in 2017. The town’s leadership credits him with significant progress on initiatives aimed at enhancing community engagement, fiscal responsibility, and sustainable development. He has focused on obtaining grant funding to offset residents’ tax burden, and on environmental sustainability, community safety, and recreational opportunities to improve the quality of life of town residents.

Also at RIPEC’s annual meeting, Ted Nesi, WPRI 12 Politics Editor and Investigative Reporter, will host an engaging Q&A with Nathan Gonzales, Editor and Publisher of Inside Elections and Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call. With over 20 years of campaign coverage experience, Gonzales combines reporting with data to provide detailed insights into key races and election dynamics. His expertise, showcased on platforms like PBS and ABC News, blends historical trends, polling data, and personal candidate interviews to project electoral outcomes and assess partisan shifts.

“RIPEC’s research and analysis support fiscally responsible government, competitive tax policies, and economic opportunity in Rhode Island,” said RIPEC President and CEO Michael DiBiase. “We encourage RIPEC members and leaders from across the state to attend the annual meeting to network, learn more about RIPEC, and hear valuable insights from our keynote speakers.”



For over nine decades, businesses and nonprofits have served as RIPEC members, supporting the organization’s work in finding solutions to the critical challenges facing the Ocean State. RIPEC’s objective research and analysis is of service to taxpayers, state and local policymakers, and members of the media. RIPEC continues to focus on the most pressing issues facing Rhode Island, including improving state and local tax policy, the adoption of strong, responsible state and municipal budgets, and bold action to improve K-12 education and housing policies.

If members of the public are interested in attending the event, tickets can be purchased here.

 

Donna A. Murray, Gary S. Sasse Distinguished Public Service Award Recipienct

Randy R. Rossi, Robert M. Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award Recipient