by Doug MacGunnigle, WPRO News
Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, a Democrat from Cranston, responded Monday to comments made by former GOP rival Shawna Lawton on a “Google Hangouts” chat that she had a “promise” from the Mattiello campaign that her pet issue, a stance against mandatory HPV vaccination would be addressed, and she had “been ‘promised’ we will get further with our issues” under a Mattiello speakership than if Mattiello lost and a more progressive speaker was named.
The revelation was first reported by the Providence Journal’s Kathy Gregg on Sunday. In the interview with the Journal, Lawton denied any kind of promise was made, despite her “Google Hangouts” comments.
Speaker Mattiello told WPRO’s Gene Valicenti Monday morning that no discussions were had with Lawton regarding the HPV vaccination issue, and that it was “a Health Department issue and not a legislative one.”
Asked by Valicenti if Jeff Britt, a political consultant employed by Mattiello on his reelection team, made her any promises, Mattiello said “I know they spoke. He never came to me about anything to do with a vaccine. If he did I’d have send him back to tell her ‘no way, we’re not talking about that’ I just wouldn’t do it.”
LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION BELOW
“I appreciate her endorsement,” Mattiello told Valicenti. “I hope she votes for me. I hope she gets five or ten people to vote for me. That would’ve been a much better way to address this than the mailer. The mailer was probably counterproductive.” Mattiello says Lawton should disclose who paid for the mailing. “I’ve never spoken to her about an endorsement or the HPV vaccine issue.”
