Frank Ferri Politician
Frank G. Ferri (born February 2, 1954) 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. His district is located in Warwick and includes the neighborhoods of Warwick Neck and Oakland Beach. Ferri won the Democratic primary election held on October 24, 2007 to succeed Rep. Peter T. Ginaitt (D-Warwick), who had stepped down halfway through his eighth two-year term. Ferri won 57% of the vote in the three-way primary election, defeating party-endorsed candidate Edgar Ladouceur and Olin Thompson. In the general election held on November 27, 2007, he faced Republican Jonathan Wheeler and independent Carlo Pisaturo, receiving 53% of the vote to Wheeler's 33% and Pisaturo's 14%. He was sworn-in on December 19, 2007. He ran for re-election in 2008 and 2010, prevailing on each occasion.A Rhode Island native, Ferri grew up in Providence before earning a degree in business from Bryant University.He has been a Warwick resident since 1985 and owns the Town Hall Lanes bowling alley. The former chair of Marriage Equality RI, he is openly gay. Along with Reps. Gordon D. Fox (D-Providence) and Deb Ruggiero (D-Jamestown), and Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), he serves as one of four openly LGBT members of the Rhode Island General Assembly. His campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
