M. Teresa Paiva-Weed
Encyclopedia
M. Teresa Paiva-Weed is a Democratic
member of the Rhode Island Senate
, representing the 13th District (Jamestown and Newport) since 2002 and the 49th District (Jamestown, Middletown, and Newport) from 1992 to 2002. In November 2008, she was elected President of the Senate. She was Majority Leader from 2004 to 2008.
Paiva-Weed was born on November 5, 1959 at the Newport Naval Hospital, the daughter of Arthur and Marie Paiva. She was raised in Newport
and attended Rogers High School
from 1973 to 1977. She has a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Providence College
and a Juris Doctor
degree from Catholic University
. A widow, Paiva-Weed was married for 23 years to fellow Rogers High School alumnus Mark Weed, who died of cancer on August 22, 2009. She worked as an attorney at the law firm of Moore, Virgadamo & Lynch before retiring in 2008.
Paiva-Weed first entered politics in 1992 when she ran for a seat in the 49th District of the Rhode Island Senate
, winning 62% of the vote against Republican
Ellen M. McDonagh. Following the 2001 redistricting that reduced the Rhode Island Senate from 50 to 38 members, she faced a primary election in the new 13th District against fellow incumbent J. Clement Cicilline, winning 75% of the vote, then winning 74% against Republican Janine M. Atamian in the general election.
Paiva-Weed has advanced steadily in the Rhode Island Senate, being named Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee in 1997, Senate Majority Leader in 2004, and Senate President in 2008, the first woman to serve in each position. Paiva-Weed also opposes same-sex marriage
.
Paiva-Weed ran into some controversy over defending the salary of Stephen Iannazzi. A one-time page, Iannazzi’s first full-time job at the State House was as a $35,110-a-year secretary in February 2009. He had worked his way up to a $37,986-a-year policy researcher by the time he left last July. He was hired back in December as an $85,546-a-year special assistant to Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, and got a 3-percent raise the following month that boosted his salary to $88,112. "You keep characterizing that one as an increase. It was not an increase. He left the building. He’s a new hire,” said Paiva Wee
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...
member of 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...
, representing the 13th District (Jamestown and Newport) since 2002 and the 49th District (Jamestown, Middletown, and Newport) from 1992 to 2002. In November 2008, she was elected President of the Senate. She was Majority Leader from 2004 to 2008.
Paiva-Weed was born on November 5, 1959 at the Newport Naval Hospital, the daughter of Arthur and Marie Paiva. She was raised in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
and attended Rogers High School
Rogers High School (Newport, Rhode Island)
Rogers High School is the only public high school in Newport, Rhode Island.-History:The school was founded by educator William Sanford Rogers in 1873 and was named for him. The original Rogers High School building was on Church Street. The school moved to a building Broadway in 1905 and the old...
from 1973 to 1977. She has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. A widow, Paiva-Weed was married for 23 years to fellow Rogers High School alumnus Mark Weed, who died of cancer on August 22, 2009. She worked as an attorney at the law firm of Moore, Virgadamo & Lynch before retiring in 2008.
Paiva-Weed first entered politics in 1992 when she ran for a seat in the 49th District of 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...
, winning 62% of the vote against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Ellen M. McDonagh. Following the 2001 redistricting that reduced the Rhode Island Senate from 50 to 38 members, she faced a primary election in the new 13th District against fellow incumbent J. Clement Cicilline, winning 75% of the vote, then winning 74% against Republican Janine M. Atamian in the general election.
Paiva-Weed has advanced steadily in the Rhode Island Senate, being named Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee in 1997, Senate Majority Leader in 2004, and Senate President in 2008, the first woman to serve in each position. Paiva-Weed also opposes same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
.
Paiva-Weed ran into some controversy over defending the salary of Stephen Iannazzi. A one-time page, Iannazzi’s first full-time job at the State House was as a $35,110-a-year secretary in February 2009. He had worked his way up to a $37,986-a-year policy researcher by the time he left last July. He was hired back in December as an $85,546-a-year special assistant to Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, and got a 3-percent raise the following month that boosted his salary to $88,112. "You keep characterizing that one as an increase. It was not an increase. He left the building. He’s a new hire,” said Paiva Wee
External links
- Rhode Island Senate - Senator M. Teresa Paiva-Weed official RI Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator M. Teresa Paiva-Weed (RI) profile
- Follow the Money - M. Teresa Paiva-Weed