Robert Weygand
Encyclopedia
Robert A. "Bob" Weygand was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1997–2001. He was a Democrat
from Rhode Island
.
Weygand was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts
. He attended St. Raphael Academy
for his high school years, attended the University of Rhode Island
where he became a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Theater in 1971 and a Bachelor of Science
in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1976. A landscape architect
for the Rhode Island Department of Natural Resources from 1973 until 1977, a city planner and landscape architect for an architectural firm, 1977 to 1982, he founded and was president of Weygand, Orchich, & Christie, Inc., an architectural and landscape architectural firm from 1982 to 1993.
In 1991, Weygand, then a state legislator, was offered a $2,000 bribe by then-Pawtucket
Mayor Brian J. Sarault. Weygand went to the Rhode Island State Police
and the FBI and agreed to deal with the mayor and provide evidence of the bribe. Wearing the listening equipment, Weygand met with Sarault in the mayor's office. After Weygand left, FBI agents burst in and arrested the mayor. The evidence Weygand provided helped send the mayor, several other city officials and private vendors to prison. http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/states/frosh/9701/02/
Weygand served as chairman of the East Providence Planning Board from 1978 to 1984, a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from 1985 to 1993, and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
from 1993 to 1997. In 1996, he was elected to an open seat in Congress that was being vacated by incoming Senator Jack Reed.
Weygand did not run for re-election to the United States House of Representatives
in 2000, opting to challenge Republican
Senator
Lincoln Chafee
. Weygand, a pro-life
Democrat
, lost the election to Lincoln Chafee, who enjoyed popularity among Rhode Island Democrats as one of the most liberal Republicans elected to national office.
In 2001, Weygand was appointed President of the New England Board of Higher Education
in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, he stepped down at NEBHE to take a new position as Vice President for Administration at the University of Rhode Island
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1997–2001. He was a Democrat
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...
from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Weygand was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
. He attended St. Raphael Academy
St. Raphael Academy
Saint Raphael Academy is a Roman Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. It was founded in the tradition of Saint John Baptist de Lasalle and rooted in the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Academy welcomes students that are academically, economically,...
for his high school years, attended the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
where he became a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Theater in 1971 and a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1976. A landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
for the Rhode Island Department of Natural Resources from 1973 until 1977, a city planner and landscape architect for an architectural firm, 1977 to 1982, he founded and was president of Weygand, Orchich, & Christie, Inc., an architectural and landscape architectural firm from 1982 to 1993.
In 1991, Weygand, then a state legislator, was offered a $2,000 bribe by then-Pawtucket
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
Mayor Brian J. Sarault. Weygand went to the Rhode Island State Police
Rhode Island State Police
The Rhode Island State Police is an agency of the state of Rhode Island responsible for statewide law enforcement and regulation, especially in areas underserved by local police agencies and on the state's limited-access highways...
and the FBI and agreed to deal with the mayor and provide evidence of the bribe. Wearing the listening equipment, Weygand met with Sarault in the mayor's office. After Weygand left, FBI agents burst in and arrested the mayor. The evidence Weygand provided helped send the mayor, several other city officials and private vendors to prison. http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/states/frosh/9701/02/
Weygand served as chairman of the East Providence Planning Board from 1978 to 1984, a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
from 1985 to 1993, and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Lieutenant Governors of Rhode Island
The current lieutenant governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is Elizabeth H. Roberts.In Rhode Island, the lieutenant governor and governor of Rhode Island are elected on separate tickets.- Deputy Governors of the Colony of Rhode Island :...
from 1993 to 1997. In 1996, he was elected to an open seat in Congress that was being vacated by incoming Senator Jack Reed.
Weygand did not run for re-election to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2000, opting to challenge 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...
Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
. Weygand, a pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
Democrat
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...
, lost the election to Lincoln Chafee, who enjoyed popularity among Rhode Island Democrats as one of the most liberal Republicans elected to national office.
In 2001, Weygand was appointed President of the New England Board of Higher Education
New England Board of Higher Education
The New England Board of Higher Education is an interstate compact founded in 1955 by the six New England governors that promotes greater educational opportunities and services for the residents of New England. The region of New England includes the states of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,...
in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, he stepped down at NEBHE to take a new position as Vice President for Administration at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
.