Raymond Sullivan

Raymond J. Sullivan, Jr. (born 1977) is political operative and former Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, who represented the 29th District from 2005 to 2011. He served as the deputy majority leader. In February 2010, Sullivan announced his intention to not seek reelection in order to work as the deputy district director in the office of Congressman James Langevin.^[1]

On October 22, 2009, Sullivan pleaded no contest during his trial for drunk driving charges. In addition to a 3-month suspension of his license, Sullivan was ordered to serve 20 hours of community service, pay a $500 fine, and attend an anti-drunk driving school.^[2]

On May 16, 2011, in an article titled "Who killed Marriage Equality in Rhode Island," Sullivan came under harsh criticism. The article's author, Joe Siegel, wrote mainly about Sullivan's erratic behavior as adding to an atmosphere of confusion right before a critical juncture for marriage equality in Rhode Island. One anonymous MERI staffer speaking about Sullivan said: "I've seen him completely belligerent and out of control," Abby said, noting Sullivan once got so angry he threw a cell phone across the room.^[3]

By October 2011, however, Sullivan was serving as Executive Director of MERI and actively working to support full marriage equality instead of a "discriminatory" civil unions bill.^[4] In 2013, Governor Chafee credited him as an instrumental figure in the state's legalization of same-sex marriage.^[5]

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