Christine Lopes has been named as executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, starting in mid-October. She succeeds H. Philip West Jr., who is retiring at age 65 after 18 years in that position. A graduate of University of Massachusetts– Amherst, Lopes has a background in legislative affairs and the nonprofit sector. She lives in Providence.
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LOPES: My passion to help others, by making the political process a less complicated and intimidating experience. … In 2000-2001, I was the campaign coordinator for the first gubernatorial “Clean Elections” campaign in Massachusetts. I later combined my political experience and policy development to play a key role in the successful effort by the Early Education for All Campaign – an initiative of Strategies for Children Inc. – to convince the Legislature to pass and the governor to sign legislation establishing the nation’s first consolidated Department of Early Education and Care.
PBN: What is Common Cause Rhode Island?
LOPES: A nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization whose mission is to promote representative democracy by ensuring open, ethical, accountable, effective government. … [It] educates and mobilizes its members to advocate on issues impacting all levels of government. Anyone with the dedication and commitment to making government a more inclusive and open process is encouraged to join.
PBN: What programs has Common Cause implemented?
LOPES: Over the past 35 years, the organization educated and mobilized voters to successfully approve four-year terms for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and general treasurer; approve merit selection of judges, rather than having judges appointed by a secretive process closed to the public; and approve the Separation of Powers amendment, by over 78 percent. The organization has also successfully lobbied for legislation requiring campaign finance reports to be filed electronically and posted on the Board of Elections’ Web site, and for tightening disclosures by lobbyists and “major decision-makers.” Most recently, [we worked to change] restrictive ballot-advocacy regulations.
