Rep. Petrarca’s new mailer grabs attention – with ‘pot cannoli’
August 17th, 2012 at 2:57 pm by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site
Up in House District 44, Rep. Peter Petrarca is facing a Democratic primary challenge from Gregory Costantino, a member of the prominent political family that also owns Venda Ravioli on Federal Hill. Last week they debated each other on WPRI 12′s Newsmakers.
Petrarca has been calling attention to the fact that members of the Costantino family manage a company called Cannoli LLC, which owns the land where one of the state’s marijuana compassion centers will be housed. Costantino’s brother, Health and Human Services Secretary Steven Costantino, oversees the department that licensed the center.
That helps explain why more than one voter in District 44 has informed WPRI.com they’ve just received this rather striking – and, I must say, unappetizing – bit of campaign literature:
Maybe we should call it District 420.
The incumbent can afford mailings like this because he has an enormous financial advantage in the race: As of Monday, Petrarca’s campaign had $62,483 on hand while Costantino’s had just $76.
• Related: Watch a Newsmakers debate: Peter Petrarca v. Greg Costantino (Aug. 12)
Tim White contributed to this report. (Seriously.)
Tags: campaign 2012, gregory costantino, house district 44, peter petrarca
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
[...] 10. Pot cannoli. [...]
One thing you can say about Petrarca, he will never be called a Statesman.
What a shame District 44 has turned into.
How come none of our elected or appointed politicians/officials have to pass a drug test? If you want a job at Target, you have to pass a drug test.
Just Saying.
Get some popcorn and enjoy the show in District 44, because after the democrats destroy each other the Republican will win in November. Both democrats are part of the connected political machine that is killing our state.