Former R.I. official sues Raimondo and state agency, saying he was fired for being Republican

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The former executive director of the state Department of Administration is suing the state, alleging that Governor Raimondo and Michael DiBiase, department director, removed him from the job he held for eight years because he is a Republican.

Ronald Renaud filed suit in Providence County Superior Court over DiBiase's decision in March 2015 to abolish the executive director position. Renaud had held that job since 2007, when he was hired to succeed Jerome F. Williams as a top deputy to Governor Carcieri's director of administration. Renaud is a former Republican town councilman in North Smithfield.

The state, Raimondo and DiBiase are named as defendants in the lawsuit seeking a $500,000 judgment plus unspecified punitive damages, costs and legal fees.

The state is asking Judge Michael A. Silverstein to dismiss the matter, arguing that Renaud has not exhausted his administrative remedies, including taking his complaint to the Personnel Appeal Board. It also charges that Renaud doesn't have a viable claim under state fair employment law or the state Civil Rights Act.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160826/former-ri-official-sues-raimondo-and-state-agency-saying-he-was-fired-for-being-republican