Will Ricci
Rhode Island Editor

Will is a lifelong conservative Republican -- despite spending nearly all his life in Democrat-dominated Rhode Island. Having grown up during the glorious Reagan Revolution, he has tried to follow the optimistic conservative example of his hero, Ronald Reagan. Will attended Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, where he majored in Political Studies. At RWU, he was a member of its small College Republican chapter -- which, in the years since, has grown significantly in both size and influence.

Will is involved with the Republican Party, at both state and local levels. In 2001, he became a member of the East Providence Republican City Committee, and would later be elected as its Treasurer. In 2002, Will volunteered for the [ultimately successful] campaign of Governor Donald Carcieri. In 2003, he was elected as a Delegate to the Rhode Island Republican State Central Committee. As a Delegate, he has worked to promote causes and issues of importance to conservatives. He also serves on the RIGOP Credentials Committee. In 2001 -- concerned with the leftward heading of his state's Republican Party -- Will worked with other local conservatives to organize a state chapter of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (www.GOPwing.com). Known as "the Republican Wing of the Republican Party," the NFRA is among our nation's oldest and largest Republican volunteer organizations. Will was elected as the first Vice President of the Rhode Island Chapter. In 2003, he was elected NFRA-RI National Committeeman. He also designed and still maintains the NFRA-RI website (www.nfra-ri.org). Over the last four years, NFRA-RI has become the premier voice for conservatism within the RI Republican Party.

In August 2003, during the Biennial Convention of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies in Burbank, CA, Will was elected as its Northeast Regional Vice President. In that capacity, he oversees NFRA chapters in the six New England states, as well as in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. During the Convention, Will had the unforgettable opportunity to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

During the 2004 election cycle, Will volunteered for several campaigns. He served on his Senatorial District Committee, as well as on his state representative's reelection committee. Will was very proud to have volunteered for conservative Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, during his historic primary against a union-backed "RINO" opponent. He was "targeted for elimination" by all of the major unions, for having the courage to ask them to stop bankrupting his city. Laffey went on to crush his opponent with 75% of the vote.

Will has primarily worked in banking, as well as for his family's business. Outside of politics, he is also involved in other volunteerism, including WaterFire Providence, RI Academic Decathlon, and historic preservation efforts. Will is excited to serve as Rhode Island State Editor for GOPUSA.