Robert Craven Explained

Robert E. Craven
State House:	Rhode Island
District:	32nd^[1]
Term Start:	January 1, 2013
Predecessor:	Laurence Ehrhardt
Successor:	Incumbent
Birth Date:	19 November 1955
Nationality:	American
Party:	Democratic
Spouse:	Susan
Children:	Robert, Joseph
Residence:	Saunderstown, Rhode Island
Alma Mater:	University of Rhode Island New England School of Law La Salle Academy
Profession:	Attorney

Robert Emmett Craven, Sr.^[2] (born November 19, 1955) is an American politician and a Democrat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives representing District 32 since January 1, 2013. He serves as Chairman of the House Municipal Government Committee ^{[3] [4]} and a member of the House Judiciary Committee.^[5] Craven also serves on the R.I. Governor's Justice Reinvestment Working Group.^{[6] [7]}

Education

Chairman Craven graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island in 1974. He earned his BA (Bachelor of Arts) from the University of Rhode Island and his JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) from the New England School of Law.

Elections

• 2016 – On November 8, 2016, Rep. Bob Craven was re-elected as Rhode Island State Representative of District 32 (North Kingstown). Craven received 4327 (55.5%) votes while his opponent, Mark S. Zaccaria, received 3455 (44.3%) votes.
• 2014 – On November 4, 2014, Craven was re-elected as Rhode Island State Representative of District 32 (North Kingstown). Craven received 3111 (51.9%) votes while his opponent, Sharon L. Gamba, received 2867 (47.8%) votes.
• 2012 – Craven was unopposed in the September 11, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 326 votes.^[8] On November 6, 2012, he won the general election for District 32 (North Kingstown) with 4,067 votes (54%) against the incumbent Republican Representative Laurence Ehrhardt's 3,440 (45.7%).^[9]

Legislation

Rep. Robert E. Craven, during his time in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, is responsible for legislation that:

• Exempted social security income from taxation ^{[10] [11]}
• Improved Rhode Island's estate tax, resulting in reduced/lowered taxes ^[12]
• Expanded legal protections for those who seek medical assistance for individuals experiencing a drug overdose (the "Good Samaritan" bill) ^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}
• Eliminated the "master lever" on election ballots ^[18]
• Obtained $6 million in federal funds to repair storm-damaged piers at Quonset Business Park ^{[19] [20]}
• Increased criminal penalties for DUIs with children in car ^[21]
• Prioritized restitution payments to crime victims ^[22]
• Barred sales and ownership of guns with altered serial numbers ^[23]
• Amended the State False Claim Act, allowing Rhode Island to continue receiving federal funding ^[24]
• Permitted local law enforcement departments share in litter fines ^[25]
• Required all children's jewelry to conform higher safety standards^{[26] [27]}
• Reformed the Rhode Island campaign finance system, requiring politicians to keep campaign accounts separate from personal accounts ^{[28] [29] [30]}
• Prohibited electronic tracking of automobiles ^[31]
• Allowed police officers in a close pursuit to conduct a vehicle stop in a neighboring municipality ^[32]
• Required sex traffickers to register as sex offenders ^{[33] [34]}
• Improved safety measures in "School Zones"^[35]

Professional

Robert E. Craven was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1983, and has since held various positions in the legal field. From 1983 to 1992, he was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Rhode Island and the Chief of the Public Corruptions Unit. He has also served as the president and a member of the board of directors from 1993 to 1996 at the Center for Non-Violence in Providence, Rhode Island. He has also been involved in public service, serving as a member of the Town Council of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, from 1994 to 1996. He was the Town Solicitor in Foster, RI from 1998 to 2004, and he holds the same position in Charlestown, RI (2007–present).

While holding these jobs, he taught courses in the business and law department as an adjunct instructor for the Community College of Rhode Island from 1983 to 2002. He is the sole proprietor of a private-practice law firm in North Kingstown, RI.^[36]

External links

• Official page at the Rhode Island General Assembly
• Campaign site
• Robert Craven at Ballotpedia
• Robert E. Craven, Sr. at OpenSecrets
• Legal Office Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr. . . . February 25, 2014.
2. Web site: Robert Craven, Sr.'s Biography . . February 25, 2014.
3. Web site: State of Rhode Island General Assembly. www.rilegislature.gov. 9 January 2024.
4. Web site: The State of Rhode Island General Assembly.
5. Web site: The State of Rhode Island General Assembly.
6. Web site: Justice Reinvestment- Rhode Island -Office of the Governor . 2016-11-17 . 2016-11-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115004109/http://governor.ri.gov/initiatives/justice/ . dead .
7. Web site: General Assembly leaders support governor in launching Justice Reinvestment Working Group.
8. Web site: 2012 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 32 . . Providence, Rhode Island . February 25, 2014.
9. Web site: 2012 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 32 . Secretary of State of Rhode Island . Providence, Rhode Island . February 25, 2014.
10. Web site: Rep. Craven to propose tax relief for retirees.
11. Web site: R.I. Lawmakers push to end tax on retirement income - the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe.
12. Web site: State of Rhode Island General Assembly. www.rilegislature.gov. 9 January 2024.
13. Web site: RIGOV .
14. Web site: It's personal as R.I. Senate OKs 'Good Samaritan' drug bill.
15. Web site: Raimondo Signs Good Samaritan Act into Law.
16. Web site: Senate passes Good Samaritan Act, House takes it up on Tuesday – RI Future.
17. Web site: General Assembly moves to reinstate legal protections related to overdoses. 27 January 2016.
18. Web site: State of Rhode Island General Assembly. www.rilegislature.gov. 9 January 2024.
19. http://www.providencejournal.com/business/content/20140404-r.i.-house-approves-bill-to-speed-use-of-6-million-grant-to-repair-storm-damaged-quonset-piers.ece The Providence Journal
20. Web site: State of Rhode Island General Assembly. www.rilegislature.gov. 9 January 2024.
21. Web site: RI State Report: Drunk Driving, School Safety, and Synthetic Drugs. GoLocalProv. 9 January 2024.
22. Web site: Legislation OKd to prioritize restitution payments.
23. Web site: House OKs bill barring sales, ownership of guns with altered IDs.
24. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText13/HouseText13/H5493aa.pdf 2013 -- H 5493 as amended
25. Web site: State of Rhode Island General Assembly. www.rilegislature.gov. 9 January 2024.
26. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText14/HouseText14/H7157.pdf Bill text
27. Web site: Children's jewerly safety regulations amended to cover all items sold in RI.
28. Web site: Bill in R.I. House would prohibit candidates from mixing funds.
29. Web site: House bills look to tighten loopholes in campaign finance reporting.
30. Web site: Governor Raimondo signs campaign finance reporting measures.
31. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7002A.pdf Bill text
32. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H8064.pdf Bill text
33. Web site: Bill requiring sex traffickers to register as sex offenders passes. 8 June 2016.
34. Web site: Bill to expand sex-trafficking law in R.I. Gets support.
35. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7446Aaa.pdf Bill text
36. Web site: Robert E. Craven & Associates . Robert E. Craven & Associates . North Kingstown, Rhode Island . May 2, 2014.