(Providence, RI)--There is now a power vacuum in the Rhode Island General Assembly after House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello's election loss on Tuesday.Mattiello was elected Speaker in 2014.Current House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi [[ shuh-CAR-chee ]], a fellow Democrat who represents Warwick, is now considered the front-runner.He released a statement yesterday saying he would run for Speaker with Representative Chris Blazejewski [[ BLAZ-uh-JOO-skee ]] of Providence as his majority leader.Another name that recently popped up was Liana Cassar [[ CASS-sarr ]] of Barrington, who announced her Speaker interest last week.
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