Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, oceanographer Bob Ballard and University of Rhode Island President Robert L. Carotherswere praised as hundreds celebrated the opening of the $15 million Ocean Science and Exploration Center building at U.R.I.'s Bay campus Monday morning.

But another political figure, State Rep. Eileen Naughton, D-Warwick, heard her name brought up almost as many times. Naughton was credited with working with House leaders and then House staffer Sandra Whitehouse to get a $14 million bond issue for the building on the 2004 state ballot.

Naughton, a 17-year veteran at the State House, has long championed ocean issues such as aquaculture and the Coastal Resources Management Council.

House Speaker William J. Murphy said Naughton was a visionary in getting that bond issue on the ballot. Praising the new building, he said, "Finally Rhode Island can be first at something and proud of it."

 Tags  Claiborne Pell

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.