Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone Named Italo American Club's Man of the Year

​Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III, Rhode Island's newly elected Senate Majority Leader, will be honored as Man of the Year by the Italo American Club of Rhode Island at its annual charitable dinner on October 17 at the Providence Marriott Downtown. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Ciccone, who represents District 7 (Providence, Johnston), was named Senate Majority Leader in April of 2025, after more than two decades in the General Assembly. First elected to the Senate in 2002, he previously chaired the Senate Committee on Labor and has spent roughly 24 years shaping legislation on labor, health care, and conservation.
The Italo American Club's annual fundraiser is one of the organization's signature events, with proceeds supporting a scholarship fund that has helped Rhode Island students pay for college for at least 15 years, according to Ciccone. "There are a lot of unfortunate children out there whose parents struggle to put them through college," Ciccone said. "Whatever the scholarship is, it helps out."
Beyond the Italo American Club, Ciccone is active in roughly nine organizations tied to the state's Italian American community, including the Verrazzano Day Observance Committee and Sons of Italy-Piave Lodge #364. He is also a member of the Rosario Society, the Rhode Island 100 Club, and a former national commander of the Italian American War Veterans.
The honor comes as Ciccone runs unopposed for reelection this November, a rare position that he credits, in part, to years of steady work in his district — an area that spans from Silver Lake through the Olneyville section, up to Manton Avenue, and includes a portion of Rhode Island College.
A Legislative Track Record
During a recent interview with the Rhode Island Wave, Ciccone reflected on his tenure and the misconceptions many constituents hold about the role of state legislators. "The fallacy is that you're part-time and you don't even make a lot of money," he said, noting that lawmakers are often in the State House two to three days a week, sometimes until 10 or 11 p.m. as the legislative session winds down. The position currently pays about $22,000 a year.
Among the legislation Ciccone has championed: increases to the state's minimum wage, driver's licenses for undocumented residents, and a recent law reducing the residency requirement for in-state college tuition eligibility from three years to two for students who graduate from a Rhode Island high school. He also worked on legislation addressing probation, parole, and the judicial system, as well as a measure cracking down on non-certified nurse anesthetists administering anesthesia — a bill that required close cooperation between the Senate and the House under its new speaker.
As Majority Leader, Ciccone now serves as an ex-officio member of all Senate committees alongside Senate President Val Lawson and Majority Whip David Tikoian. "We've had several occasions last year where we did sit in on a couple of committees," he said.
Ciccone also credited the General Assembly's staff for helping lawmakers manage the demands of part-time legislature. "Without them, our jobs would be more difficult," he said. "Half of the stuff that we get out and passed would never get done within the session."
Celebrating Heritage in October
The timing of the dinner coincides with both Columbus Day and Italian American Heritage Month, observed nationally each October. For the Italo American Club — founded in 1896 and chartered with the State of Rhode Island in 1899 — the celebration reflects a long tradition of civic engagement and cultural preservation within Rhode Island's Italian American community.
Tickets for the October 17 dinner honoring Ciccone are available through the Italo American Club of Rhode Island's website. All proceeds beyond the cost of the dinner benefit the club's scholarship fund.
For more information, contact the Italo American Club at [email protected] or (401) 621-5600.