From Ballot Access News:
Ernie Almonte, who was Rhode Island’s Auditor 1994-2010, will run for State Treasurer this year as an independent candidate. He and the Democratic nominee will be the only names on the November ballot. See this story. Almonte is considered to have a chance of winning, although his chances would be better if the new law, eliminating the straight-ticket device, had gone into effect this year instead of 2015. Thanks to Michael for the news.
From the article cited:
Almonte said, “It is my strong belief that the role of treasurer is an essential one and that it should be free from political influence. If Rhode Island has learned nothing over the years, it should have learned that we need a fiscal watchdog free from the trappings of political power. It is for this reason that I have chosen to file and run as an unaffiliated candidate and to not run as a representative of any political party.”
Almonte continued, “The role of an independent treasurer is essential to the fiscal and economic health of the state and the person who holds that office should be beholden to no one but the citizens he represents.”