NORTH SMITHFIELD – A North Smithfield resident who retired last year from his position as treasurer for the city of Providence has been nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Transit Authority.
James Lombardi, an attorney and certified public accountant, was nominated to the position by Gov. Dan McKee. He has more than 30 years of experience in federal and state taxation, which includes an extensive background in the assessment and collection of taxes, budgeting, auditing, and detailed financial report writing, according to a release on the nomination.
He is the current chairman of the North Smithfield School Committee, and also leads the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy.
Additionally, Lombardi previously served as the Providence City Council’s chief of staff and the city’s internal auditor, before serving as the city’s treasurer, a job from which he retired last May.
“I am honored to be nominated by Governor McKee as a board member of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority,” Lombardi said in a release. “I look forward to a vote by the full Senate.”
McKee announced Lombardi’s nomination on Wednesday, along with a second nominee for the RIPTA board: Vincent Masino, former vice president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
“RIPTA is at a critical juncture as the Board of Directors and organizational leadership look to increase ridership and address financial challenges,” said McKee. “With their strong backgrounds in fiscal and financial management, Vincent and James will be strong additions to the RIPTA Board as we work together to navigate these issues in the short term and position the agency for success in the long term.”
McKee has reportedly submitted Lombardi and Masino’s names to the Rhode Island Senate for advice and consent.
