Dominick J. Ruggerio (born December 19, 1948) is a Democratic member and president of the Rhode Island Senate, representing the 4th District since 1985.
Ruggerio is the “Dean” of the Rhode Island General Assembly, meaning he has served longer than any other member of the RI Senate or House of Representatives.
In January 2013, Ruggerio was one of five senators to file legislation seeking a voter referendum to define marriage as being between solely a man and a woman in the Rhode Island Constitution.
In November 1989, Ruggerio was charged with maliciously damaging the car of a Lincoln businessman, Nandy M. Sarda, in September of the same year.
[4] Ruggerio was arrested in September 1990 for shoplifting condoms from a CVS drug store in Cranston, Rhode Island.