Gerard Catala, new NAACP president, charged with campaign violations in city council run
The newly elected President of the NAACP-Providence Chapter, Gerard Catala, was charged with violating state campaign finance laws in his run for Providence City Council, by the RI Attorney General, and was arraigned yesterday. Catala was elected president of the local NAACP organization in a controversial election managed by the national NAACP office in Washington, DC, resulting in the ouster of longtime president Jim Vincent, by 14 votes. Vincent, reached last night said, “I am very concerned that the campaign finance criminal charges regarding President Catala will greatly harm the reputation and effectiveness of the NAACP Providence Branch.” From the office of RI Attorney General Peter F. Neronha: “ Former city council candidate Gerard Catala charged with violating state campaign finance law An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Attorney Gener...