Sabina Matos

Sabina Matos is a Dominican-American politician serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island since 2021, appointed to succeed Dan McKee after he assumed the governorship. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served on the Providence City Council, where she was elected its president, becoming the first Latino person to hold that leadership role. Her career has focused on issues such as affordable housing, education reform, and economic development within Rhode Island's diverse communities.

Early life and education

Sabina Matos was born in Paraíso, Dominican Republic, and immigrated to the United States in 1994, settling in New York City before moving to Providence, Rhode Island. She attended Rhode Island College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and political science, an education that provided a foundation for her future civic engagement. Her early professional experience included work with community-based organizations, including Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), focusing on tenant rights and neighborhood advocacy. This background in grassroots organizing deeply influenced her approach to public service and policy-making in later years.

Political career

Matos began her political career in 2010 when she was elected to represent Ward 15 on the Providence City Council, a district encompassing the neighborhoods of Olneyville and Silver Lake. During her tenure, she served on key committees such as the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ordinances, advocating for local business support and municipal accountability. In January 2019, following the departure of David Salvatore, her colleagues elected her President of the Providence City Council, a historic milestone for Latino representation in New England politics. Her council presidency was marked by efforts to streamline city governance and address constituent concerns in districts impacted by urban renewal and gentrification.

Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island

On April 14, 2021, Governor Dan McKee appointed Sabina Matos to fill the vacancy of Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island created by his ascent to the governorship following the resignation of Gina Raimondo, who became the United States Secretary of Commerce. She was sworn in by Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Erin Lynch Prata at a ceremony at Rhode Island College. In this role, her responsibilities have included chairing the Rhode Island Emergency Management Advisory Council and the Small Business Advocacy Council, and she has been a prominent advocate for the state's COVID-19 recovery efforts. In 2022, she was elected to a full term on the ticket with Governor McKee, defeating Republican nominee Aaron Guckian.

Political positions and public image

Politically, Sabina Matos is considered a pragmatic progressive within the Democratic Party, with a record of supporting policies to increase affordable housing stock, expand early childhood education, and promote green energy initiatives. She has been a vocal supporter of the Act on Climate legislation passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and has worked on initiatives to support women-owned business enterprises. Her public image is often shaped by her trailblazing status as the first Dominican-American and first Afro-Latino person to hold statewide office in Rhode Island, receiving recognition from organizations like the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

Personal life

Sabina Matos is married to Patrick Ward, a Providence Police Department officer, and they have two children. The family resides in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence, where Matos has been a long-time community resident. In her personal time, she is involved with several local nonprofits, including serving on the board of the Olneyville Housing Corporation, and is a member of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee. Her personal narrative as an immigrant who achieved high political office is frequently cited in her advocacy for immigration reform and civic engagement within Rhode Island's immigrant communities.

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Lieutenant Governors of Rhode Island Category:Providence City Council members Category:Dominican-American politicians Category:Rhode Island College alumni Category:Women state lieutenant governors in the United States Category:21st-century American politicians