Democrat Sal Lombardi has announced in a press release his candidacy for senator, District 21, for the towns of Foster, Scituate and Coventry.

Lombardi is a retired law enforcement officer, and has been working for the past 20 years as an investigator for the Department of the Treasury, in the state of Rhode Island. In addition, for 18 years he has been the president of AFSCME Local 2884, which represents 17 state agencies. He has been married for 29 years to Micheline Grossi Lombardi, who is the Providence County District Court supervisor of adult probation and parole.

In his statement, Lombardi says that he is in the race because he finds it frustrating how the minority party representatives make a lot of noise, while accomplishing nothing.

Lombardi says that his experience, as both a law enforcement officer and a labor leader, of handling disputes and negotiating settlements has provided him with the skills necessary to be successful at the State House and to truly represent the people of the district. "We need a person who has the knowledge to know when to give and take to get the job done right for the taxpayer," said Lombardi.

In the 2006 election, Lombardi received 43 percent of the vote in the senatorial race and won in the town of Foster.

Lombardi says his first priority is resolving the tax issue concerning the town of Scituate and the Providence Water Supply Board.

According to his statement, Lombardi plans to donate the $13,000 compensation, he would receive as senator, back to community groups in Foster, Scituate and Coventry.