Harold Metts

Harold Metts
President pro tempore of the Rhode Island Senate
In office January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2021
Preceded by	William Walaska
Succeeded by	Hanna Gallo
Member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 6th district
In office January 2005 – January 5, 2021
Preceded by	Dominick J. Ruggerio
Succeeded by	Tiara Mack
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office January 1985 – December 31, 1998
Preceded by	???
Succeeded by	Aisha Abdullah-Odiase
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-06) October 6, 1947 (age 77) Lexington, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Roger Williams University (BA) Bryant University Rhode Island College (MEd)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1970–1976
Unit	Rhode Island National Guard

Harold M. Metts[1] (born October 6, 1947) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 6 since January 2005.[2] After Charles D. Walton, he is the second African American to serve in the Rhode Island Senate. Metts served non-consecutively in the Rhode Island General Assembly from January 1985 until December 31, 1998 in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Education

Metts was born in Lexington, Virginia. He earned his BS degree from Roger Williams University, his teaching certificate from Bryant College (now Bryant University), and his MEd from Rhode Island College.

Elections

• 1980s Metts was first elected in House District 19 in the November 6, 1984 General election and re-elected in the November 4, 1986 and November 8, 1988 general elections.
• 1990 Metts won the September 11, 1990 Democratic Primary and was unopposed for the November 6, 1990 General election, winning with 1,185 votes.[3]
• 1992 Metts won the September 15, 1992 Democratic Primary and won the November 3, 1992 General election with 1,197 votes (85.5%) against Independent candidate Rebecca Douglas.[4]
• 1994 Metts was unopposed for both the September 13, 1994 Democratic Primary and the November 8, 1994 General election, winning with 1,061 votes.[5]
• 1996 Metts was unopposed for the September 10, 1996 Democratic Primary, winning with 281 votes,[6] and won the November 5, 1996 General election with 1,156 votes (91.5%) against Republican nominee David Stahlbush.[7]
• 2004 When District 6 Democratic Senator Dominick J. Ruggerio ran for re-election in District 4, Metts ran in the four-way September 14, 2004 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,341 votes (63.3%),[8] and was unopposed for the November 2, 2004 General election with 5,019 votes.[9]
• 2006 Metts was unopposed for both the September 12, 2006 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,714 votes,[10] and the November 7, 2006 General election, winning with 4,804 votes.[11]
• 2008 Metts was unopposed for the September 9, 2008 Democratic Primary, winning with 736 votes,[12] and won the November 4, 2008 General election with 6,509 votes (90.6%) against Republican nominee Marc Coda.[13]
• 2010 Metts was challenged in the September 23, 2010 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,958 votes (70.7%),[14] and was unopposed for the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 4,021 votes.[15]
• 2012 Metts was unopposed for the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,545 votes,[16] and won the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 6,294 votes (91.8%) against Republican nominee Russell Hryzan.[17]
• Metts was challenged by Tiara Mack in the September 8, 2020 Democratic primary, losing with 1,011 votes (40.2%) against 1,506 votes (59.8%).[18]

References

1. "Harold Metts' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
2. "Senator Harold M. Metts". Providence, Rhode Island: Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
3. "1990 Rhode Island Representatives". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
4. "1992 Vote for Rhode Island House of Representatives". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
5. "1994 General Election Vote for R.I. House of Representatives". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
6. "1996 Statewide Primary Vote for RI House of Representatives (Democrat)". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
7. "1996 Votes Cast for RI Representatives". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
8. "2004 Statewide Primary Senate Results by District". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
9. "2004 General Election State Senate Results by District". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
10. "2006 Statewide Primary State Senate Results by District". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
11. "2006 General Election Senate Summary Results by District". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
12. "2008 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
13. "2008 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
14. "2010 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
15. "2010 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
16. "2012 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
17. "2012 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
18. "2020 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 6". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

External links

• Official page at the Rhode Island General Assembly
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Harold Metts at Ballotpedia
• Harold M. Metts at the National Institute on Money in State Politics

Rhode Island Senate
Preceded by William Walaska	President pro tempore of the Rhode Island Senate 2017–2021	Succeeded by Hanna Gallo