Many of the 732 names on the legislative payroll are those of relatives, friends and political supporters of past and present lawmakers. When jobs open, they often go to the sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, hometown political backers and friends of past and present legislators. In some cases, they go to the former legislators themselves. Years after legislators with such surnames as Fay and Mesolella have left the State House, the names still ring in the halls.
Whole families work there.
Every one has a story. But I would assume that like everything else in Rhode Island, if they know someone it helps. There were 408 people on the legislative payroll in 1992, the year before Harwood and former Senate Majority Leader Paul Kelly rose to power. Other people come and go throughout the year. They are lawyers.