Rhode Island
Peter Baptista, little-known lobbyist who brought pro soccer to RI
Meet Peter Baptista, a 39-year-old fan of the movie “Jerry Maguire” who has proven that relationships – and some well-timed campaign donations to the right people – are far more meaningful in Rhode Island politics than anything else.
But it’s a little-known hockey agent-turned lobbyist who has been the glue for the organization for years even before players ever stepped on the pitch. He helped convince leaders to build a 10,000-seat stadium in Pawtucket that is slated to open nex... [6471 chars]