Senator Lammis Vargas
Secretary, Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture
Member, Senate
Committee on Finance
Member, Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
Lammis J. Vargas is a Democrat
representing District 28 (Cranston, Providence) in the Rhode Island Senate. She
was elected in November 2024.
Sen. Vargas has extensive experience
in local and state government. In 2018, she became the first woman of color
elected to the Cranston City Council. She served on the council for three terms,
representing Ward 1, and most recently served as the council's Vice President.
During her tenure, she started the city's first Pride Flag raising; championed
accessible playgrounds and safe streets; worked to increase diversity and
representation within the city's boards, commissions and Municipal
Court; supported the public schools; advocated for environmentally friendly
ordinances; and tightened the requirements for perpetual care of privately
owned cemeteries.
Sen. Vargas currently works as Chief Administrative
Officer for the city of Somerville, Massachusetts. She previously served as a
Senior Policy Advisor for Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa, Deputy
Secretary of State and Director of Administration for former Rhode Island
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and Deputy State Treasurer and Director of
Unclaimed Property under former General Treasurer Seth Magaziner.
A cancer
survivor and daughter of immigrants from Colombia, Sen. Vargas is a lifelong
Rhode Islander who grew up in Central Falls. She holds a bachelor's degree in
justice studies from Rhode Island College.
Sen. Vargas lives in Cranston,
with her husband, an Army Reserve veteran, and their two kids.