As a result of the clash, the Democratic Party's Women's Caucus held interviews for their first executive board at a nearby bar after they were asked to leave the state's Democratic Party headquarters.

WARWICK, R.I. — Members of the Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus clashed with the party's leader Thursday night.

As a result of the clash, the Democratic Party’s Women's Caucus held interviews for their first executive board at a nearby bar after they were asked to leave the state’s Democratic Party headquarters.

Four women, who were present for the conversation, said executive director Kevin Olasanoye demanded a Democratic Party staff member sit in on the interviews. The women said Olasanoye told them he “questioned the integrity of their process” and wanted either himself or a staff member in the room to monitor the women.

The group — made up of state senators, local councilwomen, and other women who live in Rhode Island told Olasanoye they were uncomfortable with a staff member observing the interviews.

"He said, 'You can either become comfortable with that or you can leave,'" Meghan Kallman, a Pawtucket City Council member and member of the subcommittee told The Journal. Ann Gooding, the communications director for the R.I. Democratic Party, said the women walked out on their own and were never asked to leave.

And so Arooga's sports bar and grill in Warwick became the new interview site, state Sen. Gayle Goldin said.

Fourteen women — part of the nominating subcommittee for the caucus — had scheduled interviews Thursday with 25 women from across the state for positions on executive board. The caucus, established earlier this year, passed bylaws creating the board, which would “govern the caucus, represent women in the Democratic Party and encourage women to run for office,” Goldin said. There are 13 unpaid positions on the board.

On Thursday the nominating subcommittee was to interview candidates and offer endorsements. The caucus' other members, about 140 women, would vote on the nominees at a later meeting.

Jennifer Rourke, a volunteer subcommittee member, who is a stay-at-home mom, said she was “disgusted and disappointed” when this process was interrupted.

“We were selected to handle this process. It is something we all take seriously. We want the best for the women’s caucus. We don’t need to have someone from his committee sit in our process,” Rourke said.

She added: “It seemed like more of a power trip to [Olasanoye]. Like ‘you can’t do this unless I say you can do this.’”

The four women interviewed for this story — Rourke, Goldin, Kallman and Justine Caldwell, another subcommittee member, said Olasanoye changed his explanation for removing them several times during the conversation.

First he said he was concerned about the integrity of the process, the women said. Then he said he was upset because the women had “kicked out” one of his staff members.

Gooding told The Journal that she was the staff member asked to leave the room.

“I actually was the person who launched the women’s caucus so it was disappointing,” Gooding said. “They wouldn’t allow anyone from our party to be there anywhere. They were in our offices and we would’ve had to stay five hours. But we couldn’t be in there. So that’s where we are.”

Olasanoye said he would not give an on the record comment Thursday night. He said he might discuss the incident Friday.

Rep. Joseph McNamara, who is the chair of the party, deferred comments to Olasanoye. McNamara was not present, he said.

The women said they were alarmed by what they felt was an effort to silence them.

“This sent such a clear message that our voices were not valued in our own Rhode Island Democratic Party,” Goldin said. “We really wanted to be able to call this out and pay attention to the fact that we were essentially dismissed.”

Kallman said the incident highlighted the need for more women in office.

“This is symbolically troubling to me right now. We advocate for the needs of women in Rhode Island and the Democratic Party should include the needs of women,” she said.

At 7:32 p.m. Michelle Arias from the Democratic Party sent all of the candidates an email saying: “Unfortunately, this email is just notifying you that your interview for the RIDP Women’s Caucus Executive Board has been cancelled,” according to a screenshot of the message shared with The Journal.

The caucus called all of the candidates and invited them to the sports bar for the interviews.

It was a little loud, but the group completed all but one interview, Kallman said.

“And there’s beer, so that helps,” she added.

-jtempera@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @jacktemp