Edith H. Ajello (born April 26, 1944) is an American politician and retail store manager. A Democrat, she has served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives since 1993, representing District 1 since 2013, and District 3 from 1993 to 2013. She is also store manager for Rustigan Rugs, an oriental rug outlet in Providence.^[2]

Early life

Ajello was born in 1944 in Fanwood, New Jersey. She earned her BA in psychology from Bucknell University in neighboring Pennsylvania.^[2]

Career

Ajello works as a store manager for V. George Rustigian Rugs in Providence, Rhode Island, and also serves on the boards of the Women's Health & Education Fund, The Coalition to Preserve Choice, and the Mile of History Association (MoHa).^[3]

Elections

• 1992 Ajello won the September 15, 1992 Democratic Primary and won the November 3, 1992 General election with 1,995 votes (73.6%) against Republican nominee Homer Shirley.^[4]
• 1994 Ajello was challenged in the September 13, 1994 Democratic Primary, but won, and was unopposed for the November 8, 1994 General election, winning with 1,243 votes.^[5]
• 1996 Ajello was unopposed for both the September 10, 1996 Democratic Primary, winning with 134 votes,^[6] and the November 5, 1996 General election with 1,428 votes.^[7]
• 1998 Ajello was challenged in the September 15, 1998 Democratic Primary, winning with 435 votes (55.0%)^[8] and won the November 3, 1998 General election with 1,409 votes (90.8%) against Independent candidate Peter Scharf.^[9]
• 2000 Ajello was unopposed for both the September 12, 2000 Democratic Primary, winning with 380 votes^[10] and the November 7, 2000 General election, winning with 1,980 votes.^[11]
• 2002 Ajello was unopposed for the September 10, 2002 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,548 votes^[12] and won the November 5, 2002 General election with 2,692 votes (82.4%) against Republican nominee Karl Poirier.^[13]
• 2004 Ajello was opposed by Dr. Howard Schulman in a Democratic Primary, winning 598 to 277^[14] and won the November 2, 2004 General election with 3,241 votes (77.8%) against Republican nominee Daniel Harrop.^[15]
• 2006 Ajello was unopposed for both the September 12, 2006 Democratic Primary, winning with 969 votes,^[16] and the November 7, 2006 General election, winning with 3,104 votes.^[17]
• 2008 Ajello was unopposed for the September 9, 2008 Democratic Primary, winning with 373 votes,^[18] and the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 3,439 votes.^[19]
• 2010 Ajello and returning 2004 Republican challenger Daniel Harrop were both unopposed for their September 23, 2010 primaries,^[20] setting up a rematch; Ajello won the November 2, 2010 General election with 2,215 votes (73.5%) against Harrop.^[21]
• 2012 Redistricted to District 1, and with incumbent Representative John McCauley retiring, Ajello was unopposed for the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,059 votes^[22] and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 2,890 votes (79.4%) against Independent candidate Francisco Gonzalez.^[23]
• 2014 Ajello faced Nathaniel Hannah in the September 9, 2014 Democratic Primary. She won the nomination with 1,392 votes (78.6%).^[24] She then ran unopposed in the November 4, 2014 General election.^[25]
• 2016 Ajello was unopposed in the September 13, 2016 Democratic Primary. She defeated Independent Raymond M. Mathieu in the November 8, 2016 General election with 2,963 votes (67.8%) to Mathieu's 1,398 votes (32%).^[26]