Leonidas P. "Lou" Raptakis is a Democratic state senator representing District 33 in the Rhode Island Senate. Born on November 18, 1959, he is married to Donna Maria Digidio and has two children; he owns Venus Pizza in Coventry. First elected to the Senate in 1996, he served until 2010, ran for Secretary of State in 2010, and returned to the Senate in 2013 after prior service in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996.

Notable achievements and positions include serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs and as a member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He has sponsored legislation on tougher penalties for murder convicts and repeat DUI offenders, protections for Johnson's Pond wetlands, child safety in vehicles, minimum wage tied to CPI, and an Office of the Inspector General; he also led efforts to review Kent County Water Authority operations.

Education and Political Experience

Limited public details are available on formal education.

Political experience: Rhode Island House ; Rhode Island Senate ; 2010 candidate for Secretary of State.