Steve Laffey

Stephen (Steve) Laffey /ˈlæfiː/ is an American politician, businessman, author and filmmaker. He is the former Republican mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island from 2003 to 2007 and lost a bid for the United States Senate in 2006. He is a former executive of Morgan Keegan & Company, a Tennessee-based financial company where he served as President and COO until his departure in 2001. He is the author of the book Primary Mistake and in 2012, he released a documentary entitled Fixing America which is a road documentary asking Americans' about America's financial crisis, the disconnect with the political elite, and ultimately collects their thoughts, their emotions and their solutions to fix America's financial problems. He currently resides in Colorado with his wife and children where he raises Irish Dexter cattle and Irish Gypsy Cob horses.

Early life

Laffey was born in 1962 in Warwick, Rhode Island to John and Mary Laffey. He grew up with four other siblings and at the age of four his family moved to Cranston. Laffey's childhood was less than perfect. His eldest brother died of AIDS and two other siblings suffered from schizophrenia. His father worked as a toolmaker and union steward at Armbrust Chain Company while his mother worked as a night nurse. Laffey attended Cranston East High School where he was described as an “assertive and aggressive student.” He was co-captain of the basketball team and president of the student council.