RI Politicians Who Sought Redemption from Misdeeds

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci

As one of the longest-serving "big city" mayors in United States history, Rhode Island has experienced Cianci's ups and downs for over 21 years.

Now twice-convicted Cianci is once again back in RI's spotlight running as an Independent in the Providence Mayoral race.

Cianci was forced to resign as Mayor in 1984 after being indicted on assault charges.

In April 2001, Cianci was indicted on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, witness tampering, and mail fraud.

He served four years in a federal prison.

Michael Solomon

Providence City Council President and Democratic candidate for Mayor Michael Solomon is currently being investigated by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. 

Solomon failed to report a city loan for the Conrad Building on his annual ethics filings. 

Michael Long, the Providence Ward 1 Republican City Council Candidate, filed a complaint that charged Solomon with 25 violations of the disclosure requirements.

Dominick Ruggerio

Dominick Ruggerio is the Democratic Majority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate.

A member of the Senate since 1985, he was elected Majority Leader on November 10, 2010, having won election to his 14th term in the Senate on November 2, 2010.

Ruggerio was arrested for shoplifting condoms in 1990. He was not prosecuted.

In 2012, Ruggerio was charged with a DUI.

John Harwood

In 2002, Former Speaker of the House John Harwood faced unproven sexual misconduct charges.

The allegations brought against Harwood, but never proven, were that he had sex with Statehouse aide Wendy Collins.

Frank Ciccone III

Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate Frank Ciccone was arrested twice in the 1980's. He has represented District 7 since January 2005.

In 1981, Ciccone punched both a cab driver and passenger in Providence.

Just two years later, Ciccone was charged with possession of a loaded shotgun in a moving vehicle and for breaking a window in a bar.

Although Ciccone was found guilty of lesser charges for both these incidents, they were later expunged.

In 2012, Ciccone intervened when Ruggerio was stopped by police for drunk driving.

Ciccone lost committee chairmanship but is now running for re-election.

Robert A. Watson

Robert Watson, a Republican member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and an attorney, was arrested twice for marijuana possession.

On Friday, April 22, 2011, Watson was stopped in East Haven, Connecticut at a police checkpoint. He was charged for both marijuana possession and a DUI.

Watson was arrested in South Kingston, RI for possession of marijuana on Jan 22, 2012. In his car were also three containers of alcohol.

Since 1992, Watson has represented the 30th District.

John Carnevale

John M. Carnevale is a Democrat of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He has represented District 3 since January 2009.

Carnevale was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first- and second-degree sexual assault in October 2011.

His alleged victim died of a pulmonary embolism shortly after the indictment.

The charges were dropped by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, who cited the inability to proceed with the case due to no longer having the woman's testimony.

In 2012, Carnevale ran unopposed for both the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 550 votes and the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 2,901 votes.

Gordon Fox

This past March, the State House office of Former Speaker of the House Gordon Fox was raided by the RI State Police in conjunction with FBI and IRS agents.

This marks the first time a State House office was ever raided by law enforcement officials.

Fox resigned from the Speakership effective March 22, 2014.

Allan Fung

Republican candidate for Governor Allan Fung was involved in a fatal car accident in February of 1989 when he was an 18-year-old college student.

After losing consciousness at the wheel on I-95, Fung ran over and killed James W. Skipper, Jr. of Pawtucket.

A grand jury declined to indict him and his record was expunged.

Jorge Elorza

A relative newcomer to politics, Providence mayoral candidate Jorge Elorza is running on a platform of ethics and transparency, but he’s had his brush with the law as well.

In a campaign letter Elorza admitted to being arrested for shoplifting as an 18-year-old.

He says he has since transformed his life, going from CCRI to a job on Wall Street, then to a profession in law. A former housing court judge, he resigned his position to run for Mayor.