Solomon Campaign Says Elorza’s Plagiarism Makes Him Not ‘Fit to be Mayor’
Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Contributor
Solomon Campaign Says Elorza’s Plagiarism Makes Him Not ‘Fit to be Mayor’
In a statement, campaign manager Jake Bissaillon said the copied letter “raises serious and troubling questions,” noting that U.S. Senator John Walsh of Montana dropped out of his race for re-election after a report that he plagiarized portions of a paper he wrote as a graduate student in 2007.
“Plagiarism is a character issue and if Mr. Elorza was honest here, he would say anyone who had done this isn't fit to be Mayor,” Bissaillon said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe full text of the statement from Bissaillon reads as follows:
“Plagiarism raises serious and troubling questions. A United States Senator was just forced to quit his campaign because he was caught plagiarizing. And it certainly looks like Mr. Elorza committed plagiarism here. It is especially troubling because this was supposed to be an honest, heartfelt letter that speaks directly to voters about a mistake he’s made in his life. And it wasn’t even Mr. Elorza’s own words. This is really no different than lying directly to the voters of Providence. And that is troubling. For weeks, Mr. Elorza has attacked Michael Solomon’s character over a clerical error on a financial filing, a paperwork issue. Plagiarism is a character issue and if Mr. Elorza was honest here, he would say anyone who had done this isn’t fit to be Mayor.”
Solomon and Elorza face off in the Democratic primary on September 9. The winner will go on to face independent and former Mayor Buddy Cianci, as well as the GOP’s Dan Harrop.
Stephen Beale can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @bealenews
Questions Jorge Elorza Must Answer to be Providence's Next Mayor
Experience Necessary?
Elorza's the quintessential Providence kid-made-good -- and clearly has the education success story of CCRI to Harvard Law going for him. He's toiled in the legal trenches, and risen through academic ranks.
But does that translate to a business acumen and know-how to turn the city around? Brett Smiley counts starting a successful consulting company. Although a double-edged sword, Michael Solomon's got the city council experience.
Elorza's managed cases, and students. Can he oversee a staff of hundreds -- go toe to toe with the unions?
Money for Plans?
Opponent Brett Smiley might have dubbed himself the man with the plan, but Elorza's right up there with a litany of proposals for the capital city. Schools, jobs, public safety, neighborhoods, transportation, diversity, arts and culture, ethics -- Elorza's got plans for it all.
And like Smiley's grand amibtions, the burning question is how will these be funded? Elorza has a plan to double the city's exports in the next five years, with mentoring opportunities and trade missions as part of the strategy. Those cost money. Where will it come from?
Fundraising prowess?
At the end of the first quarter of 2014, Elorza posted a small lead over Smiley in the cash balance department, with $217,082 in his campaign coffers as compared to Smiley's $191,000 and change. Both, however, were a distant second and third to Solomon's war chest over over $600,000
As the Democratic candidates duke it out, second quarter filings due at the end of the month will show were the money race stands with less than eight weeks to the primary.
Of course, whoever wins will have to face a Buddy Cianci waiting in the wings, who told GoLocal he raised over $200,000K in one week -- and expects to have $1 million by the time the primary arrives.
Primary Factor?
For the Democrats in the race, the primary is, in fact, the primary concern of the campaigns at the moment, with Harrop and Cianci waiting in the wings for the winner.
Will Elorza's campaign, based strongly on his Cranston-street upbringing and focus on ethics, differentiate him from political operatives Smiley and Solomon?
The first test on the path to the Mayor's office will be to best his two top adversaries in September. Will Elorza's deep city ties and campaign aparatus translate into a get-out-the-vote effort enough to take the Democratic title?
Final Hurdle?
All of the Providence Mayoral candidates, whether they like it or not, have to address to Buddy card.
So far, Brett Smiley's been the most vocal -- publicly, at least -- in criticizing former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, attacking him on his corruption charges and conviction. Harrop and Elorza have been highly critical, but as aforementioned, the Democrats are focused primarily on the task at hand -- making it past the primary.
If Elorza does advance, can he count on the support of his former Democratic opponents and their backers -- or will there be a mass exodus of those who see Cianci as the more viable candidate? Republican Dr. Daniel Harrop provides an X factor in the genera election, of course, but a three-way race is vastly different animal than a four-way one before Adrain dropped out. The winner will need to secure a greater chunk of the electorate.
