Diossa Holds Press Conference With Mayors - Pryor Questions His Decision-Making

Diossa Holds Press Conference With Mayors - Pryor Questions His Decision-Making

On Wednesday, James Diossa, the former Mayor of Central Falls, called on some of the state’s mayors to bolster his campaign for Rhode Island State Treasurer.

Diossa is locked in a close battle with former Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Secretary Stefan Pryor for the Democratic nomination. The primary is September 13.

The winner will face Republican James Lathrop.

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The mayors in attendance at Diossa's event were East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, Cumberland Mayor Jeffrey Mutter, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.

“He made those tough decisions in Central Falls,” said North Providence's Lombardi. “I will tell you this, every decision that he made in Central Falls, the taxpayers came first...I would put my financial trust in James Diossa’s hands.”

Pryor's campaign has received the Mayors Lisa Baldelli-Hunt of Woonsocket and Janet Napolitano of Newport.

 

Pryor's Campaign Fired Concerns About Diossa's Leadership

Pryor's campaign questioned much of Diossa's tenure as mayor.

"It is a fact that the bankruptcy and receivership in Central Falls limited Mr. Diossa’s role for much of his tenure. Stefan Pryor does not question the important role of mayors in our communities, but the situation in Central Falls was unique. The City was under receivership when Mr. Diossa took office, the receiver left him a plan he was legally required to implement, and the State oversaw the budget of Central Falls to make sure he followed that plan until 2018 (source.) The State also controlled the Central Falls school system for his entire tenure," according to Pryor's campaign.

"It is a fact that once Mr. Diossa regained budgetary control, he made major miscalculations and overtaxed residents, violating state law. It is a fact that on his watch, retiree pensions took a 25% hit, a situation he did not reverse," charged the Pryor campaign.