Guest MINDSETTER™ Matt Fecteau: In Cianci We Trust
Matt Fecteau, GoLocalProv Guest MINDSETTER™
Guest MINDSETTER™ Matt Fecteau: In Cianci We Trust
Rhode Island is already a laughingstock. The Rhode Island Speaker of the House, state Rep. Gordon Fox, was raided by the FBI and resigned. The State Democratic Party Chairman David Caprio stepped down because of a shady contract deal. A handshake and a wink go a long way in this state.
The list does go on. Businesses are leaving in droves. We are last in almost every category. Our unemployment rate remains the highest in the country. Rhode Islanders predominantly are ashamed of being from our state and few Rhode Islanders have any faith in our government. Economic inequality is almost the highest in the country, and every day, we drive on some of the worst roads, again, in the country. Seeing a pattern?
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Besides incompetence, we are also known for corruption and cronyism. The national Democratic platform be damned for it only matters if you ‘kiss the ring.’ I look forward to digesting next month’s political scandal because, well, with so few job opportunities in Rhode Island, we need to find something to pass the time.
To be fair, I like Cianci’s Democratic opponent, Mr. Jorge Elorza. He is a good and honest man. I genuinely believe he could be a great mayor if he had a sincere plan. However, my concern isn’t Elorza. It is the people that would influence his administration. Isn’t a vote for Elorza, a vote for the status quo?
I was not happy with the cronyism in the past. However, now, we are drowning in it. With constant corruption scandals, I am skeptical of an institution that gives all Democrats a bad name. A world of difference exists between my heroes such as President Barack Obama and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and this breed of Rhode Island Democrats.
I support the Democratic platform wholeheartedly, but have difficulty supporting Rhode Island’s key players. Because I didn’t ‘kiss the ring’ while running for Congress, I hear I will never work in this state again. Considering the state’s high unemployment rate, at least I’ll have plenty of company.
We need pragmatic leadership that is not subservient to any party. In Cianci, we have a champion.
"Anybody But Cianci" Syndrome
Cianci has been made out to be the devil incarnate. Instead of looking for answers to our problems, the rallying cry is: "Anybody But Cianci." Don’t worry about what is best for the city; just make sure you beat Cianci. Jobs? Who cares, just beat Cianci. Roads? Don’t worry about that, just beat him.
Does this solve the high unemployment? Does this make our state more competitive? Why is everything second fiddle to beating Cianci?
Our country is about second chances and making amends for our past, not perennially condemning a man for crimes committed in the past. Just ask Rep. David Cicilline’s convicted felon brother, John, about second chances. He had his law license reinstated after a wink and a nod from the same members of the Rhode Island Democratic Party that condemn Cianci. Remember: “people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”
I don’t particularly like Cianci’s baggage, but getting our state capital back on track should be our priority. We must not to fall victim to “Anybody But Cianci” syndrome.’ It is far too easy to use him as a scapegoat offering few solutions.
So goes Providence, so goes Rhode Island
I agree with Cianci’s adversaries: it is time to move forward, not backward. With such a weak executive branch, Rhode Island had nearly unchecked corrupt Democratic leadership controlling every facet of Rhode Island for over a decade and economic paralysis has been the result.
Under Cianci, Providence was a city with a promising future. Whether it was the Waterfire or Providence Place Mall, he was on top of it. Providence was one of the best cities to live according to Money magazine, and one of the top renaissance cities according to USA Today.
In stark contrast to today, with Cianci as mayor, we had hope. Providence had a reputation as one of the safest cities in America. The American Association for Government Officials even named Cianci "America's Most Innovative Mayor" for his efforts. And of course, he brought the Providence Bruins to Rhode Island from Maine.
Because of Cianci’s leadership, Providence was a cultural hub. He fought for tax exempt status for artists and as a result, Providence was eventually given the distinction "The Best Place to Be an Artist.” While I resoundingly condemn any malfeasance, Providence was in much better shape, not perfect, but better.
As a Soldier, I was taught to get the job done. We need someone who can do just that. I am concerned about Cianci’s past, but more concerned about our future. With the state of our state, we cannot gamble on unknown candidates with ties to a corrupt and ineffective establishment. We need leadership. Too much is at stake.
Providence is a beautiful city with wonderful possibilities. Let’s trust Cianci to get the job done.
So goes Providence, so goes Rhode Island.
Buddy Cianci: Timeline of Major Events
Born in Cranston
Cianci was born in Cranston on April 30, 1941.
He grew up in the Laurel Hill neighborhood near the Cranston/Providence border. He had one sibling, his older sister, Carol.
Family Background
Cianci's father Vincent was a doctor, and his grandfather Pietro was a carpenter.
Pietro Cianci and his wife Carmella immigrated to the United States from Italy, and had 13 children together.
Education
High School: Moses Brown
Bachelor's Degree: Fairfield University
Master's Degree: Villanova University
Law Degree: Marquette University
Military Service
Cianci enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966.
He served on active duty in the Military Police Corps from 1967-1969. He then served as a Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserves until 1972.
State Prosecutor
Cianci was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1967 and was a Special Assistant Attorney General from 1969-1973.
In 1973, Cianci became the prosecutor of the Attorney General Department's Anti-Corruption strike force. He held that position until he decided to run for public office the following year.
Elected Mayor in 1974
Cianci ran for mayor of Providence in 1974, and his anti-corruption campaign led him to defeat incumbent Democrat Joseph Doorley.
Cianci was the first Republican mayor of Providence since the Great Depression and made history as the first Italian mayor in the city's history.
1980 Run for Governor
Cianci ran for Governor of Rhode Island in 1980, losing to incumbent Democrat J. Joseph Garrahy.
Cianci then decided to distance himself from the Republican Party, winning re-election as mayor in 1982 as an Independent candidate.
According to an article in politico, a dispute with then-Senator John Chafee led Cianci to leave the party. "And just to show how angry I was, I resigned from the Republican Party."
City Nearly Bankrupt
Shortly after his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, Cianci was faced with demands for his resignation due to the hard financial times Providence was experiencing.
The city was nearly bankrupt in 1981. Cinanci raised taxes, focing budget cuts and layoffs throughout the city and igniting a battle between the mayor and labor unions across Providence.
Cianci earned a reputation as a "strike-breaker" for his ability to defeat unions in labor negotiations.
Buddy v. Trash Collectors
Cianci engaged in a heated labor fight with the city's trash collectors in 1981, downsizing the number of workers on each truck from 4 to 3.
Cianci famously quipped "You can put two men in a spaceship and send them to the moon. You don’t need four on a garbage truck."
When the city's sanitation workers protested the cuts, Cianci hired a private company to come in and collect the trash. The mayor placed armed guards on the truck with the private company to ensure their safety.
Divorce and Assault
Cianci and his wife Sheila divorced in 1983, 18 moths after agreeing to a separation.
5 days after the divorce papers were signed, Cianci assaulted contractor Raymond DeLeo with a lit cigarette and a fireplace log. Cianci suspected that DeLeo had been having an affair with his former wife.
DeLeo told police Cianci appeared to be drunk when he invited him to his home and attacked him in front of city officials and employees, who did little to discourage Cianci's behavior.
Resignation
Cianci was forced to resign as mayor in 1984 after being indicted on assault charges.
According to "The Prince of Providence" DeLeo had feared for his life and had kept quiet about the incident, but news leaked out in the weeks after the attack and it didn't take long for the prosecution to build a case.
Cianci pleaded no contest to assault charges stemming from the DeLeo incident.
Sentencing
Cianci was sentenced to a 5-year suspended sentence for his role in the DeLeo incident.
The former mayor of Providence was officially a convicted felon. His fall from grace did not last long, however, as Cianci would remain in the public eye shortly after receiving his sentence.
Special Election Attempt
A special election was held to fill the vacant mayor's office in 1984.
Cianci attempted to enter the special election, but the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that he could not run and attempt to succeed himself.
The RI General Assembly would pass a "Buddy Amendment" in 1986 that barred convicted felons from running for public office for 3 years after their sentence was up.
Radio
After resigning the mayor's office and being barred from running for public office, Cianci became a talk radio host on Providence's 920 AM station WHJJ.
The move kept Cianci relevant in the area while he remained out of public service, and it wasn't long before Cianci was back in politics.
1990 Comeback
Cianci mounted a political comeback in 1990 and ran for mayor again.
Cianci used the campagn slogan "He never stopped caring about Providence" and successfully regained the mayoral office.
Renaissance City
The city began its "Renaissance" phase in Cianci's second stint as mayor.
The city became cleaner and attracted more tourism, and several key expansion projects were overseen by Cianci, including the acquisition of the Providence Bruins, the building of the Providence Place Mall, and the construction of a new train station downtown.
The Renaissance era was the height of Cianci's tenure as mayor. A glowing review from the Providence Phoenix in 1998 titled "Renaissance Man" opined "Buddy Cianci has done more than move rivers."
Last Election
Cianci ran unopposed in 1998 for what would be his final election victory.
The FBI began investigating city hall in 1999 and uncovered the second major political scandal of Cianci's career.
Despite being a polarizing figure in local politics, Cianci has never lost a mayoral election.
April 2001 Indictment
In April 2001, Cianci was indicted on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, witness tampering, and mail fraud.
Numerous other city officials were indicted in "Operation Plunder Dome." The prosecution's smoking gun was video footage of a bribe being accepted by Frank Corrente, Cianci's Director of Administration.
The Brown Daily Herald summed up the FBI investigation into city hall. "Patronage, bribes and city employees being required to buy tickets to Cianci fundraisers were all investigated, leading to the indictment of 24 city officials and the jailing of 19, including several top Cianci aides."
Convicted Again
Cianci was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to 5 years in federal prison.
Cianci Aide Frank Corrente, Tax Board Chairman Joseph Pannone, Tax Board Vice Chairman David C. Ead, Deputy tax assessor Rosemary Glancy were among the nine individuals convicted in the scandal.
The mayor was forced to resign his office by law following the conviction. Cianci made a plea for an early release from prison in 2005, but that request was denied.
Return to Radio
Cianci returned to the radio airwaves between his sentencing and the start of his prison term, hosting a midday talk show on Providence 630 AM WPRO.
The Prince of Providence
Providence Journal political reporter Mike Stanton published a biography of Cianci's political career in 2004.
"The Prince of Providence" was critically acclaimed and shined a light on the political scene in Providence, as well as Cianci and his administrations' tenures in office.
Cianci penned his own book, "Politics and Pasta," and attemped to correct some of accounts from "The Prince of Providence" that he felt were inaccurate.
Ditching the Squirrel
Cianci was released in 2007, and had a noticeable change in appearance.
Cianci stopped wearing his toupee that had been dubbed "the squirrel." While Cianci lost the toupee, he didn't lose his sense of humor, calling his prison term an enjoyable stay at a "federally gated community."
“It’s kind of typical of him," former WPRI reporter Jim Taricani (who played a key role in the trial to convict Corrente and Cianci in 2002) told GoLocalProv. "He’s got this uncanny ability to, no matter what the adversity is, he bounces back from it.”.
Another Radio Return
Cianci returned to WPRO in 2007 and has hosted an afternoon talk show on the station through the present day.
Cianci also hosts a weekend television show on ABC. Even without holding public office, Cianci's thoughts on Providence and Rhode Island are seen and heard by thousands of people across the state.
Hard Times/Cancer
Cianci's daughter Nicole was found dead in 2012 of an apparent drug overdose. She was Cianci's only child.
Cianci himself was diagnosed with cancer early in 2014.
Running Again
On June 25th, Cianci filed the paperwork to run for Mayor in the 2014 election.
Cianci was cleared by his doctors to run and he declared himself as an Independent candidate.
Cianci Passes Away
On January 28, 2016, Cianci died at age 74. The death was tied to complications relating to Cianci's battle with Cancer.
His former Chief of Staff Artin Coloian tells GoLocal, "He will be sadly missed. My heart breaks for his family. They've gone through quite a bit," said Coloian. "His accomplishments will live on."
