Who Should Be The Next Mayor of Providence

Who Should Be The Next Mayor of Providence

With Mayor Angel Taveras likely running for Governor of Rhode Island, the field for the 2014 Providence Mayor's race is starting to take shape. The group forming includes a sweeping array of potential candidates - a council insider, a Hispanic leader, an East Side politico and the ever looming Buddy Cianci.

Every weekend the city is rocked by shootings, the schools are failing to meet the lowest standards, and the city had to sweep the "rainy day fund" to meet the requirement to balance the budget. As Taveras tries to leave the city before the next financial crisis hit, the field of potential candidates begins to take hold.

Here are the four emerging candidates:

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Council President Michael Solomon has lent his own campaign $250,000 to help support his bid. Solomon seeks to be the third Council President to assume the Mayor's office. The two previous - Joe Paolino and John Lombardi - both took office after then-Mayor Vincent Cianci was forced to resign.

Brett Smiley, a political consultant closely tied to Congressman David Cicilline, has created an exploratory committee and hopes to ride his East Side base to victory.

Housing Court Judge Jorge Elorza has resigned his post as a judge and taken a leave from his position as a member of the RI Foundation in preparation of a run. Elorza want to be the city's second Mayor of Hispanic decent.

Former Providence Mayor and radio talk show host Buddy Cianci has begun to have private meetings with his old kitchen cabinet to gauge support. Cianci won his first stint as Mayor in 1974.

Who would you vote for Mayor?