Biz leaders reticent on Cianci run for mayor

BACK IN RUNNING: Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr. is seeking a third stint as Providence mayor, a move which has caused some to express “real concern privately,” a Brown University professor said. / PBN FILE PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
BACK IN RUNNING: Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr. is seeking a third stint as Providence mayor, a move which has caused some to express “real concern privately,” a Brown University professor said. / PBN FILE PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Long-time fans of Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr. rejoiced last week when the former Providence mayor, who served nearly five years in prison on a racketeering conviction, announced his intention to seek the top job in City Hall once more.
A dozen years since Cianci last held public office, those who credit him with triggering the “Providence Renaissance” of the 1990s saw in his candidacy a chance to return to better times.
“If we go by what he has done in the past, in terms of revitalizing downtown and expanding the tax base, I think he has been a good economic-development type of mayor,” said Joseph Paolino Jr., managing partner of Paolino Properties, whose own stint as mayor was sandwiched between the first and second Cianci administrations.
“He was always pretty much the business community’s mayor years ago. He understands the big picture.”
Perhaps more surprisingly, business leaders who aren’t enthusiastic about a return to the Cianci years, who have accused him of betraying the public trust and linking Providence’s reputation with corruption, were mostly silent on his return.
Out of more than a dozen businesspeople contacted by Providence Business News about Cianci, some retired or independent from larger organizations, all but three declined to comment on his return and none came out against it.
Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, for example, cited the organization’s political-neutrality policy, put in place last year, as reason for steering clear.
Wendy Schiller, political science professor at Brown University, said the business community’s reticence to get involved yet should not be interpreted as a sign of support for Cianci and she expects establishment business interests will be one of his biggest obstacles in November.
“With the Gordon Fox [investigation] and return of Buddy coming so close together, you become concerned that outside businesses would think twice about dealing with a mayor convicted of racketeering,” Schiller said.
“People across the board have expressed real concern privately, but Buddy still seems to scare people,” Schiller said. On Cianci’s chances, Schiller said his decision to run as an independent was smart and would help him against an establishment candidate whose base could be divided.
His challenge will be running on his past accomplishments while at the same time distancing himself from the scandals that forced him from office. The city population is also younger and has a much larger Latino population than it did in his previous races.
Now 73 years old, Cianci served as mayor from 1975 to 1984, and from 1991 to 2002. He is the city’s longest-serving mayor.
On both occasions he resigned from office, first after pleading no contest to assault charges in 1984 and then in 2002 after being convicted on a federal racketeering charge. Cianci joins a Providence mayoral race expected to include Democrats Michael Solomon, Jorge Elorza, Brett Smiley and Chris Young, as well as Republican Dan Harrop. According to media reports, Lorne Adrain is joining Cianci in running as an independent.
Those supporting Cianci include former developer Patrick Conley, who tried to build Cianci’s vision for a redeveloped Allens Avenue waterfront. That vision collapsed due to opposition in the City Council.
“He gets things done and he can mobilize groups to achieve specific goals,” Conley said. “He has boundless energy, is a leader and charismatic figure and could get Providence moving again in the right direction.”
Grafton “Cap” Willey IV, managing director of CBIZ Tofias, said he would be concerned about what a Cianci return would do for the city’s reputation, but wouldn’t be against it if he made it easier to get things done in the city.
“If he wins, it will be critical he has a transparent and above-board administration because we can’t go back into the turmoil of when he was convicted,” Willey said. “Actions are going to be more important than words. Even after he left Providence it is still a very difficult place to do business. If Buddy can help that and do it honestly, than will be good, but whoever it is has to make it a more workable city.” •

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