Will Buddy Cianci make another comeback?

[randomness]

I realize no one outside of Rhode Island is paying attention to the Providence mayor's race. Nonetheless, it is not every day that a politician who has had to resign upon felony conviction--twice!--comes back to run for the same office he resigned from.

Buddy Cianci was mayor from 1975 to 1984, when he was forced to resign after he was convicted of assault. After several years hosting a local talk radio show he was elected mayor again in 1991, serving until 2002, when he was convicted again, this time for racketeering, and sentenced to five years in prison.

He was released in 2007 and returned to talk radio. In 2012 he became eligible to run for mayor again. The election is in November, and Cianci is running as an independent.

He's never lost an election for mayor. And as of right now, he's leading the race.

Comments

[donnad.livejournal.com]

He must be doing something right and good for the city if people are willing to vote for him despite his record. I know that I would overlook a prison record if the person was doing good and the reason behind the prison record had nothing to do with the job he was excelling at, especially if it was helping the city.

[redbird]

Or he knows how to push rhetorical buttons. Or people are saying they'll vote for him because he's the candidate they've heard of. Or they think of him as "one of them."

Personally, I'd be willing to overlook a drug possession charge, and would definitely ignore a candidate's old conviction for consensual sex with someone of their own gender. Assault on a city contractor, admitted and excused with "he was sleeping with my estranged wife"? No. Racketeering, also no.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. SURE! HE'S DUE AGAIN!

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

i would think a felony would invalidate you for running for office. surely the second felony. kind of crazy.

[bex77]

He will forever be persona non grata in the figure skating community. The first Nationals I attended was in Providence. Buddy had a great seats and brought a bunch of his friends in late, during competition, and wanted to loudly go to his seat glad-handing, while a skater was on the ice. The usher tried to make them wait until the skater finished - perhaps… a minute? - and Buddy made a big fuss that pulled focus from the ice, even for us sitting about 10 sections away!

[nathanjw]

If he wins, Marion Barry is going to run for DC mayor again.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Boston elected Michael Curley, but I believe he made only one comeback election.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's not a lot of people who want the job.

[drwex]

Yeah, I'd heard this. For some reason WGBH focuses more on R.I and south while WBUR focuses more on NH and north. BUR has been running a pledge drive lately so I'm listening to GBH again.

As for the race and him and that city? I got nothin'.