Cianci leaves a mixed legacy

Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr., a politician renowned as both the “Prince of Providence” and a convicted felon, died last week after a battle with cancer. He was 74.

As beloved as he was controversial, the charismatic elder statesman and longtime radio talk show host worked most recently on WPRO 630-AM, 99.7-FM.

He was first elected mayor of Providence in 1974 as a Republican, at the age of 33, winning re-election in 1978 and 1982, 1990, 1994 and 1998. He sought the top job as an independent again in June 2014, following nearly five years in prison on a racketeering conviction, but lost to Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.

On Jan. 28, Elorza lowered the city flags to half-staff, noting, “Mayor Cianci’s love for the city of Providence is undeniable and his mark on the city will not be forgotten.”

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Even late in his career, running for mayor in 2014, Cianci boasted support from many who remembered the city’s revival during his time in office. But opposition came from many quarters.

“The narrative of the city as an up-and-coming, arts-oriented, progressive and diverse place plays well with our story,” Alec Beckett, a Nail Communications Inc. creative partner told Providence Business News in 2014. “If Buddy had been elected, we would have been playing defense.”

He resigned from office in 1984 and then in 2002, first after pleading no contest to assault charges in 1984 and then in 2002 after being convicted on a federal racketeering charge.

During Cianci’s tenure, the city became home to the Providence Place mall and the popular nonprofit WaterFire. In an interview with Providence Business News in 1999, he discussed his vision for eventual development of the Interstate 195 land that today is being targeted as a life sciences corridor.

But even as the city continued to flourish in the late 1990s, Cianci was being investigated by the FBI. On April 2, 2001, Cianci was indicted, along with five others, on charges of bribery, extortion and other criminal conduct. In 2002, he was convicted on a single count of conspiracy and sentenced to five years in federal prison.

In 2002, responding to a reporter’s question, Cianci maintained his innocence.

“If I had known about it, it would not have happened,” he said of the criminal conduct.

In 2007, Cianci joined WLNE-TV Channel 6, the local ABC affiliate, as a contributing editor and the station’s chief political analyst, keeping his fan base and public following alive.

More recently, his portrait was unveiled at City Hall, but he fainted at unveiling ceremonies, attributing the scare to dehydration.

Cianci recently became engaged to Tara Marie Haywood. •

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