Embattled councilman resigns leadership posts

CITY Councilman Kevin Jackson has resigned from leadership positions, including as council majority leader and member of the five-person Finance Committee, following his arrest. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE
CITY Councilman Kevin Jackson has resigned from leadership positions, including as council majority leader and member of the five-person Finance Committee, following his arrest. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE – City Councilman Kevin Jackson has resigned from leadership positions, including as council majority leader and member of the five-person Finance Committee, following his arrest on state charges of embezzlement, unlawful appropriation of campaign funds and violating campaign-finance law.
A statement issued Thursday by the office of the City Council said Council President Luis A. Aponte had accepted letters from Jackson resigning his leadership roles, effective immediately. “I respect his decision and I wish him well,” Aponte said, in a prepared statement.
The councilman, arrested May 11, was arraigned later that day at District Court in Providence. Jackson was released from custody following his arraignment. He has not resigned his council seat, to which he was elected in November 2014, and which expires in January 2019. He first was elected in 1995, and re-elected five times.
On Thursday, one of his fellow council members issued a statement calling on Jackson to resign his elected seat. “His continued presence on the council is a distraction from the serious challenges that Providence faces. Residents of Providence and all of Rhode Island deserve better,” Seth Yurdin said.
Jackson’s Providence-based attorney, Artin H. Coloian, could not be immediately reached for comment.

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