In the end, Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. did the right thing in deciding not to run for re-election.
If in fact it was indeed the selfless act he portrayed it to be, he should be commended.
"I don’t want to be the 300-pound gorilla in a race," he said. "It’s not fair to the people. It would be purely self-motivated and in my self-interests."
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A humbled and contrite Cianci said mostly all the right things during a City Hall news conference last week in which he expressed his thanks to all those who had supported during a span in office that goes back to the 1970s.
"It’s been a great ride," he said.
But hold the applause. This is not time for bouquets for Buddy.
Because the ride could have been even greater. The sad thing is that Cianci had to hold such a press conference. As Cianci ticked off a list of accomplishments, of moving rivers, developing hotels and investing in urban neighborhoods, the dark clouds of an administration wrought with corruption hung heavy.
At one point, responding to a reporter’s question, Cianci maintained his innocence.
"If I had known about it, it would not have happened," he said.
If Cianci did not know about corruption within his administration in recent years, he should have. It seems implausible that such a hands-on administrator could not have known…could not have at least heard things.
Cianci pointed out after the trial that he was found not guilty on 26 of 27 charges. This is true. But the mayor was convicted by a jury of felony racketeering. In short, of orchestrating a City Hall in which who you know, and what you might have been willing to pay counted as much as how good you might have been at what you did.
Cianci’s co-defendants were convicted of that and more. In fact, Frank Corrente, Cianci’s former chief of staff, was found guilty of a half-dozen federal corruption charges.
The Plunder Dome trial painted a vivid picture of an administration that long ago misplaced the concept of public service.
It’s not enough to love the capital city. A lot of people do. It’s not enough to attend events and to always seem to say the right things. It’s not enough to wow an audience.
There is something called accountability, not only for one’s own actions but of those around you as well. On that issue, Cianci has let the city down.
The Plunder Dome trial showed us a very ugly and embarrassing side of city politics. A side of politics where who you know and how much you are willing to pay does indeed make a difference. A side of politics where an array of characters with highly questionable professional expertise are calling the shots.
This week, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ernest Torres is expected to rule on a petition to dismiss the one guilty verdict levied against Cianci. If he does not rule in the mayor’s favor, it is likely Cianci will exercise his right to appeal his conviction.
But those chapters in the Cianci story have now been rendered moot in terms of a city moving forward – embracing new leadership. That is what Providence must now do.
Unfortunately, too many people seemed to have been lulled into believing that Cianci alone has the talent, vision and drive to lead the city. That is ridiculous thinking. Cianci, himself, acknowledged last week that there are several strong candidates who could succeed him.
We suspect that as the dark cloud of Plunder Dome slowly lifts, individuals will come forward – not only mayoral candidates, but individuals with talent, experience and integrity to fill important roles in city government, whether they be as volunteers for boards and commissions or as candidates for full-time professional positions in city departments.
The post-Cianci era must be embraced with vigor as one of opportunity. Cianci accomplished a great deal. But there is much more to be done. There is a city pension system that is under-funded. There is talk of instituting a living wage that would cripple the business community. There is a sense that economic development downtown has slowed — talk of new hotels and an office building, but little action.
Cianci’s successor faces many challenges. But he or she will also be given a clean slate on which to operate. A chance to go out and lure businesses with the message that things are different now. The Renaissance City must include integrity and a strict code of ethics in its pitch.
And soon it can embark on an even greater ride than it has ever known.
