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Providence Mayor's Ray of
Sunshine
Cianci Faces U.S. Charges but Has 64 Percent Approval in Poll
Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 13 -- Proving honesty isn't a job requirement
for a Rhode Island politician, more than 40 percent of voters polled
think Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. is guilty of the
racketeering charges against him, but nearly three-quarters think he is
doing a great job. "The city has undergone a wonderful transformation, and the poll
numbers show that people are appreciative," Cianci said. Cianci, the longest-serving mayor in Providence history, has been
credited with reclaiming the city from the depths of industrial decay.
Under his watch, the state's capital has become a model for urban
renewal with parks, cultural venues and a sprawling new downtown
shopping mall. "Providence was a dump 10 years ago," said Matthew Guttin,
23, an intern at a downtown law firm. According to a Brown University poll released today, Cianci's job
approval rating is 64 percent, up 4 percentage points since last
October. And 70 percent believe he has shown strong leadership. But 41
percent also say the mayor is guilty of the racketeering charges against
him. The poll of 400 registered voters had a margin of error of plus or
minus 5 percentage points. The mayor and four of his top aides have pleaded not guilty to
extortion and bribery charges stemming from the FBI's four-year
Operation Plunder Dome investigation. If convicted, Cianci would join a long line of Rhode Island
governors, judges, legislators and mayors who used their offices for
criminal activities. Terug
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