Is this Year’s Mayoral Race the Dirtiest in Providence’s History?
Monday, October 27, 2014
Following two instances of possible ballot tampering in the last week, after allegations of campaign sign vandalism and an assault at a campaign debate, is this year's Providence Mayoral race the dirtiest in Providence's history?
"I think the bar has risen, a lot's at stake -- it's the old Providence versus the new Providence," said State Representative and former interim Mayor John Lombardi. "With social media, cell phones, you have a greater likelihood at getting caught at something. I don't know why anyone wouldn't be on the up and up."
Lombardi questioned the process -- and role -- of mail ballots in continuing to being part of the potential for corruption.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Why, when I go vote at the polls, I have to use a magic marker, but I have to have a number two pencil with the mail ballots? By the way, a lot of people wouldn't happen to have a number two pencil at their home, I'm sure," said Lombardi.
Providence City Councilman Luis Aponte questioned the continuing issues facing the mail ballot process as well.
"Past elections have had mail ballot questions, and elections where people have been accused on either side of inappropriate behavior," said Aponte. "This is a tight election, and it's not been one that's been inspirational."
"I think this begs the question, "Is there a better way to do mail ballots?' The machines at least need to read the marker. If there's any opportunity to misuse mail ballots, then we need to do whatever we can do to make it a better process," said Aponte.
Ballot Tampering?
Last Friday, the campaign of Democratic candidate for Mayor Jorge Elorza called for an investigation by the Board of Elections into possible ballot tampering by the campaign of former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci at Crossroads, citing two previous examples -- an investigation in 1982, and an indictment of a Cianci campaign worker in 1983 -- as reasons to pursue the matter.
Cianci's campaign fired back, saying they had 'no knowledge' of the Crossroads incident, and would cooperate fully with any investigation.
On Sunday, a video appeared showing Elorza supporter and House Deputy Majority leader Scott Slater with what appeared to be an unsealed ballot at Providence housing complex on Saturday.
Slater, who is employed in the City of Providence as a budget analyst, denied any wrongdoing through a statement issued following the video's release.
“A woman I know, who is a constituent of mine, asked me to stop by and notarize her mail ballot. I did nothing out of the ordinary," said Slater. "I am not going to comment further on a video made by a political opponent of mine who has physically threatened me in the past."
The video was turned over to the police following the incident. "We have the video and we are looking into the matter," State Police Superintendent Colonel Steve O'Donnell said on Sunday.
Additional Allegations
Alan Hochman, a Providence resident who lives on Hope Street, said that Cianci signs had been recently vandalized on the East Side.
"Saturday and Sunday morning, Buddy's signs in the East Side were damaged two nights in a row," said Hochman. "My large sign was one of them." Hochman noted that the police were looking into the reports.
Cianci supporter Kristen Roy, who was at the debate at the Southside Cultural Center on Broad Street last Wednesday, filed a police report following an altercation after the event during which Roy said she was struck by Elorza supporter Pat Cortellessa.
"He was yelling and screaming at some Cianci people, he said, "You're all stupid." said Roy, who said she was then struck in the arm by Cortellessa. "I thought people should know -- no man should hit a woman. I was just a girl at a debate." WPRI reported Sunday that the police issued an arrest warrant for Cortellessa.
Elorza's campaign weighed in on Sunday on the tone and tenor of the campaign to date.
"Providence's voters want honesty and integrity in this election and an ethical and transparent government at City Hall. That's the kind of race that we are running and the style of leadership that Jorge will bring to the Mayor's Office. There can be no tolerance for any activities that undermine the integrity of our electoral process," said Elorza spokesperson David Ortiz. "We are formally requesting that the state Board of Elections consult with law enforcement investigators and use its full authorities to investigate any and all allegations of ballot tampering and voter fraud and ensure a fair, safe, and legal election where the rights of all voters are protected."
Historian -- and Elorza supporter -- H. Phillip West Jr. pointed to the past investigation into Cianci's prior ballot issues as having renewed relevance in this election.
"I'm glad the ProJo reprinted its 1983 story about how supporters of then-Mayor Vincent Cianci had “abused the Rhode Island mail ballot law on a large scale” during his campaign for reelection in 1982," said West. "Of 1,438 mail ballot voters signed up by Cianci supporters, reporters were able to find and interview 118. Of those 72 percent “gave accounts that indicated abuse.” Abuses reported in the story were numerous enough to have swayed the outcome."
The Cianci campaign declined comment on Sunday, noting Cianci would be having a press conference on Monday about the Slater video, and the "general lack of civility" in the campaign.
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