PowerPlayer: Providence Councilman John Igliozzi

Monday, September 24, 2012

Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv News Editor

 

This week’s PowerPlayer is Providence City Councilman John Igliozzi. Councilman Igliozzi was kind enough to chat with GoLocalProv about his experience in city government and his future in politics.

1) You’re a veteran member of the City Council. Compare your experience today with the experience when you first took office.

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When I first was elected the City Council had a greater sense of purpose and independence. The body had more respect for difference of opinions and a more collegial atmosphere.

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2) As chairman of the finance committee, you helped close nearly all of the $110 million structural deficit Mayor Taveras inherited when he took office. What led to such a large deficit in the first place?

These are some of the factors that contributed to the deficit, a popular Mayor whose administration was willing to be dishonest on the record during budget hearings and financially manipulate the city books. Strong support from some Council members who were willing to ignore the financial realities and defend the administration and promote its political agenda.

A perfect example is when Councilman Solomon authored and issued a press release defending the Administrations' corrupt financial practices and denounced the Internal Auditors findings on the massive deficit as political . An apathetic press corps that would ignore the financial reporting of the Internal Auditors Office and a failing economy. Sadly these and other factors help create the perfect storm.

3) Take us through a day in your life.

I wake up about 5 am, go to the gym and get ready for work, wake sons up, make breakfast and pack lunches and drive them to school. Along the way, I go over constituent messages and arrive to work about 7:30 and practice law (labor lawyer for an employer). About noon time, I catch up on city and personal business, after work, pick sons up from school. Homework duty with sons and prepare dinner and depending on the night, go to council and different committee meetings or address constituent concerns or prepare for the next day and finally read with sons and call it a night.

4) Your family has long been involved in local politics and your brother ran for Mayor in 2002. What’s next for John Igliozzi. Would you consider higher office in 2014?

With the possibility of the Mayor, Council President and State wide positions opening up in the near future it looks very promising and exciting. But at this time I'm enjoying and honored being the Council person from the 7th ward.

5) Tell us something nobody know about you.

I consider myself a Patriot. Ever since my family came from Italy and Germany, a family member has either dedicated themselves to the Armed service( WW 2, Korea, Vietnam) or Public Service and I'm proud that I have been able to continue that tradition to God and Country.

Quick Hitters

Role Model: Mother and Father taught me the 3 R's, Personal Responsibility.Family Responsibility, Community Responsibility.

Favorite Restaurant: St. Barts Society and Maya Azteca, both in Silver Lake!

Best Beach: My father’s pool.

Best Book You’ve Read in the Last Year: "Profiles in Courage" and "1776"

Advice for the Next John Igliozzi: Always extend friendship but don't expect it in return, don't compromise your principles even if the Greek chorus disagrees, use your common sense if it does not feel right don't vote for it and most importantly put family first because after they are done chanting your name in praise or vain, family is the most important and will always be there to support you!

 

Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.

 

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