GoLocal Endorsement for Mayor of Providence: A New Direction for the City
Sunday, September 11, 2022
L-R Providence Mayoral candidates: Nirva LaFortune, Gonzalo Cuervo, and Brett Smiley PHOTOS; Respective campaigns
Current Mayor Jorge Elorza’s political slogan “One Providence” never led to substantial change. Too often, it seemed to be just “One Elorza."
Sadly, most of his reasonable initiatives were lost because of a lack of consensus building.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, Providence voters must consider three mayoral candidates, each of whom could put the city on firmer ground and move it forward.
Gonzalo Cuervo, Nirva LaFortune, and Brett Smiley have all distinguished themselves. While LaFortune has offered some interesting ideas about education, Smiley and Cuervo have stood out in running stronger, better-organized campaigns – suggesting management ability – and in answering all questions.
LaFortune is a talented politician who has much to offer the city. But we regret that she didn’t accept our invitation to answer questions in order to be considered for endorsement.
Smiley is a competent administrator, and he has promised to do such “urban mechanic’’ things as fixing potholes and, all in all, run the city more competently than the current mayor. He offers what appears to be a practical solution to the city’s pension problem – having the state take over Providence’s pension plan. He is a strong policy thinker.
In addition, Smiley has a network of professional relationships that could be an asset to the city.
But a blind spot continues to be ethics. He owned a political-consulting firm while serving as the city’s chief operating officer in the Elorza administration and during his tenure as chief of staff for former Gov. Gina Raimondo. In another ethical lapse, he was fined for that by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission and, even after that, Smiley accepted and did not return a donation from Ricky Dion — a former police officer, a convicted felon, and a man whom law enforcement identifies as being associated with organized crime.
Cuervo, for his part, has demonstrated an ability to bring people together. He is supported by a wide range of leaders, from conservative Democrat Maryellen Goodwin, the majority whip in the State Senate, to progressive senators Sam Bell and Tiara Mack.
Like Smiley, he has held key positions for top-level elected officials, including then-Mayor David Cicilline, Mayor Angel Tavares, and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea.
In each case, he demonstrated administrative talent and approachability. Cuervo’s policy positions are often left of Smiley’s — how left is an unknown. Elected office and its predictable -- and unpredictable -- problems usually make newly elected officials more pragmatic than they might sound in the heat of a campaign.
A critical challenge for the new mayor will be developing a productive relationship with the next city council — a council that, due to term limits, will, in general, be younger, more progressive, and very inexperienced.
This task appears to align with Cuervo’s strengths. He has the ability to relate to all of Providence and knows City Hall and the State House very well.
All three candidates are talented, and all could serve the city well, but for the aforementioned reasons, GoLocal endorses Gonzalo Cuervo.
While we may not agree with all of his policy positions -- for example, he once floated bulldozing the Triggs golf course for housing when there are hundreds of vacant lots available -- we believe that he is the right person to lead the city at this time.
Our great hope is that whoever is elected takes Providence from the potential of being a great city to actually being one.
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