NEW: Cianci Fires Back at Elorza Over Campaign Contributions
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Former Mayor and Independent candidate for Mayor of Providence Vincent "Buddy" Cianci issued the following statement, following Democratic mayoral candidate Jorge Elorza calling on Cianci to return around $18,000 in campaign contributions he has accepted from dozens of city employees.
“While everyone is combing through these reports looking for a smoking gun, I assure you there is none. In the past few hours, my office has gotten calls from reporters alleging that I received money from a man under indictment. This claim is not true," said Cianci.
“As far as city employees go, I never took a pledge to refuse contributions from city employees, nor did I ever allude to such a pledge. I made an offhand remark at a heated forum. My intent was to say that if I were Mayor, I would not take contributions from city employees," said Cianci. "At the moment, I am a private citizen, I have not held office for 12 years, and if there are people who work for the city who want me back in office because they knew I was a solid Mayor who loves this city, then I welcome their support, financial or otherwise."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn a release sent Wednesday morning, Elorza said, "Mr. Cianci is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in paid advertising trying to convince Providence’s voters that he is a changed man who will not repeat the style of corrupt leadership that resulted in his being removed from office to serve a prison sentence for running City Hall as a criminal enterprise."
“It is insulting to assume that a city employee who contributes $50 is requesting pay to play, and quite frankly, I am tired of the Elorza camp and the media assuming that city employees are a bunch of opportunistic criminals who are incapable of making an informed decision about what kind of leadership works best for this city," said Cianci. "These are hard working civil servants who are exercising their right to participate in democracy, and I appreciate every last one of their efforts."
Hitting Back
Cianci then went on the offensive as to what he called the "blantant hypocrisy employed by the Elorza campaign."
What right does he have to accuse my campaign donors who are city workers of pay to play, when his main donor is Myrth York, who collects a city check for holding a very powerful position on the city’s zoning board? A zoning board which, by the way, is responsible for allowing special entertainment permits for nightclubs on Federal Hill, the same clubs responsible for a surge of assaults and a homicide in recent months," said Cianci. "It’s no secret that Myrth York is desperately trying to stop me from becoming Mayor of Providence. Her involvement in the now failed ‘Anybody but Cianci’ movement makes that crystal clear. With all of these facts in hand, I can’t see how anyone can accuse me of pay to play while keeping a straight face."
Cianci continued, “And what about Rep. Cicilline, the chairman of Elorza’s last fundraiser? He owns the building that houses the nightclub Vault Lounge, the scene of a recent vicious stabbing. The owner of Vault Lounge is married to Miguel Garcia, also an Elorza supporter. Then we have Fete, a supposed live music venue which, in reality, is a nightclub, and home to a recent shootout. It’s where Elorza held his Primary victory party. Finally, we have the $3 Bar, the site of a Federal Hill murder. That establishment is owned by Gianfranco Marrocco, yet another supporter of Elorza."
“This election has disintegrated into a laughable tale of ghosts and myths. I respectfully ask the people of Providence to use common sense, and analyze these claims for what they are: sensational hypocrisy designed to slow my momentum as I continue my quest to become Mayor of Providence. The voters deserve more," said Cianci.
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