The expansive pool of mayoral hopefuls that emerged after Buddy Cianci's took himself out of the running has since faded to a smaller field dominated by two Democrats, state Representative David N. Cicilline and former mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. But the candidacy of state Senator David Igliozzi, part of a politically active family from Silver Lake, promises to complicate Paolino and Cicilline's search for a winning plurality.

"He's a smart guy who's positioning himself as the family values candidate," notes Brown University political science professor Darrell West. "He seems to be going for the traditional working-class vote, which is still pretty strong in Providence."

It doesn't hurt that Igliozzi, a lawyer specializing in tax issues and former city councilman, has poured more than $200,000 of his own money into his campaign and hopes to raise another $100,000 before the September 10 primary. During a recent interview in his campaign office on Mount Pleasant Avenue, Igliozzi was energetic in outlining his stances on such predominant issues as ethics, education, the neighborhoods, and economic matters, and two volunteers were already calling him "mayor."

Igliozzi, 42, is disposed toward giving Colonel Richard T. Sullivan, the interim police chief, a one-year contract, and he backs commissioning a management study of the police department. Although he believes a recent civilian review board proposal clashed with the police officer's Bill of Rights, Igliozzi says he would support civilian review if the concept is recommended in a management study.

In other areas, Igliozzi wants to create individual coordinators within the department of planning and development to help prioritize concerns in each of the city's 25 neighborhoods. He proposes the creation of an inspector general, who would present complaints to a three-judge panel, to investigate ethical breaches in municipal government. In pitching himself, Igliozzi says, "I really feel that I have the right diligence, focus, and determination to get things done."

Of course, Igliozzi's greatest liability, like Paolino, could be that he was prepared to run only if Cianci withdrew from the race. By contrast, Cicilline and Keven McKenna, the other Democrat in the running, jumped in when Cianci still appeared politically strong and they've been far more outspoken in their criticism of the status quo. Igliozzi, who until recently worked part-time in Cianci's administration as a lawyer, says, "I gave him the benefit of the doubt."

Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis[a]phx.com.

Issue Date: August 2 - 8, 2002