Will the real Buddy Cianci please stand up?
US Court Judge Ernest C. Torres, who on Friday, September 6, meted out a
64-month sentence to Cianci and fined him $100,000, seemed as amazed as anyone
by the extreme and utter contrast between the disparate elements of the mayor's
personality. The judge's comparison of Cianci to the classic character of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde nonetheless had to bring a knowing glint of recognition
from those who have had any real degree of exposure to the mercurial mayor.
Since first winning office in 1974, Cianci has wielded an unusual combination
of charm, imperiousness, intelligence, aggression, and hubris -- to the
advantage and detriment of himself and the city he presided over. In 1984, he
was forced to leave office after pleading no contest to assault. He narrowly
returned to power in 1991, proceeding to raise the profile of Providence as a
national symbol of urban rejuvenation. But after steadily maintaining his
innocence, he was convicted of one count of racketeering conspiracy as part of
the federal Plunder Dome probe of municipal corruption, bringing shame to the
mayor's office and renewing Rhode Island's reputation as a bastion of dirty
dealing.
After prosecutor Richard W. Rose and defense lawyer Richard Egbert argued over
the length of Cianci's sentence, the star defendant surprised some observers by
addressing the court, thanking Torres for his fairness, expressing regret that
it had come to this, and again professing his love for the city. "My heart will
always be with Providence," Cianci said. "I never intended to do anything
wrong."
Next, it was Torres's turn to weigh in.
The judge paid homage to Cianci as one of the most skilled politicians Rhode
Island has ever seen, a talented mayor "with rare vision and boundless energy."
He credited Cianci with helping others and playing an important role in the
Providence Renaissance. Torres marveled at how the mayor had exhibited
remarkable grace under the pressure of the case, attending to the city's
business and not whining about his conviction or transferring blame. "I find it
amazing how you're able to keep things together during a time like this," the
judge said.
Yet Torres also cited the presence of a second Buddy Cianci, the one who
presiding over an administration rife with corruption at all levels. Citing an
egregious breach of the public trust, the judge said Cianci had operated the
city he was supposed to serve, as a criminal enterprise to line his own
pockets. "There are two entirely different individuals we're talking about,"
the judge concluded before imposing the sentence.
Cianci appeared bound for federal classification, Egbert convinced Torres
that Cianci should remain free -- for 90 days at least -- while the First
Circuit Court of Appeals considers the question of whether Cianci can remain
out on bail while his conviction is appealed. If the appeals court comes down
on Cianci's side on the bail issue, it's conceivable, although unlikely, that
the former mayor could avoid doing any jail time. "We'll just move on and have
faith that the system really works," Cianci, who maintains his innocence, said
while emerging from the courthouse.
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe has reported that Cianci is in talks with
WPRO-AM, whose general manager, Ron St. Pierre, was his boss during his
previous stint as a talk-show host at WHJJ-AM. But it seems unlikely that
Cianci would use a talk show to shed light on the different facets of his
personality.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis[a]phx.com.
Issue Date: September 13 - 19, 2002
