Now it gets interesting.

For years, Rhode Island politicians have talked the language of reform and cited lofty aspirations while coming into office, only to depart -- in some cases, dramatically, even criminally -- from their prescribed intentions. But despite their differences in age, party affiliation, and professional background, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Governor Don Carcieri seem like synergistic counterparts determined to shake the status quo. Anyone who thought Rhode Island would be a duller place without Buddy Cianci is sorely mistaken.

The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," was a slightly curious subliminal choice for pre-inaugural music on Monday, January 6, as driving snow fell in Providence and US District Court -- where Cianci's fate was decided in June -- loomed across Kennedy Plaza from the crowd of hundreds in front of City Hall. But shedding his overcoat, Cicilline was pitch-perfect in declaring a new day in city government, pledging to take on the city's fiscal challenges, improve the schools, bring to the police department a real commitment to community policing, and changing the seamy element of municipal culture exposed during his (unnamed) predecessor's reign.

The enthusiastic crowd -- which included Oskar Eustis, artistic director from Trinity Repertory Company, Bert Crenca, AS220's artistic director, and H. Philip West Jr., executive director of Common Cause of Rhode Island -- seemed undaunted by the cold, wet conditions as Cicilline was flanked on the stage in front of City Hall by Carcieri, US Senator Jack Reed, US Representative Patrick Kennedy, legislative leaders, and the state's new and returning general officers. The new mayor's early efforts -- his diverse staff selections, a demonstrated effort to galvanize the business community, not to mention an actual working relationship between the governor and the mayor of the state's largest city -- are encouraging signs as Providence tries to build on its successes and face its most serious problems.

During his inauguration on Tuesday, January 7, Carcieri also struck a tone of openness and accountability, stressing his support for separation of powers and noting the way in which Rhode Island's political galaxy has shifted into a potentially potent new alignment because of reform-minded officeholders, legislative downsizing, changes in leadership at the General Assembly, and a fair measure of public engagement.

A few days earlier, in a valedictory op-ed in the Providence Journal of January 4, outgoing governor Lincoln Almond put an upbeat spin on his two terms, writing, "Over the past eight years, we have strengthened Rhode Island in every possible way." Certainly, Almond has some real accomplishments to his credit, such as bringing Fidelity Investments to the state and ensuring that a large percentage of Rhode Islanders have access to health care and child care. Still, the dramatic contrast in leadership styles between Almond and the more energetic Carcieri is likely to become only more evident as the new governor moves forward.

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

Issue Date: January 10 - 16, 2003