Democrat Jorge Elorza Takes On Former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci In Mayoral Race
Democrat Jorge Elorza Takes On Former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci In Mayoral Race
By Michelle R. Smith October 24, 2014
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The man taking on former mayor and twice-convicted felon Buddy Cianci in the race for mayor of Providence is a Harvard-educated law professor who grew up poor, the son of Guatemalan immigrants.
Democrat Jorge Elorza has never run for elected office and faces Cianci, an independent and Providence political giant who first won office 40 years ago. He never lost any of his six previous mayoral races but was forced from office twice after his convictions, one of which resulted in four years in prison.
Elorza, 37, has made ethics a cornerstone of his candidacy, drawing a contrast between his up-from-the-bootstraps success story and Cianci’s past overseeing widespread corruption in City Hall. Cianci, 73, has gone after what he says is Elorza’s lack of experience.
A Brown University poll out this week shows Elorza leading Cianci by more than 10 points. Republican candidate Daniel Harrop is far behind in polls and recently donated $1,000 to Elorza’s campaign, saying he might even vote for him to help keep Cianci from winning.
More:
http://www.wbur.org/2014/10/24/jorge-elorza-providence-mayor-candidate