They'd get back much more than they gave

It is remarkable how many of the people backing Buddy Cianci for mayor of Providence  have a very direct  personal financial reason for doing it.  Most obvious are those in the municipal unions who expect to get massive sweetheart contracts and other deals, as they did when Cianci was last in power,  and developers Joseph Paolino and Pat Conley, who see new riches from dubious projects from having an ally in City Hall. No wonder "The Prince of Providence'' is so far ahead in cash collections for this campaign.

Meanwhile, a lot of the  politically lazy electorate hasn't bothered to learn anything about what actually happened in Cianci's management of the city. And  many national  news media people are besotted with this "rascal king,'' thus turning thuggery into a joke.

Betting on Buddy's buddies

Somehow that would-be casino developer Joe Paolino and developer Pat Conley are among the biggest backers of Buddy Cianci for a return gig in Providence's City Hall is not confidence-building. Welcome to Atlantic City. -- Robert Whitcomb