The Nation's First Out Governor?

After overseeing an impressive city makeover, Providence mayor David Cicilline has his sights set on the statehouse.

By Matt Link

David cicilline wove his way through a skybox, mixing with prominent politicos at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last August. As president of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, he played host to notables like San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, congressman Barney Frank, and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Everyone greeted him as a longtime friend, laughed at whispered jokes, and lounged as if paying a family visit to his living room.

Cicilline’s star has risen rapidly since he became mayor of Providence, R.I., six years ago. When the 47-year-old Rhode Island native, son of a Jewish mother and Italian-American father, assumed the post in 2003 after winning a landslide 84% of the vote, he became the first openly gay mayor of a state capital. Providence in turn became the largest U.S. city with an out mayor -- until Sam Adams took office in Portland, Ore., this January. Cicilline then proceeded to draw over $3 billion worth of investments to the city, erasing a $59 million debt and reducing the crime rate to its lowest level in 30 years. He launched cultural programs, invested in education, and employed incentives to help revamp the once-downtrodden downtown.

Cicilline’s audacity has made him a very popular mayor and raised the city’s national profile. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal named Providence one of the world’s top 10 up-and-coming travel destinations; it was the only U.S. city to make the list. He succeeded a notoriously corrupt mayor, Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr., who ran the city like a godfather of sorts for more than 20 years before going to prison in 2001 on racketeering and corruption convictions.

“We have to demonstrate that Rhode Island is an honest place to do business, that it has a state government that works and is transparent, with competitive tax policies,” Cicilline says, “you know, good, old-fashioned salesmanship.”

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. 1 2 NEXT Page 1 of 2

READ COMMENTS (6) MORE Politicians EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Shirley Drouin
Date posted: 1/11/2009 2:05:00 PM
Hometown: Paducah Ky

Comment:
All people want is honest and decent leaders. You can be Gay and still be honest and decent. Most Gay people are and I count myself as one of them. He sounds like a good man.
Back to top
Name: Brian
Date posted: 1/10/2009 11:18:00 PM
Hometown: Anaheim, H8

Comment:
I miss New England.
Back to top
Name: Ian
Date posted: 1/10/2009 10:36:00 PM
Hometown: Washington, DC

Comment:
Hmmm, it sounds like the mayor is single. Not that often that you hear of a prominent, ambitious politician in his late forties who's not partnered. Not that it really matters, but I wonder if folks in RI would be ignoring his marital status if he were straight.
Back to top
Name: Randall
Date posted: 1/10/2009 5:13:00 PM
Hometown: West Hollywood

Comment:
This is an encouraging situation that demonstrates the person over their sexuality. That appears to be exactly how he sees it as most of us do. It’s true that the more affective we are, often subjects such as our sexuality or gender become a mute point. Senator Feinstein recently said she felt she overcame the gender challenge because she proved how affective she is. The same can go for us. If Mr. Cicillini’s personal life can remain standard, somewhat ordinary, solid in principles, and an everyday guy he has a chance. We know the other side will use it against him. Instead of saying I’m gay and I do this, he’s saying I do this and I happen to be gay. Straight politicians don’t say I’m straight and I do this. Straight people immediately resist and are tired of hearing about gay issues. We have to change the approach. This is an example of somewhere to start from.
Back to top
Name: Keith Flaherty
Date posted: 1/9/2009 4:53:00 PM
Hometown: Providence

Comment:
I can assure your national readers that Chris does not represent the majority view in Providence. The bad economy has hit Rhode Island hard, but Mayor Cicilline has been one of the few bright lights in the darkness. He's incredibly smart and has taken up every tough political fight you can imagine. He's taken on the old union bosses. He's taken on the immigrant scapegoaters. He's taken on our Republican governor. And he's taken on the old boys in his own party. The guy is tireless and Providence is still on the rise despite being in a state with almost 10% unemployment.
Back to top
Name: Chris
Date posted: 1/8/2009 5:40:00 PM
Hometown: Providence

Comment:
I work in Providence, and even helped out candidate Cilline campaign when he first ran as mayor. I like him alot; however, he is no Buddy Cianci! In fact, the crime rate around where my office was in downtown got so bad under Cilline's watch, that my company moved up state. RI's current goverenor is against gay marriage and civil unions. So I do hope David gets it for that reason, but I don't think the state thinks that highly of his affectiveness as mayor. Not to mention that Hillary did kick him out of a campaign fundraiser when she was in New England during the primaries because he refuses to sign the PVD firefighters contract.

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

More Online Only

Commentary Progress in the Midwest
A city native and strong supporter of Kalamazoo's effort to keep an anti-discrimination law reflects on a hard-won campaign.

Commentary What Marriage in Maine Meant for Me

Dana Hernandez is a straight white married mother of two young children. But in campaigning for No on 1 and reporting Election Night outcomes for Advocate.com, defeat hit her like a ton of bricks.

Marriage Equality Terri White Stages Her Leather Encore

Last year, acclaimed stage performer Terri White was homeless and living in a public park. On Sunday, she and her partner held a leather-themed commitment ceremony onstage following her triumphant Broadway turn in Finian’s Rainbow.

Music Ghost Story

Out singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile discusses working with her childhood mentor, coming out publicly, and joining next year's Lilith Fair.

News View From Washington: GOP Upheaval

Now that the only pro-marriage equality candidate in New York's 23rd Congressional district, Republican Dede Scozzafava, has dropped out of the race, Tuesday's election holds any number of political lessons for both the GOP and the LGBT community.

Books Hot Sheet: Ditto Knocking 'Em Dead

This week might not bring anything to the screen other than a Boondock Saints sequel, but there are plenty of reasons to sit at home on the couch or head to your local concert venue.

News Features Sailor Speaks Out
Sailor Joseph Rocha endured years of hazing until he spoke out — then he was discharged for revealing his homosexuality. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is itching to suit back up.

Music Rainbow High

Busy Broadway heartthrob, gay rights activist, and former Advocate coverboy Cheyenne Jackson chats about his Finian’s Rainbow revival, his politically charged cabaret CD, and laying around in his underpants (pic on page five).

Marriage Equality For Maine, The Time is Now
Money is on their side and the polls look optimistic, but volunteers fighting to preserve marriage equality in Maine are prepared for a fight to the finish.

Television Another Tough Broad

After being outed by a Nazi and locking lips with a hook-up three times in one episode, Christine Woods's tough-talking FBI agent Janis Hawk on ABC's FlashForward might just be prime time's best gay offering — who isn't in Glee club, that is.

Books In Sickness and in Health

Mary Cappello’s memoir Called Back takes readers on a white-knuckle journey through the experience of cancer treatment in America — especially disorienting to navigate as a woman and a lesbian.

Books An American Crime

Best-selling novelist Patricia Cornwell made headlines last week when she filed suit against a New York investment firm for losing $40 million of her money. But she'd much rather talk about her new book, hate-crimes legislation, and Angelina Jolie.

Comedy Gilded Lily

After conquering Broadway, movies, and television, out funny lady Lily Tomlin prepares for the final frontier — Las Vegas.

Entertainment News Ricky Martin, No Shirt and a Baby
Ricky Martin knows how to get the camera's attention. Take a look at the many pictures of Ricky uploaded to his Twitter account in the past three months, always shirtless, frequently carrying one (or both) of his babies.

Television Fresh Blood
With True Blood a bona-fide cultural phenomenon, producer Alan Ball offers tantalizing hints about what to expect on season 3.