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.”

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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.
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Name: Brian
Date posted: 1/10/2009 11:18:00 PM
Hometown: Anaheim, H8

Comment:
I miss New England.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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