Then there are unabashed mayoral fans such as Charles T. Francis, president of CB Richard Ellis in Providence, who says, “I don’t think he’s so connected politically to what people may think. I think his work will carry him forward politically. Frankly, I think that the mayor has multiple opportunities in front of him politically, but I hope the one he would pursue is to finish this great job he’s started in Providence.”
The 2010 gubernatorial race won’t begin in earnest for about another 18 months or so — and that’s an eternity in politics.
In The Wire, Tommy Carcetti prospers politically by cleaning up government, reducing crime statistics (although not without considerable chicanery), and by keeping cranes in the sky.
Carcetti, like his real-life inspiration, Martin O’Malley, was able to ride this approach to governor’s office in Maryland. Whether Cicilline can perform the same trick in Rhode Island remains one of the prime questions in the run-up to our 2010 election.
To read Ian Donnis’s politics + media blog, go to thephoenix.com/notfornothing. He can be reached atidonnis@phx.com.
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