Buddy Cianci talks about his South Side revitalization plan and fields questions about criticism by his opponent, Dr. Daniel Harrop. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News 

By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Independent candidate for mayor of Providence Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci says he is the subject of a “plot” by wealthy interested to deny the twice-convicted former mayor his bid for a return to City Hall.

“You see, this is a whole plot to get me … to make sure I am not elected mayor,” said Cianci, in a news conference Monday in his Broad Street campaign headquarters.

Cianci’s comments followed a blistering news release from Republican candidate Dr. Daniel Harrop who questioned his stewardship of the city during his two previous administrations, and a scholarship fund that distributes assistance to Providence school children.

“Worse still,” writes Harrop, “is the mismanagement evident in this public foundation, which parallels Mr. Cianci’s mismanagement of the city during his terms in office.”

Harrop questioned thousands of dollars in expenses for the foundation from 2009 to 2012 when the Associated Press reported that Cianci’s foundation received just $3 from the sale of Cianci’s marinara sauce.

“Part of my leadership you’re going to see in this campaign is how to combat the millionaires, as he (Harrop) is one of them, trying to stop me from being mayor of the City of Providence,” Cianci shot back.

Cianci referred to reports that a so-called “Super PAC” was being formed to raise upwards of $1 million to counteract his campaign for mayor.

“They’re raising money not to build a school, not to rehabilitate a school, not to give a million dollars that they have to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. They’re raising money to just do one thing, character assassinate me,” said Cianci to the applause of about three dozen campaign supporters.

Cianci’s comments came in response to reporters’ questions during a news conference he convened to unveil plans for an ambitious revitalization of the Broad Street, South Side neighborhood of Providence.

He said the area could benefit from city and private investment, in a way similar to revitalization efforts that transformed the Federal Hill and West Broadway neighborhoods. He denied that the extensive plan was an effort to draw votes from a growing Hispanic population on the South Side.

“This is not about what wards and who wins this ward and that ward. This is about the future of Providence’s neighborhoods,” Cianci said.

In addition to transforming what he called the Broad Street commercial corridor, Cianci said he would remove blighted properties, protect historic architecture, foster neighborhood libraries and urban farming and promote safer streets. Almost as an aside, Cianci said that the plan would help create jobs.