Dignitaries paint a flattering portrait of Cicilline

PROVIDENCE — David N. Cicilline listened as speaker after speaker touted his achievements as mayor and credited him with "turning the page" from darkness and corruption in Providence City Hall to diversity, inclusivity, transparency and fiscal responsibility.

"It was like going to my own funeral," he said before and after the ceremony Sunday to unveil the portrait that will hang in City Hall with the portraits of all but two of the mayors of Providence since 1832.

John J. McConnell Jr., a federal judge who was on the portrait committee, welcomed the more than 200 people in the council chamber to watch the unveiling. As master of ceremonies, he introduced the dignitaries and some of the highlights from U.S. Rep. Cicilline's two terms as mayor, from 2003 to 2011.

He "led the good city of Providence out of the darkness" of corruption, McConnell began. "Providence saw its first new downtown building in 15 years," when GTECH, now IGT, built its headquarters. He brought jobs, imposed fiscal responsibility, raised the bond rating to all A's, fully funded the pension obligation, overturned a corrupt police department, enjoyed the lowest rate of violent crime in generations, grew the arts economy, helped establish the Downtown Improvement District, worked with the Nonviolence Institute and saved the branch libraries, McConnell said.

Gov. Gina Raimondo called him a "happy warrior" and admired his enthusiasm and energy. "He believes in the mission," she said. What sustains him through "the rough and tumble" of politics is that he has "the purest of motivations."

She said "Providence blossomed" under his leadership. He proved that a leader can be fiscally responsible, business-friendly and socially responsible.

"You will ever be remembered as the mayor who turned the page from the days of darkness and corruption."

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza told him that as he grew up on Cranston Street in Providence, he learned that "if you wanted anything done in Providence, you had to know a guy." But Cicilline, he said, brought more people into City Hall and "made them feel they had a voice in the city." He said Cicilline called him to the mayor's office "out of the blue" for a conversation, then appointed him as a Housing Court judge. Angel Taveras, who succeeded Cicilline as mayor, was also chosen by Cicilline for the Housing Court.

"I would not be here," Elorza said, if Cicilline had operated City Hall only for the privileged or connected.

Symbolic of the diversity that Cicilline celebrated, the program was printed in English and Spanish.

Council President Sabina Matos reminded admirers that Cicilline was the first openly gay mayor of a state capital. He was a relentless campaigner, she said, and he created cohesion because his message resonated with people. He was the first mayor to open his door to anyone who wanted to come in and talk to him directly. And because of his work including the neighborhoods in the life of the city, she said, "Some people like to say Cicilline is the first Latino mayor of Providence."

Hillary Salmons, executive director of the Providence After School Alliance, which has become a model for such programs around the country, said Cicilline came to every meeting as the alliance was being formed, and he didn't leave early.

"This is the way he is," she said. "Try it, do it, fail, learn."

H. Phillip West Jr., former director of Common Cause RI, spoke of Cicilline's courage in the state legislature in 1985 when he "brought incredible wrath down upon his head" by attacking "the very core of corruption." He and a small group of other legislators filed bills ensuring a separation of powers in state government.

West noted that this month is the 20th anniversary of Operation Plunder Dome, when then-Mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci was indicted on federal charges. He was convicted of racketeering conspiracy for running a criminal enterprise from City Hall and vacated the office to serve a 64-month term in federal prison.

The artist, Agustin Patiño, from Ecuador, who has done murals in Providence, said a few words very softly. At last it was time for the unveiling, and Cicilline and the three co-chairs of the portrait committee, Michael P. Mello, Howard G. Sutton II, and Myrth York, who are also among the contributors who spared taxpayers the expense of the portrait and reception, stood in front of the shrouded painting. A tug on the cord released the drape, and the room as one gasped. It was a gasp of surprise and delight, followed by whistles and applause.

Cicilline, who had met with Patiño often to talk about his administration, is pictured in one of the neighborhoods, standing on Broad Street, with the Providence skyline in the background. Blue skies, sunshine, a leafy boulevard on a pleasant day are Cicilline's fresh air backdrop, instead of the ornate darkness inside City Hall.

One building on the right was Cicilline's first mayoral campaign headquarters.

Asked how long it took him to paint the portrait, Patiño said: "It take all my life as a person, as a human." But really, three months. He said he left six months for the painting and its varnishes to dry properly. He made many sketches and several false tries. An X-ray, he said, would show Cicilline in several poses that he painted over.

He expressed awe that his painting would take its place in history.

— dnaylor@providencejournal.com

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