Mayor David N. Cicilline

Mayor David N. Cicilline was born in the South Side of Providence on Saratoga Street. His family later moved to the Silver Lake section of the city, and then to Narragansett, Rhode Island, where he had his first experience in politics. A leader in sports and civics programs, he graduated high school as president of his class.

At Brown University, Cicilline founded the College Democrats with his classmate, John F. Kennedy Jr. He graduated magna cum laude in 1983 with a degree in Political Science, and went on to earn a J.D. from Georgetown University. He remained in Washington to serve as a staff attorney in the Public Defender Service before returning home to open a practice in criminal defense and civil rights law on historic Federal Hill.

Cicilline began his political life serving four terms as state representative from District 4, on the city's East Side. He earned a reputation as a fierce champion of political reform and gun safety, and his dedication to ethics in government won him Common Cause's #1 ranking.

In 2002, when the City of Providence was buckling under a $59 million deficit, an archaic administrative infrastructure, and the legacy of decades of corruption, David Cicilline announced his candidacy for Mayor. Campaigning door-to-door across the city, he vowed to make city government a catalyst for the city's renewal instead of a handicap and to revitalize the City's neighborhoods.

The message resounded. David Cicilline swept a four-way primary election, finishing 20 points ahead of his closest competitor. He went on to win the general election with an astonishing 84% of the vote. Upon taking the oath of office as the 36th Mayor of Providence, Cicilline immediately went about implementing five priorities: government integrity, strong neighborhoods, great schools, safe streets, and a dynamic economy.

Since taking office, Mayor Cicilline has produced unprecedented results. "Something remarkable is happening here," wrote Washington Post columnist David Broder. "For Providence, it really is a new day." And conservative Providence Journal columnist, Edward Achorn remarked, "His city is blossoming, in spite of all the damage done to it in the past."

City government has undergone a comprehensive transformation. Four out of five union employees now work under new, 21st-century, professional contracts. Innovative tracking technology monitors the efficiency of service delivery. Government downsizing shed 400 salaries, and property tax rates are at their lowest levels since 1916.

Activity in Providence's 25 neighborhoods has reawakened. Mayor Cicilline's vision for a robust after-school system to rival those of wealthy suburban communities is a burgeoning reality. Neighborhood parks are alive with arts programming throughout the summer.

The Providence Schools are showing steady improvement across the board as a result of fundamental reform, with a comprehensive plan in place called Realizing the Dream to accelerate student achievement. Two independent studies showed the department transforming into one of the most financially efficient urban districts in New England.

Under Mayor Cicilline's leadership, Providence saw a double-digit drop in the rate of violent crime for two consecutive years, bucking the trend in other large cities to the north and south. Much of the credit for this goes to an innovative community policing strategy that is forging a strong new partnership between neighbors and law enforcement.

By restoring the trust of the financial community, Mayor Cicilline has ushered in an unprecedented wave of new investment. In Cicilline's Providence, downtown is both a powerhouse business district and an urbane and exciting place to live. Revitalized neighborhoods are providing affordable, livable, historic, and fashionable settings for growing companies.

David Cicilline has Providence poised to climb new heights. He continues to transform City Hall into a more transparent, efficient, and innovative 21st-century organization. His optimism for his home city is boundless.