August 11, 2004
Cranston Mayoral Circus
The ProJo arrived today with the largest headline I've seen since probably the Iraq war began. What was so important? Buddy Cianci won't be getting out of jail just yet! The Mayor's appeal was denied, so Providence will continue on without its most colorful character of the last quarter century. What's a Rhode Islander, to whom wacky politics is seemingly as necessary as air, to do? Why, turn their attention to RI's third largest city, Cranston!
Our cast of characters: Media Whore Mayor Steve Laffey, Republican Challenger Garry Reilly, Ape-man Lloyd Morse, and the Crossing Guards. Sounds like a sitcom, no?
So a while back I wrote about how the Public Service Unions were attempting to flood the Republican primary election with Democrats to vote against Mayor Laffey (oh, by the way, if you want to vote in the any RI primary, you have 3 days to get registered and unaffiliated, call your board of canvassers). Em and I watched a debate between Laffey and his challenger, Garry Reilly. It was pretty sad, actually. Reilly's contention is that Laffey is embarrassing the GOP and being rather unproductive with his proclivity to go to court with all sorts of city employees. This is a perfectly reasonable position, but politically Reilly just can't compete. The mayor is very media savvy and charismatic to boot. Reilly should probably just adopt "If you hate Laffey, vote for me" as his campaign slogan and take his chances. It would probably make for a closer race.
What's even more fun, though, is that the winner in September's primary will go on to face Independent candidate Lloyd Morse. Mr. Morse threw his hat into the ring after a run in with the mayor over a sign placed in Morse's backyard overlooking a busy street. Well, it wasn't exactly a sign, it was more like a giant inflatable gorilla holding a sign. When told he couldn't advertise from his back yard, he acquiesced and took the sign down. The gorilla stayed, and was eventually joined by an inflatable Godzilla, after Laffey got on his case.
Now Morse is running for mayor with the slogan "You'll go Ape over my ideas!"
So while Buddy remains in New Jersey, at least there's no dearth of political entertainment here in the Biggest Little.
Posted by Bil at August 11, 2004 09:49 PM | TrackBackProvidence has had it's time in the sun. It's Cranston's turn to shine in making a mockery of democracy. GO CRANSTON!
Better hurry, Buddy gets out in a few years.
Posted by: Cotuit at August 12, 2004 11:09 AM : Link this commentI saw a Morse for Mayor yard sign with a different slogan: "Lets help each other out" or something.
Posted by: David Grenier at August 13, 2004 06:32 PM : Link this commentAs sad as it may sound though, anything would be an improvement over Laffey,he turns my stomach. I remember him saying how he feared his brother would kill him, if only his brother had succeeded, Cranston would be the better.
Posted by: Jeff at September 13, 2004 07:33 PM : Link this commentI rented space from Ape-Man Morse a couple of years ago on Federal Hill... and I shudder to think of this guy as anything but the small-time low-budget thug he was then. That adventure in real-estate ended badly; within six months I was forced to give up my spot, which I'd invested a lot of time and material into renovating, because Morse hadn't been paying his own rent to the building owners for months.
Let's just say he was less-than-honest with me, with the owners, and pretty much with anyone I ever heard dealing with him... preferring to intimidate first, and then fall back on excuses if that didn't work.
Huh. Maybe politics is the perfect place for this guy after all. Lotsa luck Lloyd.
Posted by: at September 15, 2004 01:16 PM : Link this commentLet’s Work Together !
A Full- Time Mayor
Because He CARES…
ELECT
LLOYD
MORSE
*November 2nd*
MAYOR * CRANSTON
INDEPENDENT
PERSONAL BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
LLOYD R. MORSE
AGE: 46
46 CLIFFDALE AVE.
LIFE LONG CRANSTON RESIDENT
CRANSTON EAST HIGH SCHOOL 1978
MARRIED 25 YEARS TO ANNE RIZZINI MORSE
THREE SONS: BRIAN 22, ERIK 21, MICHAEL 19
BRIAN: GRADUATED CRANSTON EAST, GRADUATED CCRI WITH A
DEGREE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ERIK: GRADUATED CRANSTON WEST, GRADUATED CCRI WITH A
DEGREE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
MICHEAL: GRDUATED CRANSTON EAST, ATTENDS DEAN COLLEGE
WIFE: ANNE HAS WORKED FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, HEAD START FOR 14 YEARS AND IS PERSUING A CAREER IN NURSING.
BUSINESS EXERIENCE
LLOYD HAS OWNED HIS OWN BUSINESS FOR 26 YEARS IN MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
PRESIDENT OF LA’BEMM INC. WHICH OWNS VALLEY STREET PLACE FLEA MARKET, & VALLEY STREET AUTO CENTER, PAST OWNER OF TERROR ON SOUTH MAIN STREET AND TERROR HILL OF PROVIDENCE
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
PAST ASSISTANT COACH EDGEWOOD SOUTH ELMWOOD LITTLE LEAGUE
AMERICAN RED CROSS
DIABETES ASSOCIATION
PROVIDENCE COLUMBAS DAY PARADE
SAINT GENNARO PARADE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LOBSTER DELIVERY, INC.
S&A INCORPORATED
AWARDS
MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESIONAL AWARD
RHODE ISLAND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CITATION FOR THE URKUPINA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
LLOYD IS AN HONEST, COMMITTED, HARD WORKING, SELF-MADE MAN.
HE HAS A PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED AND IS A DEDICATED, COMPASSIONATE, LOYAL FATHER, HUSBAND AND SON. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS PRIMARY CONCERN.
LLOYD IS THE SON OF GILBERT AND MAXINE MORSE,
BROTHER OF DONNA YOUNG, DAVID, AND MARK MORSE
AS MAYOR OF CRANSTON
Lloyd will dedicate himself to restoring confidence and morale back to the City, lowering taxes, building a strong financial surplus, and creating revenue generating programs for the benefit of the City.
Lloyd will bring back the sports and music programs which have been taken away from our youth. He will work with our Senior Citizens and not partake in favoritism nor hire family or friends. He will strive to lower the payroll for the City by hiring the best suited people to operate the City.
Lloyd will not outsource legal work to attorneys to perform the job of the City Solicitor and he will welcome interns from colleges to assist in the work with City affairs as part of their internships.
For More Information Lloyd welcomes your comments and concerns: 623-6174
Posted by: Lloyd at October 4, 2004 06:59 PM : Link this commentLloyd Morse is really the most honest and hard working man i have ever met in my life. He really cares about everyone and seems to be the all around average good guy. Personally i feel this is what the city needs to get back on track. He will listen to the people and try his best to give us what we want. why wouldn't someone vote for Morse.
Posted by: at October 22, 2004 06:21 PM : Link this commentlove the ape dude. i cant beleive they make such a big deal over it. sorry u didnt win the election, laffey still has it which means more school cuts.
Posted by: Justin Church at November 9, 2004 07:35 PM : Link this comment
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