Joint Statement Urging Immediate Resignation of Council President Aponte

STATEMENT OF PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NICHOLAS NARDUCCI, WILBUR JENNINGS, JR., DAVID SALVATORE, SETH YURDIN AND SAMUEL ZURIER

Yesterday’s indictment of City Council President Aponte on felony charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of campaign funds shattered any remaining public trust in his leadership of the City Council.  We call for him immediately to step aside from the office of President so the City Council can begin to repair the great damage he has inflicted on  City government.

We are confused and disappointed by statements from our colleagues urging a “wait and see” approach.  Every hour that Mr. Aponte remains as President worsens the crisis of public confidence he and former Majority Leader Jackson have generated.  It is time to stop enabling this conduct and for everyone to place the well-being of the City above their personal interests and ambitions.

Today we have filed with the City Clerk a Resolution to restore the public’s trust in the Providence City Council to be heard at the City Council’s May 18 meeting calling on a vote to urge Mr. Aponte’s resignation.  His departure from the office of President is an urgent and necessary first step in restoring the public’s trust in the City Council.

 

Text of Resolution follows:

RESOLUTION TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC’S TRUST IN THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL

WHEREAS, on May 11, 2016, the City Council’s Majority Leader was arrested on charges of felony embezzlement and misappropriation, and

WHEREAS, upon his arrest, the Majority Leader promptly resigned his leadership position to reduce the damage he caused to the public’s trust in the  Providence City Council, and

WHEREAS, on July 13, 2016, a grand jury indicted the former Majority Leader on similar felony charges, and

WHEREAS, on May 2, 2017, more than 90% of the voters in Ward 3voted to recall the former Majority Leader from office, and

WHEREAS, the City Council President and five colleagues called two special City Council meetings to intervene and interfere in his colleague’s recall process, but failed to gain a quorum to support his effort to carry out what the Providence Journal editorial page called a “sleazy political stunt”, and

WHEREAS, on May 10, 2017, a grand jury indicted the City Council President on charges of felony embezzlement and misappropriation of campaign funds, and

WHEREAS, the City Council President’s indictment has further undermined the public’s trust in the City Council and the City beyond the damage caused by the former Majority Leader, and

WHEREAS, the City Council President’s standing, both within the City and the State has diminished to a level where he no longer can serve effectively in the position of City Council President,

WHEREAS, the City Council President has chosen not to follow the example of his former Majority Leader, instead refusing to step aside for the good of the City and the City Council, and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Providence City Council hereby urges the City Council President immediately to resign his position as President for the good of the Providence City Council, and for the good of the City of Providence as a whole.