Controversial and scandal-scarred politician Buddy Cianci believes if he is elected mayor of Providence, Rhode Island next week, his administration will be the most watched in U.S. history. Cianci tells Mo Rocca in an interview for CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD broadcasting Nov. 2, 2014 (9:00 AM ET) on the CBS Television Network.
Cianci has been mayor of Providence twice and has had both runs shortened by scandals. Cianci heads into Tuesday's elections behind in the polls to his Democratic opponent, Jorge Elorza, carrying heavy baggage from past wrongdoings. In 1984, Cianci pleaded no
CONTEST to assaulting a man he believed was having an affair with his then wife. His second stint as mayor began in 1991 and ended in 2002 with a conviction for racketeering and a four and a half year stay in prison.
Should he be elected again, Cianci says there will be "zero tolerance" for the kind of issues that upended his past mayoral careers.
"Yeah, because I'm not doing this to go back to jail," Cianci tells Rocca. "I'm doing it - and I know I'm going to be one of the closely - closest watched - administrations probably in American history. I mean, if they find anything wrong with me they'll send SEAL Team Six in."
Cianci talks with Rocca about his past experiences as mayor, the charges that sent him to jail, and the political landscape he faces today in Providence. Rocca also talks with Mike Stanton, who wrote a book about Cianci, as well as his mayoral opponent Jorge Elorza, a former judge, who discusses his run for office and how Providence has changed.
"You know, it's been about 24 years since he ran a competitive - competitive race," Elorza tells Rocca. "And, you know, frankly, demographically the city has changed since then. But, also the sensibilities of the city. You know, we don't want to return back to the pay to play politics of the past."
Cianci also talks with Rocca about the decision to shelve his toupee, which he referred to as "the squirrel."
"I didn't feel a need for it anymore," Cianci says, adding, "What you see is what you get. And by the way, a lot of people say I look a lot better without that - squirrel on my head, you know?"
CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays (9:00-10:30 AM ET) on the
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