Once considered a 'can't-miss' to be mayor of Providence, councilman resigns in disgrace

PROVIDENCE – Luis Aponte broke a lot of barriers during his time in Providence politics. He was the first Latino to be elected to the City Council, the first Latino majority leader, and later became the first Latino council president. At one point, his supporters thought he’d be mayor someday.

But Aponte’s political career came to a crashing end Monday when the Democrat agreed to plead no contest to embezzling from his campaign account and resign the Ward 10 council seat he’s held since 1999. Rhode Island law requires elected officials who are convicted or plead no contest to a felony charge to step down from their position.

The abrupt plea deal came just over a month before Aponte was scheduled to go to trial in a two-year-old case that earlier cost him his post as council president. But he was still re-elected by voters in city’s Lower South Providence and Washington Park neighborhoods last year.

Aponte, 56, did not respond to multiple requests for comment Monday. But those who know him best said they were disappointed to see a once-promising politician come unraveled in recent years as elections officials and prosecutors started scrutinizing his finances.

Read more: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/rhode-island/2019/07/29/once-considered-can-miss-mayor-providence-councilman-resigns-disgrace/KOwvZRekO6N4gsS8DKIoVJ/story.html