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December 6, 2006

Cranston mayor-elect orders independent audit

CRANSTON -- Making good on a central campaign promise, Mayor-elect Michael T. Napolitano has ordered a complete, independent audit of all municipal finances.

Ernest A. Almonte, the state auditor general, said today that he will review the status of the city budget, as well as all cash reserves and pension funds.

Mayor Stephen P. Laffey also sought assistance from Almonte before he took office, in January 2003, during a worsening fiscal crisis. But Laffey now says Napolitano is inheriting a city in dramatically better shape, and he called the audit unnecessary.

In campaign finance news, a new campaign finance report submitted to the state Board of Elections by Napolitano shows that he spent more than $300,000 in the race to succeed Laffey.

His opponent, Allan W. Fung, did not meet Tuesday's deadline to file a report. But in an interview, Fung estimated that his campaign cost about $150,000, or half of what his opponent spent. Napolitano won the race by only 71 votes.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:29 PM | Permalink

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