James Diossa Tops Central Falls Primary

City Council member James Diossa and former police Chief James Moran advanced in a five-way special nonpartisan mayoral primary in Central Falls, R.I., which exited bankruptcy protection last month.

They will face each other in a Dec. 11 general election.

Diossa won easily on Tuesday with 57% of the vote, while Moran had 18%. Incumbent Charles Moreau resigned in September when he agreed to plead guilty to corruption charges. Diossa or Moran will serve the final year of Moreau's term.  

Rhode Island is restoring local control to Central Falls as part of the 19,000-population city's exit from Chapter 9 protection. In 2010, a state-appointed receiver stripped Moreau and the council of their powers, reducing them to advisors.

Rhode Island voters statewide approved table games at Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Newport Grand, but Newport voters turned down the proposal. The communities had veto power in both referendums. Casino operators say the expansion is necessary to counter Massachusetts' entry into casinos.

Also in the Ocean State, voters approved up to $50 million for expansion and renovations at Rhode Island College, and $94 million for a new veterans home, $20 million for drinking water infrastructure projects, $20 million for environmental and recreational purposes, and $25 million for housing.

Voters in capital city Providence approved $40 million of borrowing for street and road repair by a 9-to-1 margin.

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