By WPRO News
Long-serving Providence City Councilman Luis Aponte, who rose to the council presidency and was considered a potential candidate for mayor, resigned in disgrace Tuesday, one day after pleading no contest to embezzling thousands of dollars from his campaign fund for personal expenses.
Under terms of his plea agreement, Aponte submitted a one-line letter of resignation to the city clerk, without embellishment.
“Please accept this letter as my official resignation as a member of the Providence City Council,” read the letter delivered Tuesday afternoon to City Clerk Shawn Selleck.
Aponte’s resignation opens his Ward 10 seat in Lower South Providence and Washington Park to a special election. He was first elected in 1998, and served as the first Latino chosen to be Council President.
