Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Sheila A. Bentley, the ex-wife of former Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., is engaged to marry a lawyer who led a recall campaign against her former spouse.

Bentley and Providence lawyer Keven A. McKenna were engaged to be married last May and according to McKenna, will probably wed sometime this fall though no date has been set.

Bentley, wearing a diamond engagement ring, was with her fiance Tuesday night at the Judicial Nominating Commission meeting where nominees for the position of Rhode Island chief justice were selected. She sat in the packed room knitting a blanket as the man she plans to marry railed against the way the office of chief justice operates.

McKenna is a former three-term member of the state House of Representatives. He made a name for himself with two failed bids for higher office in the 1970s, and an unsuccessful run for mayor against Joseph R. Paolino Jr. in 1984, after Cianci was forced to resign in the wake of his felony conviction for beating up a man he believed was having an affair with his then-estranged wife. Cianci pleaded no-contest to feloniously assaulting Bristol contractor Raymond DeLeo, who had been his friend, with a lit cigarette, an ashtray and fireplace log.

McKenna -- who earlier this week was charged with simple assault after an altercation with his now-fired paralegal -- had a leading role in a 1984 recall drive against Cianci. His former wife, Marlene Marcello McKenna, ran unsuccessfully for general treasurer of Rhode Island in 1992.

Sheila and Vincent Cianci were divorced in June 1983. Cianci later won re-election and went on to become the city's longest-serving mayor. But in 2002, Cianci was convicted in federal court of racketeering conspiracy and was once again forced to give up his office. He served nearly 4 1/2 years in prison and is now a radio talk-show host on WPRO radio and a chief political analyst on ABC6 television news.

 Tags  Providence RI Vincent A. Cianci Jr.

Comments

Elizabeth said:

Two hot-head politicians -- Sheila really knows how to pick 'em!

Link | April 1, 2009 3:17 PM
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Barbara L'Homme said:

Sheila and Keven seem to have something wonderful happening between them. I wish them a long loving and happy marriage. Even politicians are allowed a personal life. def8v7barbara

Link | October 27, 2009 9:11 PM
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