How do you think you have changed? What have you learned from all this trial and prison experience?
Well, you certainly change. Doesn’t everybody over time, especially if you’ve been in prison? I am at peace with myself. I have given up on the “squirrel,” I am going au naturel [as he passed his hand over his bald pate]. I feel free, not just from prison, but free to be myself. I take more time with people, especially my family, with little things, with listening more. My personal life is in order. I am moved by the number of people who want to see me, or call me — they don’t want anything from me like before when I was mayor, they just want to talk to me, take me to dinner, do things for me. I am grateful for that. I learned who my real friends are. There are people I did much for that I have not heard from since I was charged with the criminal counts years ago. They have not called or written to me in prison or here. And others who stayed in touch with letters or cards at holiday times, which are always difficult in prison, they followed my time and progress in prison and were supportive in so many ways, or got a word of support to me through others who visited or wrote.
The big thing was to get letters in prison, to stay in touch with what was going on at home, to know others cared, all of which kept me looking toward coming home. And I am keeping busy, planning things, putting a small staff together like Scott [Millard, former aide] and Charlie [Manso¬lillo former chief of staff], and David Igliozzi, who does some legal work for me.
And I am fortunate and thankful to Joe Paolino for the work placement here, as my daughter Nicole and my three grandchildren live in this building and I can see them regularly. My sister and her family have been really supportive. I want to get my own place, maybe a place near the water, but also a place in the city. [At press time, it was announced that Cianci will reside at the 903 Residences.] I’ll be making some pretty good money, more than I ever made as mayor, so I think I can afford it.
Related:
Buddymania!, Prisoner gagged, Visitation rights, More 
- Buddymania!
Buddy Cianci was already making the media wait.
- Prisoner gagged
I had not interviewed a prisoner for six months, since the Maine Department of Corrections wanted to impose unconstitutional restrictions.
- Visitation rights
“In terms of the general public, most people I know have never seen the inside of a detention center."
- The trials of Bernard Baran
This story originally appeared in the June 18, 2004 issue of the Boston Phoenix .
- Alternative victory
Each year, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies holds an editorial contest among its 120-some member papers and announces the winners at the organization’s annual convention; this year the Boston Phoenix took home two prizes.
- Are the prisons overcrowded?
I am asking the whole Legislative Committee to physically go and inspect the prison to ascertain how much bed space is there.
- More trouble in the Supermax
A hunger strike has ended at the Maine State Prison in Warren, but all is not well at the state’s largest house of corrections.
- Letters to the Portland Editor, August 29, 2008
I am writing about torture around the world that I think is related to possible torture in Maine prisons.
- Letters to the Portland editor: February 20, 2009
- Article aided big oil
Nothing helps big oil, and big coal, more than a piece like "What's Wrong With Wind Power?" (by Deirdre Fulton, August 21).
- State should protect inmates’ rights
As Lance Tapley points out, denying prisoners access to human-rights protections is a mistake (see "Less Than Equal," October 2).
- Less
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News Features
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, Politics, Celebrity News, Mike Stanton, David McCullough, Joe Paolino, Robert De Niro, David Igliozzi, Rascal King, Talk Radio, Entertainment, Less
