(Crankers) Due to his 1998 conviction for child molestation involving a 13-year-old girl, Michael English, a Democratic candidate for mayor of Providence, has generated a great deal of controversy. English argues that his criminal record does not legally disqualify him from running for office and invites voters to take into account the improvements he has made since his incarceration.
In other words, if you’re judging him on one little molestation crime, then you’re just being judgmental and you’re the bad guy for using it against him.
Yeah, because that’s what a logical person would actually do. Anyone who votes for this guy supports molesting teenagers. You see how that works?
The 2026 mayoral race currently includes incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley, state Rep. David Morales, and English, who is 54. A recent report from the Providence Journal brought renewed attention to English’s past. In 1998, he was convicted and served 15 months in prison, even though prosecutors recommended a 40-year sentence with seven years to serve. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
A decade later, English served another 19 months after the victim accused him of violating a no-contact order by showing up at her home. He told the Providence Journal he was living across the street from her at the time, which he says contributed to the accusation.
English acknowledges his criminal record openly. On his campaign website, he describes himself as a “blue-collar Democrat,” and in an open letter, he admits he dropped out of high school, made “immature decisions,” and was incarcerated in the 1990s. He says that after completing his sentence, he focused on self-improvement, earning a GED, a paralegal certificate, and multiple college degrees.
He maintains that his conviction does not disqualify him from running for mayor and argues that his personal turnaround should matter to voters. English also criticizes the other candidates, referring to Morales as a “socialist” and claiming Mayor Smiley is not the right choice for the city. He believes he has a path to victory if voters give him a chance.
According to an earlier court rule meant to protect child victims, the case file for English’s conviction is classified as confidential, according to the Providence Journal. The issue surrounding his candidacy has been intensified by the policy’s restrictions on public access to details.
