By News Staff
CENTRAL FALLS, R. I. (AP) The start of the new year will also bring a new mayor in Central Falls. James Diossa is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday evening at Central Falls High School.
The 27-year-old city councilman easily defeated former Central Falls Police Chief Joseph Moran in a special election last month. He will be the city's first Hispanic mayor.
The former mayor, Charles Moreau, resigned in September and agreed to plead guilty to a federal corruption charge. His sentencing is scheduled for next month.
The mayor and city council were relegated to advisory status after a state-appointed receiver took over the city in 2010. It's not clear when local officials will get their full powers back.
Diossa has pledged to return ethics and transparency to city government.
