By Abbey Niezgoda
aniezgoda@abc6.com
A convicted child killer will get to vote in the upcoming election, after new members, appointed to the Board of Canvassers in Cranston Monday night, said they will sign off on Michael Woodmansee's ballot.
Woodmansee served 28 years for murdering 5-year-old Jason Foreman back in 1975. He voluntarily checked in to a mental facility, which is why members of the board were refusing to sign off on his ballot.
However, the Board of Elections decided to give chairman Joseph DeLorenzo an ultimatum Monday.
"Either sign, resign or face criminal charges for dereliction of duty," DeLorenzo said.
He filed his resignation letter shortly after, saying he would rather lose his job than let a convicted killer, who may very well be insane, vote. Another member of the three person board voluntarily resigned last week.
The city council was left to appoint two new members with one stipulation.
Cranston Democratic Chairman Mike Sepe says they were chosen with the understanding that they will sign off on Woodmansee's ballot.
"I don't agree with it. I know most of the people in the city of Cranston don't agree with it," Sepe said. "But I don't think there's really anything we can do because of the way the Board of Elections put the onus on the Board of Canvassers."
Woodmansee's ballot is expected to be certified Tuesday.
