Albuquerque resigns from Town Council

CUMBERLAND - Antonio Albuquerque, 57, is stepping down immediately from his elected position on the Cumberland Town Council, he told The Breeze this week, after pleading no contest on Oct. 21 to a charge of domestic violence against his Central Falls girlfriend.

His resignation, tendered to Council President James Higgins Tuesday afternoon, closes a one-week flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions between councilors and other town officials about Albuquerque's future impact on the council and his effectiveness as a town leader.

A week after his arrest, after first hoping to ride out the controversy, Albuquerque described himself as "a distraction" and bowed out.

According to a Central Falls Police Department arrest report that contains little information, Albuquerque turned himself into the police station on Wednesday, Oct. 21, on a charge described as domestic violence that occurred at the residence of Maureen Azar on Washington Street in Central Falls.

The report describes "an apparent minor injury."

He was immediately processed at the 6th District Court in Providence when he pleaded no contest and his case was filed. He must attend one year of domestic violence counseling and have no contact with the victim.

He told The Breeze Tuesday about his decision to resign, "I need to get my personal life in order and that's my main concern now.

"It's become a distraction for the rest of the council, which they didn't deserve. You have to act in the best interests of the group and from day one that's always been in the forefront for me."

He said, "I apologize to all my colleagues on the council. They have too many things to worry about. They don't need this distraction."

A special election to replace him, the Valley Falls representative to the seven-member council, must be held within 60 days, according to the charter, or by Christmas week.

Albuquerque, who's served in the past on the Planning Board and worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln, was a member of the council's Finance Committee. He was also the council's liaison on public safety issues.

A retired Central Falls firefighter, he owns the Third Base drinking establishment on High Street in Cumberland where earlier this month he lost his liquor license for three days after police found it open after hours.

He declined to provide details about the assault charge. "I'm going to deal with it personally and put my own house in order," he said.

Albuquerque, of Howe Street, joined the council after the 2006 election when he ran unopposed for the seat vacated by Anthony Nobrega.

In 2008, he was re-elected with 54 percent of the vote in a Democratic Party run off against Thomas Tougas, who received 34 percent and Robert Dias with 12 percent.

On Monday of this week, Town Council members were talking about holding an executive session that might have led to their formally requesting Albuquerque's resignation.

Cumberland's Town Charter contains a section that does disqualify elected officials from office when they run afoul of the law, but Town Solicitor Thomas Hefner said this case did rise to the charter's standard.

Section 1709 of the charter says an office holder is disqualified if he or she is convicted or pleads no contest to a felony or misdemeanor resulting in a jail sentence of six months or more, to serve or suspended.

Albuquerque's case was a no contest pleading with a filing, said Hefner. If there's no subsequent complaint involving domestic violence, General Law 12-10-12 reads, the charge is quashed.

Albuquerque didn't rule out the possibility of running for office in the future. "We'll see what develops. Do I like politics? Absolutely. Will I ever come back? We'll see."