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City official has man dress up as old woman for photo op

In this Jan. 5, 2016 still image from WJAR-TV video, Sue Stenhouse, left, executive director of the Senior Enrichment Center, speaks alongside a man dressed as an elderly woman, right, during a news conference in Cranston, R.I., to promote a program for school children to help senior citizens shovel snow during the winter. The middle-aged male bus driver wore a wig, earrings, lipstick and a dress, and a tag that read, "Cranston Senior Home Resident." Stenhouse resigned her position after the incident. (WJAR-TV via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT In this Jan. 5, 2016 still image from WJAR-TV video, Sue Stenhouse, left, executive director of the Senior Enrichment Center, speaks alongside a man dressed as an elderly woman, right, during a news conference in Cranston, R.I., to promote a program for school children to help senior citizens shovel snow during the winter. The middle-aged male bus driver wore a wig, earrings, lipstick and a dress, and a tag that read, "Cranston Senior Home Resident." Stenhouse resigned her position after the incident. (WJAR-TV via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press January 15, 2016 1 min read

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) – A city official in Rhode Island who wanted to include an elderly woman in a photo op about a snow shoveling program had a middle-aged male bus driver dress up in a wig, earrings, lipstick and a dress.

The driver stood next to the mayor of Cranston at a news conference touting the program and wore a name tag that said “Cranston Senior Home Resident.”

WJAR-TV uncovered the ruse in reports this week.

Sue Stenhouse is the city’s director of senior services who organized the news conference. She resigned and didn’t return messages requesting comment.

An aide for Mayor Allan Fung declined to explain, saying it was a personnel matter.

Two city councilmen told The Providence Journal they believe the stunt was meant to deceive.