EAST PROVIDENCE — In the early 1950s, the East Providence Citizens League assumed the role of vigilant municipal watchdogs.

Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr. last night said the group transformed a city “that was run with an iron fist” by partisan politics into a nonpartisan manager-council form of government ruled by a city charter.

Larisa, who may be off the council pending next week’s recount, has resurrected the league with Councilman-elect Robert Cusack and resident John Conley.

“History repeats itself and I think it is now,” the mayor said at last night’s council meeting. Quoting a statement the league made in 1967, he said, “Good government in East Providence was no accident. It was determined in large measure by the persistent demanding of its citizens.”

Larisa said the all-inclusive group was his answer to concerned residents who fear the next council would return the city to bad government, high annual tax increases and partisan control. He said more than 100 residents have pledged to join.

The group intends to “defend and respect” the charter and “educate people to vote the person, not the party,” Larisa said. The Republican criticized candidates last week for not respecting the charter during the last election. Although he didn’t name names, Ward 2 council candidate Jim Abrams, Councilman Bryan Silva and Councilman-elect Bruce DiTraglia had “Democrat” on their lawn signs even though party affiliations were not listed on the ballot.

Silva told The Journal that “it was his constitutional right” to promote his party affiliation.

“We will take good government positions and make sure special interest groups and parties don’t take over our city,” Larisa said. “We’ll make sure our city manager [Richard Brown] won’t be run out of the city by these groups and help the City Council.”

Larisa said a “good government position” was supported by 70 percent of this month’s voters. They approved a charter change giving the council final say on all union contracts including future pacts made with the city’s school employees.

He said the council, with School Committee backing, also refused to pay the controversial health-care “buyback” option in the current teacher contract, which expires in 2008. The option allows teachers and school staff to receive up to $5,100 if they opt out of the department’s health-insurance program.

The fight is in arbitration awaiting a ruling, but may continue in the courts afterward. The mayor hopes the group will pressure city officials to persist. Larisa, a lawyer, has also offered to represent the city in the matter for free.

“Knowing there is work to do is not enough,” Larisa said, continuing to quote the first league. “We must follow City Hall activities, study and research when necessary, criticize if warranted, offer programs on current problems….

“I have tried to do this for the last 12 years [as a councilman] and will continue to do that [with this league].”

The group will be established next month and those interested can e-mail Larisa at citizenlarisa@verizon.net.