City official resigns after press conference with fake snow and middle-aged man in a wig and dress

Sue Stenhouse (centre) holds a press conference with a man in a wig and dress pretending to be a woman (right).

Bizarre news from Cranston, Rhode Island, where city official Sue Stenhouse has resigned:

A city official who wanted to include an elderly woman in a photo op about a snow shoveling program persuaded a middle-aged man to dress up in a wig, earrings, lipstick and a dress.

The man 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.’’…

The “snow” was actually a pile of ice shavings from a nearby ice rink.

More details, and video footage, here.

Oddly enough, this isn’t one of the tips in 101 Ways To Win An Election.