PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey sued the state elections board on Wednesday, claiming it violated his free speech rights by ordering him to quit hosting a radio talk show.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Providence, also names Board of Elections chairman Roger Begin and seeks a temporary restraining order allowing Laffey to return to the airwaves this week.

“This case involves a direct assault on freedom of speech and of the press,” the lawsuit reads.

A message left with the state elections board was not immediately returned. Begin declined to comment, saying he hadn’t seen the lawsuit.

The Republican mayor began hosting the Friday morning call-in show on WPRO-AM on Feb. 25, but Democrats complained “The Steve Laffey Show” was akin to free political advertising. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Senate or lieutenant governor.

The elections board voted unanimously last month to order Laffey off the air, concluding the airtime was an in-kind contribution from a corporation – a violation of state campaign finance laws.

Laffey was not paid for the show. The board did not fine him or order him to repay WPRO. It also did not allege any wrongdoing by the station.

David Bernstein, director of operations and news at WPRO, said he could not comment on the lawsuit because he had not seen it.

Laffey claims the Rhode Island law on which the board based its decision is unconstitutionally vague and too broad, because it does not define what constitutes an in-kind contribution. He also argues that only the federal government can regulate radio broadcasts.

In the lawsuit, Laffey’s lawyers note that Providence Mayor David Cicilline has a cable television show and a monthly radio show on WPRO and Gov. Don Carcieri also appears monthly on WPRO.

The board has not taken action against those officials, according to the lawsuit. Their shows are moderated by a host, which may be an important distinction because Laffey controls the content of his own show. Cicilline’s TV show also airs on public access cable, which is available to anyone.

On Laffey’s show, which he hosted seven times, he discussed topics including the pope’s illness, immigration, bills in the General Assembly and assorted issues affecting Rhode Island communities.

A former businessman, Laffey, 43, was first elected mayor in 2002, and was re-elected last year.

The complaint to the elections board was made by Cranston City Council President Aram Garabedian, a Democrat who was defeated by Laffey in 2002. Outside the courthouse Wednesday, Laffey said he was being singled out for taking a stand against corruption spawned by the state’s Democratic political machine.

“When you speak out against special interests in Rhode Island, they’ll try to shut you down,” he said.

Boston University communications professor Tobe Berkovitz said Laffey was trying to turn the debate away from politics.

“He looks like he’s fighting the good fight over the First Amendment,” he said, “and in fact he’s fighting a bare-knuckle fight to keep his political platform.”