And back to the local political front…

Governor Carcieri’s political coffers got a much-needed boost Thursday night at a fundraiser at East Providence’s Metacomet Country Club.

The event drew about 50 people, and more importantly, about $50,000 in donations (though the Carcieri campaign says it hasn’t yet tabulated all the checks).

So what does a term-limited governor with two years left in office do with all those fundraising checks?

It seems he’ll be paying off at least one bill.

Making the point that he was off the state clock, Carcieri’s spokesman Jeff Neal said Friday night that the governor’s campaign has one remaining $5,900 bill outstanding from the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. “Obviously, the campaign will pay that,” Neal said.

What will Carcieri do with the rest of the cash he raised? “Governor Carcieri will use this money and will continue to raise money over the course of the year to get his message out,” Neal said.

According to state campaign finance reports, the governor finished the fourth quarter of 2007 with just $3,560.18 in his account.