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Politics

GOP Rep. Trillo considering 2010 run for governor

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January 26, 2009 6:26 pm
By Cynthia Needham

Rep. Joseph Trillo is considering a run for governor in 2010.

The Warwick Republican confirmed in an interview today that he is putting together an exploratory committee to investigate the idea. Reports of the run first surfaced on the political blog anchorrising.com.

"It's something that I have been thinking about very seriously," Trillo said. "I'm in the process of putting together a committee right now."

To help him make a decision, Trillo has enlisted former consultants to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to help him make the decision.

"It's much more than idle thinking," he said. "I'm out there kind of feeling my way into the field. I'm moving forward with the intent of doing it."

So far a host of Democrats have signaled interest in a run to replace Republican Governor Carcieri in 2010, but few other Republicans have hinted at the possibility with the exception of former Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey.

Trillo has $60,000 in his campaign coffers -- that's more than most legislators, but thousands less than his potential Democrat opponents including General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch and Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline.

Can a Republican win in 2010? Trillo says the GOP will have less to worry about by the mid-term elections when the country's political mood will likely have shifted toward the center.

"Right now it's an uphill climb," he said, referencing the popularity of Democrats both here in Rhode Island and beyond. "But two years from now I think we will stand an excellent chance."

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