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Meeting Street CEO still eyeing mayoral run

1:48 PM Mon, Feb 09, 2009 | Permalink
By Philip Marcelo

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PROVIDENCE, RI -- The president and CEO of Meeting Street, a K-12 charter school, says he's still interested in running for mayor if David N. Cicilline does not seek reelection.

John M. Kelly, the former chairman of the city's Zoning Board of Review, spoke yesterday morning on WPRI/WNAC-TV's Newsmakers with WPRI investigative reporter Tim White and Ian Donnis, who is leaving his job as news editor at the Providence Phoenix to report on politics for Rhode Island's public radio station, WRNI.

The focus of the interview was potential state funding cuts to early childhood intervention programs. Kelly says his school risks losing $500,000 if Gov. Carcieri's budget proposal goes through.

But when asked about the mayor's office about halfway into the 15-minute interview, Kelly, an attorney, said he remains "very interested." The Projo first reported Kelly's interest in the office last year.

"I've dedicated my whole political life to Providence," said Kelly on Newsmakers.
Kelly was appointed by Cicilline to the zoning board in 2006, but stepped down in 2008 after announcing his interest in the mayor's office. He has served as head of Meeting Street for ten years.

It's all dependent on what Cicilline does however. Kelly has said he will not run against Cicilline. He said he hopes the Providence mayor runs for governor. "I think David Cicilline will be a great governor," said Kelly.

According to a campaign finance report filed this month with the state Board of Elections, Kelly has raised about $84, 000, although his finance reports do not list specifically what office he's interested in running for.

Meanwhile, Ian Donnis reports on his political blog that Cicilline fundraiser Brett Smiley said that Cicilline is expected make his decision shortly about seeking reelection.

Cicilline's name has consistently been floated as a potential candidate for governor in 2010, and, more recently, as a potential congressional candidate.