Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE -- Saying that his work in the Capital City is not finished, Mayor David N. Cicilline announced today that he will seek reelection in 2010, ending years of speculation that the two-term Democratic mayor and former state legislator would seek the governor's office and opening the question of whether anyone will look to unseat the incumbent mayor.

"We face the most serious economic crisis our state and our country has ever faced since the Great Depression. Continuing our work is the key to putting Providence in the strongest position possible when the recession ends," said Cicilline, who, in move befitting of the times, opted to forgo the traditional press conference and instead released a four-minute video on Youtube this afternoon.

The announcement further pares down the field of recognizable candidates to succeed Republican Governor Carcieri. It also means that the nation will potentially have to wait longer to see its first openly gay governor. Cicilline, 47, was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. capital when he took office in 2003. His name has also been floated as a candidate for U.S. Congress.

In the governor's race, Democratic state General Treasurer Frank Caprio remains the man to beat, with a warchest topping one million dollars and leading all candidates in recent polls.

State Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts also remain viable Democratic candidates for governor.

The long-speculated Republic front-runner, former Cranston Mayor Steven P. Laffey, who lost a 2006 bid for the U.S. Senate to Sheldon Whitehouse, said on talk radio late last week that he will not run for governor in 2010. State Rep. Joseph A. Trillo, R- Warwick, has said he is weighing running for the office; so has former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chaffee, a Republican-turned Independent.

Cicilline said in an interview in City Hall late today that he had to weigh his political aspirations for the highest office in the state or another term as mayor of the state's largest city.

"Anytime you consider an elected office, you chose the position that that's a good fit," said Cicilline. "This makes the most sense to me. This is the best job I've ever had."

 Tags  2010 election Carcieri Cicilline gay mayor governor race Rhode Island

Comments

Jake51 said:

Who are viable candidates? Who can garner both labor and progressive support? Looks like you left someone out!

(A million in the bank sounds like a lot, unless one contender belongs to an organization with over 3 million members nationally.)

Link | March 11, 2009 4:24 PM
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