Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rumors that Robert Weygand, a former Rhode Island Congessman and lieutenant governor, is considering a run for governor are not entirely exaggerated.

In a brief interview on Wednesday, Weygand acknowledged, as he has before, that he has been "thinking about it for awhile,'' but said he is leaning against a 2010 gubernatorial candidacy because he thoroughly enjoys his job as a vice president of administration and finance at his alma mater, the University of Rhode Island.

The rumor bubbled to the surface again this week after URI announced the finalists for the presidency of the state university, and Weygand's name was not among them.
Weygand, 61, said he did not apply after it was "indicated to me early on that they were looking for someone with different skills than I have,'' specifically in the research and sciences arena.

He said he is aware that whoever ultimately wins the presidency "may want a different administrative team in here.''

"That may change where I am going,'' he said, but it will not be the deciding factor in a decision on whether to run again for statewide office. If Weygand does run for governor, he potentially faces another match against former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a Republican-turned-independent. Chafee defeated Weygand in 2000, when the two were competing for the U.S. Senate seat that Chafee first acquired by appointment in 1999 after his father's death.

"Running for governor would be a decision I make based upon whether I could effectively change the direction of Rhode Island,'' he said.

Asked what would be the deciding factor, Weygand said: "I've run enough campaigns to be realistic that you have to have the money to run the race. I've also run enough campaigns that I know that I have still tremendous financial support out there, but that's not the reasons why you run. ... You run because you can do something good for Rhode Islanders.''

 Tags  lieutenant governor Lincoln Chafee RI Robert Weygand U.S. Congress URI

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