Projo 7 to 7 News 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  cicilline providence Rhode Island

Comments

Mark said:

I suppose when you get into office calling other people crooks, and then we find out what your character is, I'd try to stay where I was too. You still stink as a mayor- get a grip!

Link | March 10, 2009 7:37 PM
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watching said:

cicciline is right! his work is not finished. He still has many more political contributors to thank by reducing their property taxes. Will you hold my bad check mayor instead of making me pay my taxes?

Link | March 10, 2009 8:17 PM
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Sad in the city said:

What a sad day it is for the city of Providence. Mayor Cicillini has missed the mark in so many ways in Providence and it shows! Some examples include the dirty, unmanicured streets in downtown, the lack of correctly managed funding for economic development when it was available and the deplorable conditions at our beloved Roger Williams Park Zoo. Just a few short years ago Providence invited economic growth, created local residential & commercial pride and offered a world class conservation zoo as a tourist attraction. We now wallow in the quagmire of Cicillini's lack of direction, knowledge and enthusiasm. Cicillini plays off that he is for the city of Providence, it's multicultural integration and future progress as a world class "smaller tourist mecca" but that is an outright lie. Mayor Cicillini is out for Mayor Cicillini period. And don't be fooled, his goal has always been to become Governor of Rhode Island. He is sticking around as mayor simply because his recent blunders have sullied his drive for the governorship. He is a snake in waiting and as soon as he can make a play for the bigger and better title, trust me, he'll forget Providence and it's people. It will be the residents and business owners who'll be left with a mess of a city from Mayor Cicillini's political agenda and personal gain. I hope he fails in his re-election and the city can regain the sparkle he has stolen & squandered.

Respectfully yours,
Born, raised and still loving Providence

Link | March 10, 2009 8:46 PM
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Tom said:

"Born, raised and still loving Providence"
BUDDY?

Link | March 11, 2009 12:26 PM
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