Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt weighing a run for Congress. What we know.
WOONSOCKET — Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt says she is weighing a possible run for Rhode Island's First Congressional District seat soon to be vacated by Rep. David Cicilline.
"I have not made a decision as of yet, but have been in conversations with folks, including my family" whom she said were supportive of the idea.
Baldelli-Hunt has three grown children, ages 25, 26, and 33.
She says, however, she has to also weigh "what's in the interest of Woonsocket," and is in that process of consideration now.
"I don't have a definitive date as to when" she will make up her mind about running.
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Cicilline has said he will leave the House of Representative on June 1 to become the new head of the Rhode Island Foundation.
Six people have so far thrown their hats in the ring for the seat. They are: Providence City Council member John Goncalves, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, state Sen. Sandra Cano, former state Commerce Corporation staffer Nicholas Autiello, former Republican congressional candidate Allen Waters and state Rep. Nathan Biah.
Several high profile Rhode Island political names have also declined to run, including Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes.
State Rep. Stephen Casey, a Woonsocket firefighter, is expected to launch his own bid for the 1st Congressional District seat, perhaps as early as next week.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Woonsocket Mayor Baldelli-Hunt weighing CD1 run to replace David Cicilline
