By WPRO News
State Representative Robert Lancia (R-Cranston) announced Tuesday he’s forming an exploratory committee to prepare for a potential run for lieutenant governor.
Lancia told WPRO’s Gene Valicenti the debacle at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that erupted over the weekend prompted him to consider getting into the race.
“I see there is a need for a candidate with a strong solid legislative background, a proven track record of fighting for taxpayers, and working tirelessly for the people of Rhode Island, and that candidate is me,” Lancia said in a statement.
Lancia said that “many citizens” don’t see much value or use for a lieutenant governor, but he says he could use the office to streamline state government spending. In fact, if he runs, he might run to do away with the office altogether.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people and they say ‘If you’re running, I hope you’re running to eliminate the office,’ and maybe we will,” he told Valicenti, suggesting an Office of Inspector General could replace it.
“To be able to turn that into an Inspector General’s Office would be something that at this point is needed. I mean, there is no way a state this size has a budget of $9.3 billion. It’s just completely out of control,” he said.
