House Speaker Shekarchi won't run for CD1. Now, who will toss their hat in?

PROVIDENCE – House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi will not run for the Rhode Island 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by David Cicilline.

His decision opens the floodgates for a potential tidal wave of candidates waiting for the man who holds what has often been called the most powerful job in state government to declare his intentions before they make their own moves.

"It is an honor to know so many people have confidence that I could help get good things done in Washington, just as we've done at the State House," Shekarchi said Friday. "At this time, however, I believe I can do more to help our state by continuing in my role as speaker."

"I recognize that my consideration for this office has frozen the field and a lot of people are waiting for my decision," he said. "That's why I wanted to make it sooner rather than later."

There was no immediate surge of candidate announcements, but a few new names surfaced from outside the city and state political world including that of Donald Carlson, 62, of Jamestown, an EMT on his town fire department and current head of the Tsai Leadership Program at the Yale Law School.

Carlson, who also describes himself as an investor and "renewable energy expert," told The Journal: "Yes I am seriously considering a run for Congress.  I expect to make a decision in the coming weeks."

"BTW, I’ve worn several hats in my career, starting with being a busboy at Newport Creamery, through a long stretch of summers helping to run Camp Yawgoog in Rockville, RI."

The only major Democratic contender who has announced so far is Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos (who does not live in the 1st Congressional District).

A spokeswoman for Helena Foulkes, the former CVS top executive who came close to beating Gov. Dan McKee in the 2022 Democratic primary, said she will announce whether she is in or out "early next week."

North Providence Town Council President Dino Autiello, currently in the "government relations" arm of the University of Rhode Island, added his name to the list of politicos "seriously considering a run."

He anticipates a "final decision soon."

Others who have expressed an interest in running include: state Senators Dawn Euer of Newport and Sandra Cano of Pawtucket, Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien (who said Friday he's leaning toward a run), Providence City Councilman John Goncalves, and state Rep. Nathan Biah of Providence.

Cano told The Journal Friday: "I continue to explore a run and ... look forward to making a decision with my family very soon."

More:Big RI names circling Cicilline's exit; here's who's staking out a possible run

Shekarchi: Decision personal, not political

In an interview, Shekarchi, 59, told The Journal he wrestled with the decision, since opportunities to run for an open congressional seat do not come up often.

The unexpected − and imminent − opening in Rhode Island's congressional was created by U.S. Rep. David Cicilline's decision to resign in June to take a new-and-higher paying job as the $650,000 a year head of the Rhode Island Foundation. Voters will choose his successor at a special mid-term election sometime after Labor Day.

Shekarchi said his own political analysis told him: "I've been in politics for a long time. I've had a lot of experience in it. And I had never ... seen such a clear path to a victory. Financial resources, labor support, party support ... (and) if I lost ... I would [still be] speaker ... a free shot, no political risk in that at all."

Then he looked at what he stood to lose, even if he won. "One, this House, which I enjoy and love my colleagues here. Two, I have not and am not prepared to wind down on a dime my law practice that I've built over 30 years."

In the end, Shekarchi said his decision was more personal than political. Living full-time in Rhode Island, he gets to visit his 97-year-old father several times a week.

But he said a 90-minute conversation two Sundays ago with his own "political mentor" − U.S. Sen. Jack Reed − at an IHOP near the airport helped him decide.

He said Reed told him he could "do more here for the people of Rhode Island as speaker ... 'In Washington, in the minority party, you can't get a hearing on a bill ... let alone an amendment for years'."

"Especially coming in at midterm, you'd be number 435 in the minority party."

"I respect his opinion a lot, and that was what helped me make my decision," he said.

Who would he support for the seat?

Asked about who − if anyone − he might back for the seat, Shekarchi said: "I am committed to work(ing) hard to make sure that we elect the Democrat to that seat."

Asked specifically about Foulkes, he said: "She's a formidable candidate ... [but] I would sit down and talk to anybody who seeks my support ... and have a conversation with them. And Helena would certainly be on that list, as well as Senator Cano and anyone else."

"You have to see what the field is," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: House Speaker Shekarchi won't run to replace David Cicilline