Stephen Laffey won't run for governor

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Former Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey says it is not his time right now to run for governor.  Eyewitness News spoke exclusively with Laffey Thursday night, shortly after he announced he would not seek to replace Governor Don Carcieri in 2010.

Laffey tells Eyewitness News he "has the answers," but he is not happy with where the state is headed, following who was elected to the State House last November.

"Rhode Island needs to get its act together," says Laffey.  "When you elect state reps over and over again, who have destroyed you, you are making a mistake."

The news comes just days after a survey by Rhode Island College showed that Laffey would be the Republican frontrunner in the race.

Eyewitness News political analyst Joe Fleming says Laffey's decision leaves the GOP race for governor wide open. "Right now there's really no big name Republican out there," says Fleming.

During an appearance on Newmakers in November, Laffey said running for governor was something under consideration.  However, he never officially announced his candidacy.

Laffey lost the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate to Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee in 2006.

Before that, Laffey was mayor of Cranston and lead the city from the brink of bankruptcy.