Ken Block running for RI governor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Moderate Party Chairman Ken Block will be the fledgling party’s gubernatorial candidate for 2010.

Target 12 confirmed the Barrington resident’s run through campaign finance filings with the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

“The filing speaks for itself,” said party spokesperson Christine Hunsinger. “We’re going to announce our candidates on Sunday.”

• See Ken Block's appearance on Newsmakers

Hunsinger said the official announcement, set for 2 p.m., will be at the “Everyman Bistro” restaurant in Providence. The party will also be announcing candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general and several legislative seats.

Block, who has been the face of the party since its inception, filed a “notice of organization” with the Board of Elections on Friday. Hunsinger said Block stepped down as chairman of the party Feb. 10. Former U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Robert Corrente confirms for Target 12 that he has taken over has chairman of the Moderate Party.

He will now join the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates that includes Democratic Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Democratic General Treasurer Frank Caprio, Independent Lincoln Chafee and Republican John Robitaille.

• In-depth coverage of RI's gubernatorial race

“We believe that our candidates are the most qualified,” Hunsinger said. “Nobody here owes anybody anything, politically speaking. They will make decisions in the best interest of Rhode Island.”

Eyewitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming said it’s too early to tell what kind of an effect Block will have on the other candidates.

“He’s not a household name,” Fleming said. “However, he does have the ability to run a campaign because he can put his own money in which makes him a candidate to be reckoned with.”

The Moderate party courted several higher profile personalities, like Corrente . Fleming said the party needed to find someone to run for governor to keep the party afloat, but Block will be more costly.

“They have to spend more money off the top to get the candidate known by the voters,” Fleming said.

With Block’s entrance, voters could be walking into the booth with at least four names to choose from for governor.

“It’s a strong possibility we have a governor elected with just 35 percent of the vote,” Fleming said.

In December, Block paid a $2,000 fine for donating $20,000 for “party building.” Board of Elections officials said there is a $10,000 individual donation limit in a calendar year. The Board of Elections initially whacked the party with a $20,000 fine, which would have been the largest in history.

At the time, Block said he decided to pay the fine to put it behind the party, but felt they had strong legal ground to dispute the Board of Elections’ claims.

Corrente was brought in the wake of the violation to advise the party in future ethics matters.

Block is a software designer and President of Simpatico Software Systems in Barrington. The company's website states the company designs “high performance transaction processing systems” for businesses.

twhite@wpri.com