Paolino: Decision Within 30 Days

Joe Paolino, the former Providence mayor who has been talking about a run against incumbent Mayor David N. Cicilline, tells N4N that he will make a decision about whether to run in the next 30 days.

Observers are betting against a run given that his family's company, Paolino Properties, has large swaths of empty commercial space downtown that needs attending. Irking the mayor with a challenge probably isn't the best business move.

City Councilman John Lombardi, who seems to be leaning toward a run, is also promising an announcement next month. Most observers say Buddy Cianci, who has floated his name of late, probably won't get in the race. He's got a lucrative radio job and legal hurdles to running, given his criminal record.

Cianci, for his part, says all the names of potential candidates may not have surfaced yet.