PROVIDENCE — In a press release issued Tuesday morning, May 21, East Bay resident and entrepreneur Ken Block, who founded the Moderate Party of Rhode Island and ran as its candidate for Governor in 2010, announced he is running for Governor and forming a finance committee.

Mr. Block, of Barrington and who has spent the last few months helping to lead the effort to reform elections in Rhode Island by eliminating the master lever, said the state needs a Governor who is not afraid to use the bully pulpit of the office and who has the experience needed to get things done.

"Rhode Island is starved for leadership and desperate for a Governor who won't just talk about economic development, but who actually has the skills to do something about it," said Mr. Block. "What Rhode Island needs now are elected officials who are motivated not by the status quo, but by the desire to fix what is so broken in our state.  The serious problems with our economy and educational system will only be solved with hard work, attention to detail and a dedication to serving the best interests of the majority of Rhode Island's residents."

Realizing that the ability to raise money is going to be an important part of the race, Mr. Block said he is in the process of putting together a strong finance committee that will help him compete and get his message out to the voters.

"This election must be about who has the skills and vision to lead Rhode Island out of the financial mess we are in," he added.  "It can't come down to a choice between status quo candidates who raise staggering amounts of money from special interests outside of the state, or candidates who are completely bereft of ideas.  I intend to run a strong campaign with the vision and ideas necessary to convince voters that I am the best possible choice for fixing our state."

A formal kick off event will be planned in the near future, where Mr. Block will introduce his finance team and lay out his campaign platform. The campaign website can be found at www.blockforgovernor.com.