Independent Lincoln Chafee plans to announce his gubernatorial campaign next Monday, January 4, at 10 am, at the Iron Works Tavern in Warwick. The location, part of the Hilton Garden Inn, is close to one of Chafee's favorite pet projects (the Warwick intermodal center) -- so his campaign sees these as symbolizing hope for better economic times.

With Steve Laffey, Chafee's 2006 Senate primary rival, waiting in the wings, and with Democrats Frank Caprio and Patrick Lynch already starting to scrap, this promises to be RI's most dramatic and exciting governor's race in a long time.