When House Speaker Bill Murphy steps down later this week, he will hand  the gavel to his loyal lieutenant, Gordon Fox of Providence.

House Speaker is one of the two or three most powerful jobs in state government, yet the campaign for the post has been invisible to all but the 75 state reps and the usual gang of state House lobbyists, journalists and pols.

The campaign has been playing out behind the scenes for months now, with Fox and Murphy lining up support from Democrats who form the vast majority on Smith Hill.

This election was conducted in the time-honored way, with Fox soliciting support one by one, in private meetings with House colleagues. You were more likely to see this campaign at work in a far corner of the Capital Grille than on the evening news.

Historically there are two ways that power is transferred at the Rhode Island State House. One way will occur this week--probably on Wednesday, say House sources. That's when the speaker  leaves and his job is assumed by an ally chosen by party consensus. In this case, that's Fox, the House majority leader.

The other power changes hands is through a battle royal, what the made men in the famous Godfather movis called ``going to the mattresses.''  That means competing factions fighting it out in a series of primaries around the state. That's when things get interesting and usually, messy.

Even if Fox wins, as most plugged in State House observers assume he will, he could still face a joust with forces loyal to Rep. Gregory Schadone of North Providence. The speaker chosen this week will hold the gavel only until next January, when there will be another speaker election.

Fox is poised to tap Rep. Nicholas Mattiello of Cranston as his second-in-command. Mattiello was reportedly chosen over Rep. Patrick O'Neill of Pawtucket.

Fix is a lawyer and veteran lawmaker with nearly two decades of experience at the State House. He's been House Finance Committee chairman, majority leader and now he is on the verge of becoming speaker. While that marks the pinnacle of accomplishment for a state lawmaker, Fox takes over at a perilous time in the Rhode Island's long and florid political hisory.

The state's budget is drowning in red ink, the economy is a wreck and people have scant faith in government's ability to change things.

Hopefully, Fox and his team can restore some popular confidence in the much-maligned Assembly. He is making the right sounds on the issue of putting the Ethics Commission  back in charge of lawmakers. And maybe he'll take a stab at pledging transperancy and open government. Then he needs to get down to work as soon as possible on a responsible state budget. The times dictate no less.

Scott MacKay's commentary can he heard every Monday on Morning Edition at 6:35 and 8:35.