In a widely expected move Providence Mayor David Cicilline announced his candidacy for the open District One house seat in Rhode Island. The seat is open due to the unexpected retirement of Representative Patrick Kennedy, the son of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

There has been speculation previously that David Cicilline could become the nation’s first openly gay Governor given the importance of Providence in Rhode Island and his popularly.

If elected Mr. Cicilline would be the third openly gay/lesbian candidate elected to federal office after Rep. Polis of Colorado and Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts was not openly gay during his first campaign for office.

The Providence Journal article on the announcement and the Mayor’s background.