Clay Pell, grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, is running for Rhode Island governor as a Democrat.
This year's race is open seat, with independent-turned-Democrat Lincoln Chafee not seeking re-election.
Pell, 32, made the announcement on Jan. 28 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence, flanked by his wife, former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan.
"I believe I can offer a fresh perspective," said Pell, who joins Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and state General Treasurer Gina Raimondo on the Democratic side, along with Todd Giroux, who ran for U.S. Senate as an independent in 2010.
Republican candidates so far are Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and businessman Ken Block. Thomas Davis is running as an independent.
Pension overhaul and the 38 Studios controversy have become hot-button financial issues in the Ocean State.
Raimondo in 2011 shepherded a law overhauling the pension system for state employees, but five public-sector unions challenged the law in Rhode Island Superior Court and mediation talks are ongoing under an order from Judge Sarah Taft Carter. At the local level, Taveras and Fung have negotiated reduced-benefit pension packages with their respective retired police officers and firefighters.
Pell told reporters after his announcement that the state should re-examine whether it should pay more than $100 million in moral obligation debt related to the demise of 38 Studios LLC, the video-game company owned by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. A bill enhancing a settlement of the state's lawsuit against the company is pending the Rhode Island legislature.
Claiborne Pell, who crafted the so-called Pell grants for college students, served Rhode Island for six Senate terms from 1961 to 1997.
