By JIM BARON

PROVIDENCE — Kenneth Block will run for governor under the banner of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island that he founded last year.

Block stepped down last week as party chairman and was replaced by former U.S. Attorney Robert Corrente. Joining Block on the first-ever Moderate Party ticket will be Jean Ann Guliano, running for lieutenant governor and Chris Little seeking the office of attorney general.
“We’re looking seriously at the congressional race, but we don’t have a candidate yet,” said executive director Christine Hunsinger. Hunsinger said the party expects to have candidates for secretary of state and general treasurer once its first candidates start campaigning.  “Once we get out and start doing some things, we think people will come forward,” she said.
The Moderates were hoping to roll out their ticket at an event Sunday in Providence, but word leaked out with Corrente’s ascension to the unpaid job as party chairman.
The top three candidates will still meet with supporters at the campaign’s formal announcement on Sunday,
Hunsinger said “the timing didn’t come together” to introduce the General Assembly candidates and local candidates on Sunday as planned.
Originally, Block had said the party would focus on electing candidates to the General Assembly and might not run a candidate for all the general officer posts. On Tuesday, Hunsinger said, “things change. At this point we feel like we will field a good number of General Assembly candidates.  But the governor has the biggest megaphone, the biggest bully pulpit and the biggest voice for independent voters.
“What Rhode Island needs is political will and courage to fight special interests and the status quo,” Hunsinger said. “It is time for a citizen candidate rather than a professional politician or a dynasty politician, which we have a lot of in this state.”
Block was not available for comment Tuesday.