City Council President Michael Solomon: 13 To Watch in RI in 2013

City Council President Michael Solomon: 13 To Watch in RI in 2013

There are very few win-win scenarios for politicians, but Providence City Council President Michael Solomon finds himself in the fortunate position of having a variety of options when it comes to his political future.

If Mayor Angel Taveras runs for Governor in 2014, Solomon, who has the ability to raise money and is willing to pour a significant amount of his own cash into a race, instantly becomes a favorite to succeed him.

If Taveras stays put (he would be a lock to be re-elected Mayor) and Gina Raimondo runs for Governor, Solomon can run for General Treasurer, an office his father (Anthony Solomon) held for six terms in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

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And of course, there is the very real possibility that Taveras and Raimondo run against each other, leaving Solomon with his pick of the office he’d like to pursue.

That’s not to say that he would be a guarantee to win either office, but for a guy who barely won his first Council seat in 2006, no one has seen their political stock improve more than Solomon. He’s done it by forging a close partnership with Taveras (who happens to be the most popular politician in the state) and by helping lead the city out of a $110 million structural deficit.

Look for Solomon to continue raising money in 2013 (those close to him say he is also considering loaning his campaign a chunk of money in an attempt to scare off potential challengers) and to make a decision on his future by the end of the year.