Curtatone 'Absolutely' Considering Run for Governor

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone told reporters Thursday a run for governor was "absolutely" something he was considering.

The mayor did not say when he would make a decision, but said it would be sometime "in the near future," likely before November.

In November, Curtatone will be on the ballot in Somerville to run for a sixth term as mayor. He's running unopposed.

In making the decision to run for higher office, Curtatone said he was considering the impact on his family and his professional career. Those were the most important things to consider, he said.

Asked it he was waiting to see if other prominent Democrats, such as Attorney General Martha Coakley, were jumping into the race, he said it would be foolish not to consider the field of candidates, but he said, "I'm going to base my decision on my own analysis." 

Curtatone spoke with reporters after a press event with Gov. Deval Patrick in Somerville at an industrial site that will soon be home to Greentown Labs, an incubator space for energy technology startups.

Reporters asked Curtatone if other mayors in the state would support him if he ran, to which Curtatone replied, "I feel confident I'd have a lot of colleagues in the state behind me." He has previously served as president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association.

He said that professionally he has "no doubt" he has the skills and experience to be governor.

Although he said he would likely make a decision before November, he also said, "I am running for mayor of Somerville." 

He told reporters there's a lot of important work to do in the city, and that may factor into his decision.