Not surprisingly, Joseph Solomon Jr. wasn’t at home Sunday morning. He was working on the campaign of his cousin, Michael Solomon, who is running for the mayor of Providence.

Public service and campaigning are in the Solomon genes and Joseph Solomon Jr., the son of the Ward 4 councilman with the same name, announced last week he is running for the House District 22 seat now held by Rep. Frank Ferri. Last week, Ferri made it official that he is running for Lieutenant Governor.

“It is always something I’ve been interested in,” the 30-year old attorney said yesterday in a telephone interview. He is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, Providence College and New England Law Boston.

Solomon is the first to declare for the House seat.

Solomon has worked as an attorney for the past six years, and as legal counsel in the House Policy Office for the last five years. He is an active member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

Should he win election, Solomon said he would leave his state job and concentrate on his legal practice. He said more of his legal work involves start-up companies and personal injury claims.

“I really feel I can make a difference,” Solomon said. “I feel I can contribute to rebuilding the economy.”

He said he wants to see more emphasis placed on rebuilding the state’s infrastructure – roads and bridges – and that those projects would serve to create immediate construction jobs while positioning the state for the growth in businesses.

As no neophyte to politics – Solomon’s grandfather, Walter Santos, served as the Ward 4 councilman – Solomon announced his candidacy in a press release.

“With an accounting and business background, I’ve guided people who wanted to start new businesses. As a State Representative, I’ll focus my efforts on that same goal – improving our economy and growing jobs,” Solomon said.

“As President John F. Kennedy once remarked, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ As a State Representative, I’ll be 100 percent committed to jump-starting the economy in Rhode Island so that we can all flourish together.”

Solomon, who is a Democrat, said he would be walking the district. He said he is looking forward to meeting people and hearing firsthand of issues important to them.

He had not yet formed a campaign committee, but that’s in his plans.

“I’ve been talking to a bunch of people,” he said.