Former Warwick Mayor and United States Senator Lincoln Chafee took a major step toward joining the race for the Governor’s Office in 2010 yesterday.

Chafee created an “exploratory committee” and appointed James DeRentis, who has been active in Democratic politics and resigned as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Bank Rhode Island last week to become the committee’s manager.

An exploratory committee is the preliminary step many candidates take before jumping into the race. Exploratory committees are normally comprised of supporters who unequivocally encourage the candidate to seek the office.

At this point, an announcement would seem like a formality.

DeRentis will be responsible for activities such as fundraising, creating the campaign structure and building an advisory team.

“We are at a pivotal moment in our state’s history, and I am excited to establish a team that will help create a platform to help elect a candidate to unite Rhode Islanders at a time when divisiveness has hindered our state and prevented us from reaching the potential we know we can achieve,” said DeRentis.

“I firmly believe that Linc Chafee has demonstrated the kind of bold leadership and inclusive decision making that makes him a different kind of candidate.”

Chafee’s press release touts him as “the only potential gubernatorial contender that possesses governmental experience on the local, national and international level.”

Since leaving the Senate in 2006, Chafee has served as a distinguished visiting fellow at the Thomas J. Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. In the summer of 2007, he officially left the Republican Party, becoming an Independent, criticizing the party.

Chafee became an outspoken supporter of President Obama during his presidential campaign, and called Alaska Governor and then Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin—a favorite among conservatives—a “cocky whacko” and “dangerous for the country” during the campaign.

During a recent telephone interview, Chafee said he was mulling a gubernatorial bid, but had absolutely no intention of rejoining the GOP.

Republican Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, a huge Chafee supporter, in an e-mail, was supportive of Chafee’s announcement.

“Linc Chafee has always governed from the center. He did a great job here in Warwick as our mayor and was willing to risk his own Senate seat to stand by his convictions. His Exploratory Committee is yet another chapter in the long line of Chafee public service to this state,” wrote Avedisian.

The race for governor could turn out to be a crowded one. Assuming Chafee doesn’t become a Democrat, his presence all but guarantees a four-person race.

Perennial Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate Robert Healey has also announced his intentions to run as an independent.

The Democrats openly considering running, at this point, are General Treasurer Frank Caprio, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, former Congressman Robert Weygand, former Lieutenant Governor and 2006 Democratic nominee Charles Fogarty, and labor union boss Robert Walsh.

At this point, the only Republican running is Warwick State Representative Joseph Trillo. Trillo, when contacted yesterday, had a message for Chafee: Bring it on.

“I hope we have a third-party candidate like Chafee because he’s nothing like I am. He’s pro-union and very liberal. I’m neither,” said Trillo.

Despite murmurs, House Minority Leader Robert Watson (East Greenwich), said that he’s not mulling a gubernatorial bid.

“People have asked me of late, and my name has been mentioned on talk radio, but I haven’t given it much thought,” said Watson.

“As the crop of candidates continues to emerge, I’m starting to wonder who isn’t running for Governor. You never say never, but at present time that’s not my strategy.”

Watson said that more than anything else he’s considering a Congressional bid. “We’re inadequately represented at this time,” he said.