Ending several weeks of “exploration” into whether he would run for the job, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee announced Tuesday night that he is an independent candidate for governor of Rhode Island.

Chafee put the news out on a Web site, www.chafeeforgovernor.com, as well as in an interview on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show.

“The time is ripe not only for a new leadership but a government that works for everyone,” said the former Republican, who gave up the GOP label months after losing to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse last fall.

“I firmly believe in the vital importance of governing from the center — of listening to all sides of an issue. I believe that when we have the courage to do this, to reach across party lines and ideological divides, we will bring people together and great work will happen.”

Chafee — whose father, John H. Chafee, served as Rhode Island governor and a senator — said he thinks his expertise on transportation, environmental protections that encourage economic development and alternative energy solutions “is exactly the kind of experience that can leverage these assets and transform our economy into one that can sustain our prosperity and quality of life for future generations.”

Governor Carcieri cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

rdujardi@projo.com