By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Candidate for Congress Joy Fox went public with her campaign for Congress Tuesday, with stops from Westerly to Cranston, even running into a potential rival at lunch in a Johnston eatery.

Democrat Fox hopped from table to table inside the Atwood Grill, where she took her mother to lunch, and bumped into Republican Allan Fung, the former Cranston mayor who reportedly is considering entering the race for the second RI district.

“We’re friends,” Fung said of Fox, as he steadfastly refused to say whether he’s joining the race for the Republican nomination.

Fox had already made stops in Westerly and North Kingstown, and sent on to scheduled stops in Warwick and Cranston.

At Johnston, she talked about her rationale for running for the Democratic nomination.

“My main motivation is my family and families like my family. I’m the oldest of five kids, and it’s important to have someone who understands the district and the challenges and opportunities that are before us, and fight for those in Congress.”

Fox said getting past the pandemic, getting back to school and work, dealing with climate change and education are among the top issues voters are discussing.

While a good number of candidates have expressed interest in running for the seat being vacated by the retiring Congressman Jim Langevin, just six have filed with the Federal Election Commission to date, including Republican Bob Lancia and Democrats Fox, Edwin Pacheco, Seth Magaziner, Cameron Moquin and Michael Neary, Jr.