Since announcing for governor on Nov. 4, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung says he’s been campaigning every day, speaking at gatherings across the state.

But while he may be stumping hard, he appeared far from the hard-driven candidate in front of the Warwick Rotary Club last Thursday.

Fung didn’t mention he’s running until a good 10 minutes into his talk and when he did, it seemed like a second thought. Instead, he talked about the relationship he has with Mayor Scott Avedisian and how the two of them were in constant communication during the flood of 2010. He described the cooperative efforts of the two cities to ensure people were safe.

“Both communities came together for the residents. That’s what government should be about,” said Fung.

The candidate focused on positives and his personal achievements and his record as mayor. He talked about growing up in Rhode Island and working at his parents’ restaurant at an early age. He spoke of how that experience built his understanding of what small business owners need to survive and grow.

He said that his parents instilled in him a work ethic.

“I’m the proud son of immigrant parents,” he said.

As governor, he would try to create a better business environment “by cleaning out a lot of the red tape they go through to open the doors.”

As credentials, he spoke of his role as mayor and how he helped create 1,000 new jobs in Rhode Island. He did not bring up the pledge made in his announcement, to create 20,000 new jobs if elected, but he did restate his focus on people.

“If we have more people working, that will benefit the entire state,” he said, outlining how that would lift the overall economy by improving businesses as well as tax revenues.

Critical to his plan is an educated and skilled workforce. He cited how, working with other mayors, including Avedisian and Angel Taveras of Providence, the Mayoral Academy charter school was created in Providence. He said the Commissioner of Education would report directly to the governor and “break down the silos” of education with the goal of creating a “clear path of helping our state.”

In response to questions, Fung listed education, jobs and infrastructure as key elements to his campaign.

He sees helping cities and towns by adhering to a school funding formula so that municipalities can reduce the dependence on property taxes. Further, he would look for ways to put unused state property back on the tax rolls and to lift unfunded mandates. He said he would reduce expenditures by ferreting out waste and fraud.

Since announcing his candidacy, Fung said he has addressed numerous groups, including contractors and realtors.

“Every night and every day there’s something,” he said. “I’m trying to find the right balance [with doing his job as mayor].”

Fung said 90 percent of his financial support has come from within the state, although he feels being seen as a “rising star” by the Republican National Committee will probably translate into outside contributions.