BOSTON (AP) – When Gov. Mitt Romney walked into a spiffed up press room last week to announce he wouldn’t seeking re-election, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey was noticeably absent.

Healey has played the role of Romney’s dutiful first mate, standing loyally by his side at news conferences and shouldering some of the administration’s more routine assignments.

Now as she gears up for her own run for governor, those days are about to end. Healey is stepping out of Romney’s shadow and introducing herself to an electorate only hazily aware of who she is and what she does.

On Tuesday, Healey was boosting her public profile, spending an hour ringing a bell for the Salvation Army in downtown Boston. She later held a news conference to announce a new drug abuse treatment facility for women in New Bedford.

But while she enjoys many advantages as lieutenant governor, there are plenty of minefields, not the least of which is Romney’s decision to complete his full term – meaning she can never fully break away from him during the campaign.

Healey welcomes the challenge, which she said will focus attention on the work she’s been doing as the administration’s liaison to cities and towns and its go-to person on criminal justice issues.

“It puts a spotlight on a lot of the work I have been doing out of the spotlight,” she told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “I doubt there’s any other candidate who will be able to say they’ve been to as many places in the state and is as familiar with all the needs and concerns of the all the communities around the state as I am.”

In some symbolic ways, the administration is already gingerly beginning to pass the torch from Romney to Healey. Moments after Romney’s speech, Healey held a solo press conference outside the governor’s office to praise Romney while leaving little doubt she wants his job.

Before that happens, Healey must paint a clearer picture of herself as a candidate.

Passers-by who stopped to make donations as Healey rang the Salvation Army bell Tuesday had nice things to say about her, even if weren’t sure where she stood on most issues.

“It would be nice to have a woman as governor for a change,” said Shelley Crim, 34, of Malden who was recently laid off. “But I’d like to hear her positions before I made a final decision.”

Eve D’Onofrio, a professor at Boston University, said she’s been impressed with Healey.

“I’d probably support her. I’m a professor of political science so I have strong political views, but I haven’t heard anything that would turn me off,” the 31-year-old Brookline resident said.

Even some Democrats offered cautious praise.

State Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton, served on the same commission as Healey that recommended the new 60-bed drug treatment facility for women.

Balser made it clear she’ll be voting for one of Healey’s Democratic opponents next year, but credited her for taking the issue of substance abuse seriously.

“I am glad that she has made the treatment of substance abuse a top priority. That is something I can value and respect,” Balser said. “But I’m supporting (Democratic Attorney General) Tom Reilly and I hope he wins.”

Rep. Brad Jones, the Republican leader in the House, is a solid Healey supporter, but acknowledged Romney’s decision to serve out his full term could prove awkward.

Healey and Romney have disagreed on some issues and how she deals with similar situations as she runs for governor could prove crucial.

“How do you go about offering a different perspective without looking like a disloyal soldier?” said Jones of North Reading.

Healey is not worried. She hopes to focus on core issues, including education, jobs, transportation and the economy.

As for feeling hemmed in by Romney, Healey said that’s not a problem.

“I don’t feel at all limited,” she said. “I am a member of this administration and I will continue coordinate all my efforts within that office, but that’s never been a problem for us.”