Projo Politics Blog

Reeva Murphy, childcare administrator for the Department of Human Services, wasn’t the only Carcieri official who Smith Hill left last week.

Friday was the last day for the governor’s special counsel, Claire Richards. She had worked in the executive branch’s legal department since 1995, previously serving as Gov. Lincoln Almond’s executive counsel.

News of Richards’ departure came the same day Carcieri announced that failed lieutenant governor candidate Kernan “Kerry” King would replace executive counsel Andrew Hodgkin, who left earlier in the month to return to the private sector.

Richards was not in her first-floor State House office when Political Scene stopped by seeking comment on Friday. Neal, Carcieri’s spokesman, refused to make her available for an interview when asked.

When asked repeatedly why Richards was leaving, Neal would reply only, “I don’t know.”

He wouldn’t comment on whether King’s hiring affected Richards’ decision to leave. Richards, a former executive counsel for Almond, leaves a $107,373.20 annual salary behind.

King, incidentally, last practiced law 12 years ago, according to Neal. “That does not invalidate the fact that he did practice for about 25 years,” he said.

When asked about selecting King over Richards last week, Carcieri responded: “I felt that Kerry could do the job that I wanted to get done.”

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