Projo Politics Blog

By Steve Peoples
Journal State House bureau

Former U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente met privately Thursday morning with officials from the newly formed Moderate Party to discuss a potential bid for governor.

The party's executive director Christine Hunsinger later confirmed the meeting and her organization's interest in Corrente as a candidate for the 2010 race.

"We think that he's a strong candidate on one of the more important issues: ethics," Hunsinger said. "We think there's no one who can measure up in that department... He views the world in much the same way as the Moderate Party."

Corrente, 52, of East Greenwich, is currently a registered Republican. He served as Rhode Island's U.S. Attorney from 2004 to 2009, and led the prosecution's efforts in Operation Dollar Bill.

The long-running State House influence-peddling probe ultimately landed former North Providence state Sen. John A. Celona and House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau, D-Woonsocket, in federal prison for selling their offices. Ex-Roger Williams Medical Center President Robert A. Urciuoli, too, was convicted of mail fraud in a case under appeal.

Corrente did not immediately return messages requesting comment.

This morning's meeting began at 7:30 a.m. at the Moderate Party's headquarters and "was not incredibly long," Hunsinger said. It was not the first time that party officials met privately with Corrente to discuss his interest in the governor's race, she said.

It's unclear how soon Corrente might decide whether to enter the race.

"We're just having some conversations now. There's nothing definitive," Hunsinger said. "We met with a lot of people and talked to them about their interest in running for governor as a Moderate Party candidate and Bob Corrente is one of them."

Corrente, an appointee of the Bush administration, left the U.S. attorney's office in June. He currently works in private practice for the local firm Burns & Levinson, LLP.

While Election Day is more than a year away, a crowded gubernatorial field is already starting to take shape.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch says he's running for the Democratic nomination. General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio has launched an exploratory committee and is widely expected to run as a Democrat. Former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee has also launched an exploratory committee to run as an Independent.

And on Wednesday, East Greenwich businessman Rory Smith announced that he would run for governor as a Republican.

 Tags  Moderate Party Robert Corrente

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