Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Corrente

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 more than $1.5 million in his campaign account 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 C. Corrente

Comments

RedHanded said:

Corrente did little at the U.S. Attorney's office and I would expect the same from him as Governor. I see a number of failures while U.S. Attorney and very few cases brought. We deserve better.

Link | October 22, 2009 2:58 PM
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Bill Palazzo said:

Does anybody remember 'Operation Dollar Bill'? Sure you do. It was the fiasco that was on the front page of the Projo touting how Corrente was investigating the top people in the General Assembly, Montalbano, Alves, and Irons to name a few.

What happened? He bagged a lawn mower repairman and a plastic bag saleman... End of story.

The miscreants the were supposedly the leaders of corruption on Smith Street are still walking the streets, proud as peacocks. This after tying up the resources of 3 FBI offices, several million dollars of taxpayer money, and Grand Jury investigations, and seven years time. I guess nothing meets his stringent criteria constituting a crime.

He even had the temerity to apply for the Chief Justice job when Frank Williams resigned. In my opinion Williams should have been one of the targets of his probe. He even sloughed off questions by saying the investigation was on-going and his successor would continue... When and if he shows up for work, as I haven't seen nor heard from him since.

This could only happen in Rhode Island.

And YOU weant to make him Governor? Over my dead body. I think an investigation of Mr. Corrente is in order.

Link | October 22, 2009 3:18 PM
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lou said:

Bill Palazzo said it all. He is right on. No way do we want tihs guy. Talk about more of the same...

Link | October 22, 2009 10:35 PM
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bill said:

how many laws has williams violated.frankie took good care of the dos reis family.but the fbi should take a look at his vote in the bill irons case.looks like frankie wanted to weaken the ethics commission for another reason.operation dollar bill was a joke i would vote michael corrente for governor over this guy

Link | October 23, 2009 12:28 AM
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