Litigation

On primary day, some races for attorney general

By Carter Wood

Today is primary election day in seven states and D.C. We've already noted the hotly contested, five-way Democratic primary for state attorney general in New York. (AP story.) The other semi-interesting contest for the AG nomination takes place in Rhode Island, with three Democrats running.

The incumbent, Patrick Lynch, is term-limited out of office and has already withdrawn from the party's race for governor. We bid adieu to Lynch, who carried on the law-stretching public nuisance litigation against the paint industry begun by his predecessor, Sheldon Whitehouse. The Republican candidate is Erik B. Wallin of South Kingston, who was a JAG prosecutor for the U.S. Air Force before returning to Rhode Island to become a state prosecutor and subsequently enter private practice.

There are three Democratic candidates:

• Joseph M. Fernandez is a former city solicitor for Providence, who has a background in complex commercial litigation and who represented business in private practice. (Campaign website)
• Peter F. Kilmartin is a former police captain who represents District 61 (Pawtucket) in the Rhode Island House of Representative. Organized labor is backing Kilmartin. (Campaign website)
• Stephen R. Archambault, a defense attorney, is one of the five members of the Smithfield Town Council. He's a former police officer who's prosecutor for the town of Lincoln (Campaign website.)

Actually some tough campaigning in the contest, or at least negative ads. AP, "Negative TV ad by AG candidate": "PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - State Rep. Peter Kilmartin put out a negative TV ad in his campaign for Attorney General on Wednesday attacking his Democratic primary opponents with questionable claims." Kilmartin has raised the most money.

Elsewhere, it's boring. But read on, if you will....

Full post as published by Point of Law on September 14, 2010 (boomark / email).