ProJo: Moderate Party Courts Corrente

The ProJo reports that the Moderate Party, which seems to be taking a real stab at viability, met with former US Attorney Robert Corrente this morning about a possible gubernatorial run:

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.