Neronha Is Rhode Island’s New Attorney General

GoLocalProv
November 6, 2018

http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/breaking-peter-neronha-is-rhode-islands-new-attorney-general

Peter Neronha

Democratic candidate for attorney general Peter Neronha, claimed victory tonight and replaces Peter F. Kilmartin who has been in office since 2011.

The former U.S. attorney general ran against Alan Gordon, the Compassion Party candidate, for the position and was a largely controversial figure in the race. The Rhode Island Republican party failed to run a candidate.

Last month, during a debate with Neronha at a North Kingstown high school, Gordon spelled out the n-word and he previously had also arrested with his partner Anne Armstrong for holding 48 pounds of marijuana. In September, Neronha said on GoLocal LIVE, "As a general matter, I fully support government transparency and, if elected, would ensure that the Office of Attorney General, as well as all other state government agencies, comply with the requirements of the Access to Public Records Act. Further, access to public records should not be cost prohibitive. Perhaps we should consider legislative changes to minimize the financial barriers while still providing adequate resources to public agencies responsible for responding to these records requests."

On Neronha’s campaign website, he touts his successes in taking on the opioid crisis, bringing major cases against cartel-linked drug trafficking organizations as well as fighting for stricter gun laws. Neronha also claims that he is committed to prioritizing environmental protection, both nationally and locally.

About Neronha

Neronha grew up in Jamestown. After graduating from Boston College, he studied at Boston College Law School. After working for a Boston law firm for over a decade, Neronha moved back to Jamestown with his wife, Shelly.

Neronha is a former U.S. Attorney General and was appointed by then-President Barack Obama in 2009. He was later fired by President Trump in 2017.

Neronha appeared on GoLocal Prov in April and spoke about Rhode Island’s need to develop a comprehensive healthcare policy as well as a planning process for the healthcare system -- one of the largest sectors in the Rhode Island economy.

As GoLocal reported last month, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called upon Neronha to commit to investigating the Diocese of Providence after the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into alleged sexual abuse by clergy in Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic Church.