ARCHAMBAULT

SMITHFIELD — It’s official. Town Council member Stephen R. Archambault on Wednesday is the first to announce a candidacy for Rhode Island attorney general.

“I am running for attorney general because Rhode Islanders need someone in the state’s top law enforcement job who is on their side,” Archambault said in a news release. “The Attorney General’s Office is charged with advocating for and representing the people of our state, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

Archambault, a lifelong Rhode Islander who grew up on a Smithfield dairy farm, will formally announce his candidacy in January 2010, but will hold his first fundraiser on June 2 at Twelve Acres in Smithfield.

The Democratic incumbent, Patrick C. Lynch, is barred from seeking reelection by the state’s two-term limit for its five highest statewide officeholders. Lynch’s brother, state Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch, has also expressed interest, and Republican Erik B. Wallin, a private-practice lawyer in Wakefield, is rumored to be interested in the post as well.

Archambault, 43, a Democrat, said seeking the position was a natural progression for him.

He began taking classes at Roger Williams University School of Law while he was still a police officer with the Jamestown Police Department. He already had a master’s degree in the administration of justice from Salve Regina University. He graduated with his law degree in 2000 and began practicing law. But it wasn’t until he left the police department in 2003 that he began to cultivate his business in earnest.

Setting up shop in Warwick, Archambault said he cut his teeth on real estate, personal injury, workers’ compensation and some criminal cases. He also began serving as the town prosecutor for the Town of Lincoln, handling misdemeanor cases. Now, he said he continues to handle civil cases and has represented clients in every criminal court in the state.

In 2006 he was elected to the Smithfield Town Council, and appointed as president in 2008. Archambault counts the formation of a bipartisan Charter Review Board and a Financial Review Board as major successes of his term as president. From the Town Council, Archambault said he enjoys being presented with problems and working to find solutions.

“You can never make everybody happy,” he said. “And some people will be very upset with the decisions you make. But you don’t succumb to the pressure of the room.”

His background, from beat cop to lawyer and town official, leaves him with a “unique perspective” on the legal system — one that Archambault said makes him a perfect candidate for attorney general.

“I focused my initial career in law enforcement and that led me to have deeper understanding for the justice system,” he said. “I’m extremely qualified to represent the people and the State of Rhode Island. After all, it’s not about egos or what’s best for an individual, it’s about what’s best for the State of Rhode Island.”

Archambault said he has a plan for how he would put his mark on the office of attorney general, but he wants to campaign and talk to residents to get their input before he unveils any specific plans or proposals.

tbuford@projo.com