PROVIDENCE –– 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.”

Corrente, 52, of East Greenwich, is 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 sent former state Sen. John A. Celona and House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau to 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 return messages requesting comment.

The meeting began at 7:30 a.m. at the Moderate Party’s Warwick headquarters and “was not incredibly long,” Hunsinger said. It was not the first time that party officials met privately with Corrente, she said.

It’s unclear when Corrente might decide whether to run.

“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 left the U.S. Attorney’s office in June. He currently works in private practice for Burns & Levinson, LLP.

Others eyeing a run for governor include Attorney General Patrick Lynch, General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee and East Greenwich businessman Rory Smith, who announced Wednesday that he would run as a Republican.

speoples@projo.com