Corrente

Former U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente will not run for governor in 2010.

The newly formed Moderate Party hosted at least two private meetings with Corrente in recent weeks in a courtship that was ultimately unsuccessful.

“I’m not going to do it,” Corrente, 52, of East Greenwich, said in an interview Monday afternoon. “It’s certainly an interesting landscape for next year and the whole race looks intriguing, but it’s not a good time for me, given where I am in my career.”

Coming off five years working in government, Corrente, a partner at Burns & Levinson, says he’s eager to re-establish his private practice.

“I’ve got one more daughter to put through college,” he said.

Corrente spent roughly a month considering a gubernatorial run with the Moderates. He notified party leaders of his decision during a private meeting Monday morning at the party’s Warwick headquarters.

“I think it’s critically important that we have a credible opposition party,” Corrente said, adding that he’s “thinking about” changing his party affiliation from Republican to Moderate.

Party officials later confirmed that Corrente had agreed to serve as chairman of the organization’s Ethics Policy Committee.

“Only by insisting on transparent and accountable government can we force change upon what is supposed to be the most representative branch of government,” said party chairman Kenneth J. Block. “Mr. Corrente is the perfect person to lead this charge.”

The organization continues to be optimistic about its effort to attract a strong candidate to head the ticket in 2010.

“We have been speaking with several individuals who all have the strength of character to serve the needs of Rhode Island as governor; Robert Corrente was one of them,” Block said.

Corrente did not leave any room for interpretation as to his intention in 2010. When asked, he said he would not consider running for any elected office with any party.

“It’s something I would look at down the road, but nothing for this cycle,” he said.

speoples@projo.com