Rhode Island’s newest political party now has an executive director.

Christine Hunsinger, who briefly served as press secretary for Democratic Congressional hopeful Elizabeth Dennigan this summer, has been chosen “to develop, design and drive” the political arm of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island.

The Moderate Party earned the right to appear on the 2010 ballot after collecting 23,589 signatures over the summer.

Hunsinger becomes the party’s first paid staffer, a $52,000-a-year post tasked with expanding its influence, bank account and membership with just 14 months remaining before the 2010 elections.

“I think any time there’s a new party or a new force on the political scene, it’s an uphill battle. I like the position of the underdog,” said Hunsinger, a 38-year-old Cranston resident and mother of three who was a registered Democrat until last week. “We’ve recruited a list of between 20 and 25 people who are considering running for the legislature. Having been a party only six weeks, that’s an impressive number,” she said, declining to name the potential candidates.

Hunsinger acknowledged recently having had breakfast with party executive committee member Arlene Violet, but declined to say whether Rhode Island’s first female attorney general would represent the party as its first gubernatorial candidate.

The Moderate Party’s initial impact on Rhode Island’s political dynamic is unclear.

The party platform –– with an emphasis on the economy, ethics, education and the environment –– could attract some Republicans, according to state GOP Chairman Giovanni Cicione.

“They’re not liberals,” Cicione said. “They are trying to distinguish themselves, but I’m comfortable with their agenda. I don’t disagree with anything in their platform.”

Hunsinger will work out of a newly rented Warwick office beginning Oct. 1. Fundraising will be among her top priorities.

The party had $2,810 in its coffers as of June 30, according to its most recent filing with the state Board of Elections. That’s far less than the Republican Party ($10,105.37) and the Democratic Party ($20,664.92).

“We expect that within this filing period — which ends this month — to have $20,000 to $30,000 in the bank,” Hunsinger said.

Hunsinger, who recently earned a master’s degree in public affairs at Brown University, previously worked for the House Democratic Campaign Committee of Pennsylvania and for Jeff Beatty, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.

“I was a registered Democrat up until last week. I feel my party at the state level has left me,” she said. “In Rhode Island, we see such a control of one party. It’s actually become the party of self-interest and special interest, and not public interest.”

But that doesn’t mean she supports the face of Rhode Island’s Republican Party, Governor Carcieri.

“Governor Carcieri’s performance — if we’re grading it — I’m going to flunk him,” Hunsinger said. “This thing with unions is a shell game. Whatever deal he strikes will bind the hands of the next governor. I think it’s smoke and mirrors. They’re just playing around and it’s bad policy.”

“This is home for me, philosophically,” she said of the Moderate Party.

speoples@projo.com