Providence, R.I. – Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee today announced that attorney Patrick A. Rogers will serve as his Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel in the Governor’s office. Rogers, a corporate lawyer and partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, currently serves as Chafee’s transition Chairman and was General Chairman and Finance Chair of his successful gubernatorial campaign.
“I am honored and encouraged that Patrick Rogers will serve the dual role as my Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel upon my inauguration in January,” Chafee said. “Pat has played integral roles in both my campaign and my transition effort, and I am confident that he will bring the same dedication, enthusiasm and ability he has shown in those positions to the Governor’s office.”
Governor-elect Chafee also announced that longtime aide and close personal advisor Stephen Hourahan, currently Chafee’s Transition Director, will serve as Senior Advisor to the Governor. In this role, Hourahan will advise Chafee on a range of issues. Hourahan also was a senior advisor to Chafee’s gubernatorial campaign.
“Stephen has long been a trusted advisor, and I am heartened that he will continue in this role in the Governor’s office,” Chafee said. “He has extensive experience in the worlds of politics, business, and health and human services, and I value his wisdom and insight.”
Finally, Governor-elect Chafee announced that Claire Richards and Joseph K. “Kenny” Alston will both serve as Legal Counsel. Mr. Alston served on the policy and finance committees for Chafee’s winning gubernatorial campaign, while Ms. Richards recently joined his transition team as senior legal and policy advisor.
“I am pleased that Claire Richards and Kenny Alston will be serving as my legal counsel in the Office of the Governor,” Chafee said. “They bring a wealth of intelligence, energy, and experience. These outstanding attorneys will be tremendous assets to me as I take on the many challenges our state faces.”
Biographies:
Patrick A. Rogers. A graduate of LaSalle Academy, the College of the Holy Cross, and Catholic University Law School, Patrick Rogers served two years building rural schools as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon, Central Africa; worked six years as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John H. Chafee in Washington, D.C.; and for the past twelve years has been a corporate lawyer at Edwards Angell where his practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments. He has also served as an elected member of the East Providence City Council, Municipal Court Judge and Town Solicitor.
Stephen Hourahan. Stephen Hourahan is the former Director of Communications in the U.S. Senate office of Lincoln Chafee, as well as a longtime aide to the late Senator John H. Chafee. More recently, Hourahan has served as Director of Public Affairs at Duffy & Shanley, Inc., as Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Bank Rhode Island, and as Executive Director of AIDS Project RI, a division of Family Service of RI. He is a graduate of East Providence High School and Providence College.
Claire Richards. Claire Richards currently advises state agencies and private clients as a solo practitioner. She previously served as Special Counsel to Governor Donald Carcieri, and as Deputy Executive Counsel and later Executive Counsel to Governor Lincoln Almond. Prior to entering state government, Richards was an Associate with the Providence law firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder and an Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale University, her alma mater. In addition to her B.A. from Yale, Richards earned her law degree from the Duke University School of Law.
Joseph K. “Kenny” Alston. Kenny Alston worked for six years as a corporate associate with the New York law firm LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, LLP. He then served as Deputy General Counsel for MortgageIT, Inc., a New York mortgage bank, and as Senior Corporate Counsel for Weight Watchers International, Inc. Alston is a graduate of Brown University, where he earned a Watson Scholarship, and the University of Chicago Law School, where he worked with the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic and was a Law School Association Representative and member of the Black Law Students Association. He is a member of the New York Bar.