Stephen Archambault for Attorney General

Steve's Birthday Party Cookout a Big Success!

We would like to thank everyone for making Steve's September 10th birthday party cookout/fundraiser a big success. With about 125 people in attendance, we raised over $10,000 at this grassroots fundraising event.

Read Coverage of Stephen Archambault's announcement of candidacy:

Read the Providence Journal coverage of Steve's announcement here.

Read the Valley Breeze announcement coverage here.

Read the Press Release here.

 

By GERRY GOLDSTEIN, Valley Breeze & Observer Correspondent

SMITHFIELD - Making the most of personal space and cyberspace, farm-boy-turned-prosecutor Stephen Archambault is pressing the flesh and stroking the keys to YouTube and Facebook in his bid to become Rhode Island's next attorney general.

As the Sept. 14 primary approaches, the two-term Democratic town councilor from Smithfield is criss-crossing the state shaking every hand he can reach, in a campaign that in some respects is as old-fashioned as the 1720 family farmhouse where he grew up and where he lives today.

But as have a number of other candidates, the 45-year-old Archambault is also spreading his message on the Internet, where his Facebook page links potential voters to his agenda of crime fighting and anti-corruption measures, hard looks at double-digit health insurance and utility rate hikes, and clamp downs on mortgage fraud, drunk drivers and cyber-bullying.

A former Jamestown policeman who worked his way through college and law school, Archambault says he eyed a career in law even as a child, when he enjoyed trying to out-argue his father on their Smithfield farm that housed some 15 Holsteins.

Now a neatly tailored defense lawyer who's also a prosecutor for the town of Lincoln, Archambault says his goal is to bring to the state office aggressive campaigns, particularly against public corruption and consumer fraud.

In the primary, he's facing another former cop, long-time Pawtucket state Rep. Peter Kilmartin, also now a lawyer; and Joseph Fernandez, former Providence city solicitor.

The three are vying for the right to face Republican Erik Wallin, Moderate Christopher Little, and independents Robert Rainville and Keven McKenna in the Nov. 2 general election.

Click here to Read the Entire Article

12:13 PM Wed, Sep 01, 2010
By W. Zachary Malinowski

PROVIDENCE -- Steve Archambault, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, this morning called on Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to submit to a forensic audit to make sure that state regulators and subscribers have a thorough picture of the health insurer's finances.

``In just two years, Blue Cross has raised its premiums nearly 20 percent and that is simply unafforable and unacceptable. As Attorney General, I will bring a tough new approach and that begins with the performance of an independent forensic audit.''

Archambault make his announcement during a late morning news conference under a scorching sun. He used the ``$125 million new headquarters,'' of Blue Cross & Blue Shield building near the downtown train station as a backdrop.

Archambault motioned with his arm and said, ``I need a clear picture of what is going on in there.''

If elected, Archambault said that the forensic audit would be a top priority of his administration. He said that he would work with the General Assembly to get the go-ahead to examine the insurer's finances.

Archambault said that he supports the proposal by state Sen. John Tassoni, D-Smithfield, who called for the audit last spring. Archambault hails from Smithfield and he serves on the Town Council.

Archambault stopped short of accusing Blue Cross of any wrongdoing, but he questioned the high salaries for its executives and the money spent on the insurer's new headquarters ``occupying prime real estate in Providence.''

``These are red flags,'' he said. ``We need to take a close look at the financial expenses of Blue Cross.''

July 22, 2010
 
“Truth in Advertising needs to be more than a slogan. As Attorney General, I will work to make it the Rhode Island way.” 
  
  
Steve Archambault, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, today proposed strengthening Rhode Island weak consumer protections by adopting a law based on Massachusetts’ strong deceptive trade practices statute(G.L.c. 93A).   
 
Archambault noted that as Attorney General he would seek legislative adoption of a strong consumer protection law based on the Massachusetts model.  Steve Archambault said, “It is time to put real teeth in our consumer protection laws.  And all we have to do is look just across our border to see how to do it.”
 
The Massachusetts Law gives consumers the ability to collect double and triple damages when businesses knowingly violate the law and deceive or trick consumers or fail to correct a problem once informed of it.  The Attorney General is also given the right to put in place regulations to enforce the statute, and is given broad authority to seek civil penalties when a business violates the law as well as to seek assurances that unlawful practices will stop.
 
Archambault noted that it is critical that the proposed new law apply broadly and that the many exceptions for classes of businesses that currently exist in Rhode Island be severely limited.
 
“In these tough economic times, we must re-double our efforts to protect all of our residents from fraud and bad business practices. Truth in Advertising needs to be more than a slogan. As Attorney General, I will make it the Rhode Island way.” he added.
 
Archambault, who serves as a Councilman in Smithfield , would bring a broad legal background to the Attorney General’s office. His experience as a police officer, local Prosecutor and defense attorney gives him a first-hand understanding of all the elements of the criminal justice system.
 
To learn more about Steve Archambault and how he will serve the people of Rhode Island as our next Attorney General, visit www.archambaultforattorneygeneral.com