Chafee Makes Former Lt. Gov. His First Appointment

Chafee Makes Former Lt. Gov. His First Appointment

Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee announced this morning that the first appointee of his administration will be Richard Licht, a former Democratic Lt. Governor who ran against Chafee's father, John Chafee, in 1988. Licht will serve as the director of the Department of Administration, pending the approval of his nomination by the state Senate.

"Richard Licht is a proven and trusted leader who shares my vision of a state government that will be more efficient, less costly and more accessible," Chafee said. "I look forward to working closely with him as we begin the task of making our state services citizen-centered and affordable to our taxpayers."

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve Rhode Island once again and I am truly humbled at the confidence Governor-elect Chafee has placed in me to help him address the daunting challenges that face our state," Licht said. "The Department of Administration is the engine that makes the machinery of our state government run."

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Former Democratic candidate

Licht served as Lieutenant Governor from 1985 to 1989. Previously he was a state senator, holding office from 1975 to 1984. In addition to his highly competitive 1988 Senate run against the elder Chafee, he was a candidate in 2000 in the Democratic primary for Senate against then-Congressman Robert Weygand. Licht said his appointment showed that Chafee would be more involved in the budget process - and more willing to work with the House and Senate leaders. 

Asked what the appointment said about his political leanings, Chafee downplayed Licht's Democratic Party affiliation. He said he simply picked him because he has a reputation for getting things done.

Known as the 'maverick' in state Senate

Licht is currently a partner at Adler Pollock & Sheehan which serves as legal counsel to three state agencies. He said he will sever all ties with the firm on Jan. 1 and have "nothing to do" with decisions about whether his firm continues to work for those state agencies. "I will stay as far away .. as possible," he said.

Licht noted that as a state senator he sponsored legislation that became today's conflict of interest law. "I was called the 'maverick' because I was speaking out for a different way of governing and I worked hard for that," Licht said.