Chafee says retired judge Erickson to serve as legislative director

PROVIDENCE – Lincoln D. Chafee, sworn in as Rhode Island’s first independent governor Tuesday afternoon, said that retired district court judge Stephen P. Erickson will serve as legislative director and counselor.
“I am delighted to add to my senior staff someone with 34 years of diverse experience in all three branches of government,” said Chafee in a news release on Monday.
Erikson, who served as senior legal adviser to Chafee during his gubernatorial campaign, will advise the governor on policy issues and will serve as the chief liaison to the General Assembly.
Chafee said he will employ Erickson on a contract basis for $4,000 a month in order to save the state expenditures on employer taxes and employee benefits. Erickson currently receives a $120,000 annual pension.
Erickson served for 20 years at the District Court, where he played a “vital role” in developing the Kent County mental health clinical project, the news release said.
Before the district court, Erickson served for four years as director of legislative affairs for then-Gov. Edward DiPrete and for eight years represented parts of Aquidneck Island as a Republican state representative.
He has taught at the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University and the Community College of Rhode Island. Erickson earned his bachelor’s from URI and his law degree from Boston University.