By JIM BARON

PAWTUCKET — In an almost off-hand manner, city resident and Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch has expressed interest in succeeding his younger brother as attorney general of Rhode Island.

Lynch, 51, tucked his sort-of announcement into a press release in which he congratulated Peter F. Neronha on his nomination to become Rhode Island’s next United States Attorney. Lynch, who had been a contender for that job himself, said in a press release he is “taking a lot of positives” from that selection process.
Thanking those who wrote letters in support of his candidacy for U.S. Attorney, Lynch said near the bottom of the statement: “My involvement in this process has prompted me to think long and hard about what the next step in my own career will be. In the coming months, I am going to give careful consideration to a potential candidacy to become our state’s next attorney general. I look forward to discussing this possibility with my family and friends, as well as my peers in the legal community.”
The release said he expects to make a decision on whether to run in the November, 2010, race by the end of this summer.
Lynch’s brother, Patrick Lynch, is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election as attorney general; he is widely expected to make a bid for governor in 2010.
After dropping his low-key political bombshell, Lynch declined to talk to the media.
Spokesman Bill Fischer told The Times that Lynch “wants the statement to speak for itself.”
Fischer declined to elaborate on Lynch trying to succeed his brother as the state’s top law enforcement officer and the idea of two high-profile political brothers both running for statewide office on the same ballot, saying “at this point, that is hypothetical. He said he is considering a run, it will be a thoughtful and serious process. He wants to take the summer to make the decision. That is the timeline he is on. It is a major decision, both professionally and personally.”
“He is at the beginning of this process,” Fischer said when asked if Lynch would be starting an exploratory committee or taking any other steps toward a candidacy.
Lynch will remain as party chairman “at this time,” Fischer said.
A former city councilman in Pawtucket, Lynch made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1991.