CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch tomorrow will nominate Kelly Ayotte to serve a second term as New Hampshire's Attorney General. The Executive Council must approve the nomination.

"Over the last eight months, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Attorney General Ayotte on many of the important issues facing New Hampshire - strengthening our laws to protect children against sexual predators; protecting our environment; strengthening our ethics laws; improving our school-funding system; and preventing price gouging on gasoline," Gov. Lynch said.

"I am convinced that Kelly Ayotte is the right person to lead the Department of Justice. She is dedicated, intelligent and thoughtful - exactly the qualities I want in an attorney general. I have been impressed with her leadership as the state's top law enforcement official, which has earned her the respect of New Hampshire's law enforcement community," Gov. Lynch said.

"While we may not have agreed on every issue, I believe that Attorney General Ayotte is committed to working with me to make progress on the issues facing New Hampshire," Gov. Lynch said.

Ayotte, of Nashua, has served as Attorney General since July 2004. Previously she served as deputy attorney general, chief of the Attorney General's homicide unit, as associate attorney general, assistant attorney general, as an attorney at McLane Graf, Raulerson & Middleton in Manchester, and briefly as legal counsel to former governor Craig Benson.

She received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1990 and her law degree from Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania in 1993.

"I am honored to be nominated by Governor Lynch to serve as Attorney General. I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor to serve the people of this State,"Attorney General Ayotte said.

Communications Director
Office of the Governor
603-271-2121