Ric Thornton aims to reduce the $6.2 million dollars worth of outstanding fines for missing or overdue state campaign finance reports by 25% by the end of the year. The state campaign finance director doesn’t expect to convince former candidates and officeholders to make good on their six-figure debts.

Ahern, who turns 42 on Sunday, made the announcement just days after Gov. Dan McKee said she would step down as the first chair of the state agency that regulates the legal marijuana industry. “Our fundamental rights are under attack, and we need an attorney general who will fight back,” Ahern said in a statement.

The four Democrats vying to succeed Helen Anthony in Ward 2 – the city’s most affluent ward by property values – have all raised or loaned their campaigns at least $18,000.