Gov. Chris Sununu made it official Wednesday morning and nominated his legal counsel, John Formella, as New Hampshire Attorney General. The governor made the nomination at an Executive Council meeting. The council is expected to confirm Formella to the post, succeeding Gordon MacDonald, who will be sworn in on Thursday as Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court.(Our earlier report, published Tuesday, March 2, follows.)Gov. Chris Sununu will nominate his office legal counsel and close adviser, John Formella, as New Hampshire’s next attorney general at Wednesday’s meeting of the Executive Council.If confirmed by the five-member council to a four-year term later in March, following a likely public hearing, Formella will succeed Gordon MacDonald, who is moving to the New Hampshire Supreme Court as Chief Justice. Formella, of Portsmouth, has been legal counsel in Sununu’s office since the governor took office in January 2017.“His incredible legal skill and exceptional work ethic have helped me guide the state through the historic challenges we have faced during the past four years,” Sununu said in announcing the nomination at midday Tuesday, sharing the announcement first with WMUR. “John has built excellent relationships with state leaders that will enable him to transition smoothly into the role of attorney general, and his experience in both the public and private sectors will prove invaluable in helping lead the Department of Justice for the next four years," Sununu said.“I am proud today to announce his nomination and I am confident that, if confirmed, John will carry on the great legacy that we have established at our Department of Justice and will serve our state well.”Prior to joining Sununu’s office, Formella practiced law at Pierce Atwood LLP in Portsmouth, focusing on environmental, land use and business issues. Those issues included hazardous waste reduction and compliance, contaminated property issues, environmental permitting, land use and development permitting and storm water management.Formella is a member of the Portsmouth Zoning Board and recently served as a board member of McGregor Memorial EMS in Durham and as a board member of Rosie Riveters, an organization that encourages young girls to pursue careers in STEM.The governor’s office said that in the position of legal counsel, Formella has advised Sununu and worked with the Department of Justice and executive branch officials "on all significant legal issues and litigation affecting the state.“In addition, he has worked with the administration to address numerous and significant challenges, including the negotiation of a revised seven year MET/DSH settlement agreement that brought stability to our healthcare system, the establishment of a new Doorway Program that has greatly enhanced the state’s response to the opioid crisis, historic criminal justice reform initiatives that have secured the support of law enforcement and community stakeholders, and the multi-faceted efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.”“The responsibilities of the Department of Justice are broad, and the attorney general has an immense obligation to work for the best interests of the state, protect the public and maintain the independence of this important constitutional office,” Formella said in a statement. “I thank the governor for putting my name forward and, if confirmed, I pledge to work as hard as I can to provide the best service possible for our state.”Formella is a native of Rochester, Minnesota and a graduate of Florida State University. He earned his law degree at the George Washington University Law School and interned for a federal judge in Florida before joining Pierce Atwood as a summer associate in 2011. He became a full time attorney at Pierce Atwood, one of northern New England’s largest firms, in 2012. While Sununu may face some pushback for nominating a "partisan" attorney general, Formella would not be the first legal counsel to a New Hampshire governor to be named to the post. Among those who have also followed this path are former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who had been Republican Gov. Craig Benson’s legal counsel before being named attorney general; the late Stephen Merrill, who had been legal counsel to Republican Gov. John H. Sununu before being named attorney general; and Michael Delaney, who had been Democratic Gov. John Lynch's legal counsel before being named to the position.Legal counsels have also moved on to become Superior Court justices, including Tina Nadeau, who was Merrill's legal counsel, and Chuck Douglas, who had been Republican Gov. Meldrim Thomson's legal counsel and who later became a state Supreme Court associate justice.Also, former Attorney General Joe Foster had been the Democratic state Senate majority leader before being named attorney general by Gov. Maggie Hassan. Formella was praised by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Lynn.Lynn, who is now a state legislator, said, “In my opinion, Governor Sununu has hit another home run with his nomination of John Formella to be the next Attorney General of New Hampshire.“I have had occasion to work closely with John in his role as counsel to the governor both during the time I was on the Supreme Court and since my retirement from the court and election as a state representative.“He is obviously extremely bright, articulate and thoughtful, and he is held in high regard among members of the Bar. He is open-minded and has a deep commitment to our system of justice and the rule of law, and there is no question that he has the skills and judgment necessary to lead our Department of Justice.”Longtime attorney Mary Tenn, a former president of the New Hampshire Bar Association, added: “John Formella is a well-respected lawyer with broad legal experience, having worked at a prominent Seacoast law firm and as legal counsel to the governor providing essential advice during the largest public health crisis in the last century.“I have worked with John and am confident that he will bring focused energy, strong legal skills and strategic judgment to the job of Attorney General that will serve our state well.”The governor's office said the Executive Council, which comprises four Republicans and one Democrat, will likely vote on the nomination March 24.Republican District 3 councilor Janet Stevens of Rye quickly issued a statement supporting the nomination."As a District 3 resident, John has been a community leader and a huge asset to me and my constituents. I look forward to a swift and transparent process to confirm John Formella as New Hampshire’s next attorney general.”