Letter to the Editor, the Daily Astorian
Published Friday, April 25, 2008
On May 20, registered Democrats will choose Oregon's next attorney general. There is no Republican candidate, so the winner of the Democratic primary, between John Kroger and Greg Macpherson, will be the state's top lawyer.
I strongly endorse the candidacy of John Kroger. Kroger is a law professor at Lewis and Clark, a former prosecutor and not part of any political establishment. Kroger is the only candidate who has actually tried a jury trial, the only candidate who has put corporate criminals in prison and the only candidate endorsed by a wide diversity of groups, from the Sierra Club, to the labor unions, to former Gov. John Kitzhaber.
Many voters are anxious to get away from the old politics that have dominated state and national politics. Kroger has a vision for enhancing the environmental and consumer protection enforcement divisions of the Oregon Department of Justice.
He understands that Oregonians value the justice system, expect it to protect their quality of life and want it to maintain a balance between treatment and incarceration. Kroger knows that drug treatment is particularly needed, as Oregon ranks in the bottom third in the nation in access.
John Kroger has prosecuted Enron executives, Mafiosi and major drug dealers. He understands that law enforcement needs the support of an attorney general who knows their needs and challenges.
For the past quarter century, Oregon's attorney general has enjoyed a good working relationship with the 36 independently elected district attorneys who serve across the state. An overwhelming majority of those district attorneys endorse John Kroger for attorney general.
For all these reasons, I urge you to vote for John Kroger for attorney general in the May election.
Joshua Marquis
Clatsop County District Attorney
Astoria
