| PERSPECTIVE |
|
[October 16, 2002] -
Nebraskans will elect a new Attorney General this fall. Don Stenberg decided not to run for re-election after 12 years in office. Stenberg's name may not be on the ballot, but he does play a role in the race. Stenberg pushed for Legislation and assumed a higher profile than previous Attorney Generals. That seemed to be fine with a majority of Nebraskans - they re-elected him twice. But some say he went beyond the duties of the office. Count Democrat Mike Meister in that group. He says it's time for the Attorney General to focus on practicing the law. "Statewide's" Brad Penner reports. |
|||
Watch the Perspective segment:| Click Here |
| ||
|
Transcript of Attorney General Race
[Brad Penner/Reporting]
When you campaign in Nebraska, you make a lot of stops at places like Mom's Cafe in Plattsmouth. Mike Meister knows this. He and his family hit the road last June.
[Mike Meister/(D) Attorney General Candidate]
We started in Scottsbluff on June 3.
[Penner]
Meister practices law in Scottsbluff. He knew a run for Attorney General would mean a lot of traveling. They covered 73 counties on this trip in a rented R-V.
[Mike Meister/(D) Attorney General Candidate]
The advantage is that we're kind of a novelty. Candidates for statewide office don't come out of the panhandle too often. So in that respect, a lot of people are just tickled to see someone from the western end of the state getting involved.
[Penner]
Folks don't always pay a lot of attention to the Attorney General race. Candidates must find a way to make an impression with voters.
[Meister]
It's the nature of the beast. You've got to go shake the hands to get elected. And I think that Nebraskans appreciate somebody who gets out and meets with them, talks with them, visits with them and really works for that vote, as opposed to just sitting back in a pile of cash and running a bunch of television ads.
[Penner]
Republican Jon Bruning visited a nursing home in Nebraska City. One of hundreds of stops on a campaign he began last year.
[Bruning]
They sense whether you're genuine or not. what it comes down to in politics. The fellow I met from Poland that speaks Polish and German, he speaks seven languages. I want to know a little bit about them, and I think when you walk away they say, seemed like a decent guy. I think he cares about me. And I do care about them. If they get that impression they're right.
[Penner]
Campaigning with kids presents its own set of challenges.
[Meister]
You guys want to go with mom? Don't just run, check the traffic!
[Penner]
But Mike Meister's biggest challenge may be convincing voters its time for a new approach in the Attorney General's office.
[Meister]
I think the biggest thing that we're trying to do is bring the practice of law back to the Attorney General's office. Over the last several years most decisions it seems come out of that office bassed on political decisions and how many votes that'll pick up in the next cycle in some particular county. And that's not the way that the attorney gengeral's office has traditionally been run in Nebraska.
[Meister]
I think that the Attorney General plays a very strong role in looking at fairness in justice, in balance. You know, you're not a policy maker but you are a policy enforcer.
[Meister]
I don't see the position as one where I've got a bully pulpit and it's my job to try and force policies through the legislature or get the governor to carry my water. I just don't see that.
[Penner]
Meister's definition of the Attorney General's role runs counter to the man who's held the office the last 12 years.
[Don Stenberg/Attorney General]
I'm here today to endorse State Senator Jon Bruning as the best candidate to serve as Nebraska's next Attorney General.
[Penner]
Don Stenberg says being Attorney General isn't about trying cases. He says he's redefined the office by taking an active role in anti-crime legislation and public policy issues.
[Stenberg]
Jon Bruning wants to build upon and improve what I've done as Nebraska's Attorney General. His opponent only criticizes me and only wants to tear down all that I have accomplished.
[Bruning endorsement]
This is a huge boost to our campaign in particular because Don personally is so well respected by Nebraskans and what he has done with the office is so well respected.
[Penner]
Bruning says his experience as a state senator and private attorney have prepared him for the job.
[Bruning]
Number one, my six years of legislative experience has enabled me to understand and work with the criminal code closely. Every day when I'm down here in the Legislature I'm debating the criminal code with one of the finest legal minds in the state, Sen. Ernie Chambers. And that is very solid preparation for the office of Attorney General.
[Bruning]
The way I earn my living is certainly not in the Legislature. I practice law. And my practice has been a civil practice, not a criminal practice. But I think what it does is it's allowed me to have a balanced view of the law. I have a civil practice where I earn my living, and here as a state senator I've basically had a criminal practice where I'm working in the criminal code regularly.
[Penner]
Meister was a prosecutor in the army, before going into. He says his legal background makes him the stronger candidate.
[Meister]
I prosecuted drug cases, I prosecuted child abuse cases, I've done jury trials both in criminal courts and in civil courts. I'm a practicing lawyer. That's what I do.
[Meister]
I've been before the Supreme Court four times. I've been before the Court of Appeals eight times. And if people understand the Attorney General's office is about practicing law and not about practicing politics, we're convinced that they will look to hire the best lawyer for that job.
[Penner]
Both candidates want to beef up the staff of the Attorney General's office.
[Meister]
It is far cheaper to hire another attorney and pay them a salary in the Attorney General's Office, than it is to hire a guy by the hour to do that same amount of work.
[Penner]
Under Meister, some of those lawyers would work in a new agriculture law section.
[Meister]
There are so many things that effect agriculture in the state that we need to do a better job of serving that sector out of the Attorney General's office.
[Penner]
On the campaign trip to Nebraska City, Bruning squeezed in a few phone calls to reporters before a fundraiser.
[Bruning]
The abuse of our elderly is something that makes us all recoil. And it's a place where the Attorney General's Office can have an impact in stopping that type of crime.
[Penner]
Bruning proposes tougher penalties for domestic violence and meth cases. He also wants to strengthen the consumer protection area of the Attorney General's office.
[Bruning]
I believe we can give the taxpayers a larger return for their dollar. For every dollar they spend in the consumer proection department of the Attorney General's Office, I think we can give them five or 10 dollars back. The reason I say that is other states are doing it. And so I think it's possible here.
[Penner]
Bruning wants toughter penalties, and tougher laws to fight crime. If elected, he'll take his ideas to familiar ground in the legislature.
[Penner]
Meister believes in more effective prosecution to fight crime. He wants to fight his battles in the courtroom.
[Penner]
Two men with different approaches to the office. One will be our next Attorney General. Reporting for Statewide, I'm Brad Penner.