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Attorney-general candidates show they have style; substance awaits
//November 7, 2013
Style overcame substance Thursday evening as the four announced candidates for state attorney general matched each other platitude for platitude at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
The quartet of Democrats each answered in the affirmative when asked a series of questions, including whether they would vigorously enforce the state’s environmental laws and ensure that indigent defendants are provided counsel at initial bail hearings.
“The polluters have the the best attorneys money can buy,” said Sen. Brian E. Frosh, of Montgomery County, at the candidates’ forum. “As attorney general, I will be the people’s lawyer.”
Del. Jon S. Cardin, of Baltimore County, warned that “if you pollute, I’m coming after you.”
Del. C. William “Bill” Frick, of Montgomery County, said of the attorney general’s job that “the primary responsibility is to do justice.”
And Del Aisha N. Braveboy, of Prince George’s County, said she endorses “full funding” of the public defender’s office to ensure the state’s compliance with the Maryland high court’s September decision regarding counsel at initial bail hearings.
“Our public defender’s office is overworked and underpaid,” she said.
Frosh, Cardin, Frick and Braveboy are battling to succeed two-term Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who is running for governor. No Republican has declared for attorney general, which represents the state and its agencies before Maryland and federal courts.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 24.
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