Pubdate: Tue, 31 May 2005
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2005 Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Tammie Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE GETS TESTY

McDonnell Questions Baril Principles; Baril Wants Financial Data

Stephen E. Baril, a Richmond lawyer, and Robert F. McDonnell, a member of 
the Virginia House of Delegates since 1992, have traded barbs in the past week.

With 14 days left to campaign before the June 14 primary, expect more to come.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, who is running unopposed for the 
Democratic nomination for attorney general, is not in the fray -- yet. 
Deeds will face the winner of the Baril-McDonnell contest in the November 
general election.

McDonnell said Baril hails himself as a conservative but hasn't always 
courted the conservative vote.

"He ran in 1998 as a moderate," for a House of Delegates seat, McDonnell 
said. "He lost in that primary. Now he is running as a conservative. I 
think the people have seen through that."

Baril last week challenged McDonnell to "come clean" about who paid for 
political advertisements, suggesting the dollars were "washed" through the 
Virginia Conservative Action PAC but were really from a group, the American 
Tort Reform Association, that does not have to disclose its contributors.

Some call the attorney general the state's "top cop." In reality, the job 
is less about policing than it is about overseeing Virginia's more than 100 
state attorneys and dozens of other legal staff who provide legal advice 
and representation to the governor, the General Assembly and agencies.

More about all the candidates can be found on their campaign Web sites.

Here are some questions and answers from the Republican contenders:

* What are some of your plans to combat drug crimes?

McDonnell wants to "renew the war on drugs" by increasing minimum sentences 
for some drug offenders and bolstering efforts to catch people operating 
methamphetamine labs.

Baril wants to hire 100 state troopers to help local law enforcement deal 
with gang violence, homicide and methamphetamine labs. He wants expanded 
drug courts and sentencing reform.

* What are some other key elements of your campaign?

McDonnell plans to focus on anti-terrorism protections. He wants the Office 
of Commonwealth Preparedness to become permanent by state statute and the 
director of that office to be appointed for a five-or six-year term. He 
also wants more accountability of federal dollars spent in Virginia for 
anti-terrorism efforts. Preparedness plans should be regularly tested "the 
way they are done in the military so we can know they work," he said.

"Right now, we just have them on paper," said McDonnell.

McDonnell is also calling for "complete reform" of the sexual-offender 
registry and laws about sexually violent predators.

Baril has a 10-year transportation plan to improve the state's roads. That 
plan calls for toll roads and public-private partnerships. The attorney 
general's office would provide legal expertise, Baril said.

"I have a track record in spearheading completion of Route 288 around 
Richmond," said Baril. "I pulled together a coalition of business leaders."

In response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that people who killed as 
juveniles can't be executed, Baril wants to make it a capital offense to 
use a juvenile to commit murder.

"The goal would be to discourage any adult to try to use the kids to commit 
the killing," he said.

* What are some differences between you and your opponent?

Baril criticizes McDonnell as a career politician.

"I want to be the people's lawyer. I am running as the political outsider," 
he said. "If they want politics as usual, they have their candidate from 
Virginia Beach."

McDonnell said he has been involved with almost every "major reform in 
Virginia" in the past decade, including welfare reform.

"He has a bunch of promises of what he might do if elected," McDonnell said 
of Baril.

* Key endorsements:

McDonnell: Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, Virginia Society for Human Life, 
Virginia Conservative Action PAC, five former attorneys general, Home 
School Legal Defense Association.

Baril: Former U.S. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr., R-7th; Rep. Eric I. Cantor, 
R-7th; Del. John S. Reid, R-Henrico; Del. R. Lee Ware Jr., R-Powhatan.

* Other issues:

Death penalty: McDonnell supports. Baril supports.

Gun-ownership rights: McDonnell says he supports the Second Amendment; 
Baril says he is "very pro" gun-ownership rights.

Abortion: McDonnell says he is "100 percent pro-life." Baril says he is 
pro-life.

Same-sex marriage: McDonnell opposes. Baril opposes.
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MAP posted-by: Beth