Note: The print edition had photos of the candidates, but not the
information, including contact information, at the bottom.
Attorney general candidates tout different tactics
Abbott cites internet crimes; Van Os running against 'Big Business'
By Laylan Copelin
<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/11/mailto:[EMAIL
PROTECTED]>
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
ODESSA -- Democrat David Van Os is taking his campaign for attorney
general to all 254 Texas courthouses, trying to invoke memories of
President Truman's come-from-behind whistlestop tour in 1948.
In this case, it's more like Van Os is touring a yellow-brick road,
attacking the wicked witches of Big Oil, Big Insurance and Big Business.
Instead of red slippers, Van Os arrives in his wife's red Chrysler
Pacifica. He plays to tiny audiences (at least in GOP-heavy West Texas)
and small-town TV reporters.
Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, flies overhead to airport
news conferences to tout his record as a cyber crime-fighter against
sexual predators. Meanwhile, Libertarian Jon Roland of Austin promises
to convene meetings in each county to solicit complaints about possible
misconduct by public officials.
All of this for the job of directing the Texas government's law firm,
which spends most of its time and money representing state agencies in
court, collecting delinquent child support and investigating Medicaid
fraud and consumer complaints. The Office of Attorney General has more
than 4,000 full-time positions and a two-year budget of $933.2 million.
Besides the power of incumbency, Abbott reported Tuesday that he has
$7.7 million in the bank. Van Os, who is spending his donations ($64,171
since this summer) as fast as he gets them, said he has about $5,000
cash. He is paying a personal price as well: His San Antonio law
practice has run red ink for two years while he campaigns, he says.
Van Os says the Texas Democratic Party is not supporting its statewide
candidates. He complains that party leaders' "defeatism" is drying up
donations as the party focuses on winning legislative races.
Nevertheless, on the ground in West Texas, Van Os gives an animated
speech to about 15 people. He practically spits as he declares his
opposition to oil giants' record profits; home insurance rates, which
are the highest in the U.S.; rising health care costs; and the
Trans-Texas Corridor, a planned system of toll roads operated by
"European corporations."
And Van Os vows to sue or investigate every one of them.
"The middle class is under attack from robber barons and sold-out
politicians who serve them," Van Os says.
For his part, Abbott contends that he and officials in other states have
looked at oil companies and found only market forces at work in setting
prices. He cites lawsuits against Allstate Insurance for not paying the
living expenses of Hurricane Rita evacuees and to stop scams targeting
elderly and Hispanic consumers.
More strikingly, consumer groups seem ambivalent about Abbott's record.
Luke Metzger, formerly with Texas Public Interest Research Group, said
Abbott is no Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic New York attorney general who
has prosecuted major corporations.
"He's not taking on the special interests of the world," Metzger said.
"From that perspective, he hasn't been a champion, but he hasn't tried
to turn back the clock on consumer protections."
The Abbott-Van Os face-off is a rematch of sorts.
In 1998, Van Os campaigned against Abbott, a George W. Bush appointee to
the Texas Supreme Court, charging that Abbott dispensed "payola justice"
bought by corporate donors.
Abbott has corporate donors on his side again. A study of Abbott's
largest donors, by Texans for Public Justice through June, showed
six-figure donations from home builders, telecommunications investors,
beer distributors and other business interests.
Van Os accuses Abbott's donors of "buying protection" to keep the state
from meddling.
Top donors to Van Os are labor organizations.
In his swing through the state's largest oil-producing region, Van Os
cited his East Texas oil roots -- his father was an oilman -- but didn't
back off on attacking oil companies' profits.
"I hope the drilling doubles," he said. "We need the production."
However, he said the companies' profits are obscene, and the decline of
gasoline prices immediately before an election is suspicious.
"What a coincidence!" Van Os mocks, suggesting a price-gouging probe
might be in order. "An attorney general shouldn't take that at face value."
Abbott said his office, working with attorneys general in other states
and federal officials, investigated gasoline prices, particularly during
the 2005 hurricane season.
In November 2005, the equivalent of subpoenas were issued to several oil
companies, according to his office.
"Everyone has investigated these issues for years," Abbott said. "We
found no illegal antitrust action."
Attorney General
(i) Greg Abbott
*Age*: 48
*Occupation*: Attorney general
*Hometown: *Austin
*Education*: Law degree, Vanderbilt; bachelor's, University of Texas
*Experience*: Texas Supreme Court justice, 1996-2001; state district
judge, Houston, 1992-96; private practice, 1984-1992
*Worth noting*: Emphasizes programs to collect delinquent child support,
prosecute Internet crimes against children, sex offenses and Medicaid
fraud. Personally defended Capitol display of Ten Commandments before
U.S. Supreme Court.
*Web site:*gregabbott.com <http://gregabbott.com>
David Van Os
*Age*: 56
*Occupation*: Lawyer
*Hometown: *San Antonio
*Education*: Law and bachelor's degrees, University of Texas
*Experience*: Private practice, 1984-present; Texas AFL-CIO general
counsel, 1983-89; Communications Workers of America, 1981-84; National
Treasury Employees Union, 1976-78
*Worth noting*: Promises to fight oil companies over prices, insurance
companies over premiums and corporations over business practices.
Opposes the Trans-Texas Corridor of private toll roads.
*Web site: *www.vanosfortexasag.com <http://www.vanosfortexasag.com>
Jon Roland (L)
*Age*: 62
*Occupation*: Computer professional
*Hometown: *Marble Falls
*Education*: Bachelor's, University of Chicago
*Experience*: Real estate investor; U.S. Air Force
*Worth noting*: Promises to get grand juries to investigate complaints
about possible misconduct by public officials, independently of public
prosecutors, and to revive private criminal prosecutions; reduce abuses
in Child Protective Services; and protect Texans from abuse from federal
government.
*Web site: *www.jonroland.org <http://www.jonroland.org>
Find this article at:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/11/11general.html
-- Jon
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