Sharply criticizing his incumbent opponent, Democratic Attorney General candidate Joe Kohn spoke at the Law School yesterday. In a combination of a speech and question-and-answer session, Kohn, a 1979 graduate of the College, told a group of about eighteen he was running for attorney general because he felt Ernie Preate, the current attorney general, was "simply missing in action," especially in the field of consumer protection. As in his television commercials, Kohn derided Preate as a politician who plans to use the attorney general's office as "stepping-stone" to the governor's mansion, and as a "campaign headquarters." Kohn said he thinks an attorney general who does his job should naturally accumulate so many enemies that the position "should be a career dead-end." Kohn portrayed Preate as more concerned with high-publicity activities, such as his raids on X-rated book stores, than on substantive legal issues. He referred to Preate's penchant for getting on the nightly news as "prosecution by press release." "I don't feel much safer on the street, now that a couple of bookstores are out of business," Kohn said. Kohn said he also sharply differred with Preate -- and Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey -- on the issue of abortion. Kohn said he would not support the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act. When asked if, as attorney general, he would be required to be the advocate for laws passed by the state -- including the Abortion Control Act -- Kohn replied that under the law, he is not required to support laws that "resist an existing authority." "I would have the authority, even the obligation, to make an independent evaluation [of the legislation's] constitutionality," he said. He maintained that he would be independent as attorney general. "I am not Bob Casey's boy," he said. "I am not Bob Casey's candidate." "I am not Eddie Rendell's candidate," he added. "I'm going to have the independence to go to Harrisburg and ferret out [crime and corruption.]" Kohn also attempted to refute Preate's charge that he is "soft on crime." Kohn said he would favor altering the language of the state anti-racketeering laws to match that of the federal government, to allow the state greater leeway in seizing drug dealers' assets. He said he wanted those assets used for drug treatment, and correctional "boot camps," instead of more traditional prison facilities. Afterward, students said they were impressed by the speech. "I'm excited by the fact that he'll be willing to stand up to the governor if necessary," third year Law student Wendy Beetlestone said. "I was impressed," first year Law student Alan Reifenberg said. "I had heard he was soft on crime." "When pressed on the issue, he did have some alternatives to the tried-and-true methods that have not been working." he added.
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