Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Gilmore goes on attack Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 14:51:51 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD Gilmore goes on attack \SH Calls Terry 'fool' in bid for her job \BY Karen Haywood \CR ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT RICHMOND RICHMOND - Henrico County prosecutor James S. Gilmore launched his bid for the Republican nomination for attorney general yesterday with an attack on Attorney General Mary Sue Terry. "Mary Sue Terry is a classic example of a fool and failed attorney general," Mr. Gilmore said. "She has succeeded in politics, but failed to make Virginia safer. She has acted like a politician, not like a law enforcement professional. "Traditional Democrats for the office of attorney general have been legislators with undisguised political ambition to live in the governor's mansion," Mr. Gilmore said. The attorney general's job will be open next year. Miss Terry, a former legislator, is the likely Democratic nominee for governor next year. Mr. Gilmore, however, refused to promise he would not run for governor. He asked voters to ask themselves whether they are safer than they were before Miss Terry was elected. "I've yet to find a single person who answers that question 'yes,' " he said. Yet Mr. Gilmore refused to say whether Henrico County, a Richmond suburb, is safer now than it was in 1987 when he became commonwealth's attorney. "I think people of Henrico have enjoyed a good history of prosecution and police work," he said. Mr. Gilmore said he would hold young people accountable for their actions by proposing that murder suspects 14 and older be tried as adults; that all 16-year-olds charged with felonies be tried as adults; and that records be kept for children with felony convictions. He said he would work to see that every locality has a program, similar to one in Henrico County, to assist victims and witnesses of crimes. Victims and witnesses have the right to "understand their rights, how the court system works and what they can do to help make the system work better," Mr. Gilmore said. The state needs more prison and jail space and the General Assembly must be persuaded to fund it, he said. He also advocates private prisons. Virginia needs a truth-in-sentencing law similar to the federal law, where a 10-year sentence means 10 years in prison, not release on parole after less than two years, he said. Another potential GOP gubernatorial candidate is Roanoke Delegate Steve Agee. State Sen. Joseph Benedetti of Richmond, who lost in 1989 to Miss Terry, announced earlier this year he will not run again. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM