Democrat Scott Hassett will face current Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, a Republican, in November. He’s vying for the position, Hassett says, partly because Van Hollen has politicized the agency.
“I am bothered by what I see happening in the Department of Justice. I think the incumbent has used it for partisan political purposes and that’s not something I would do.”
Hassett says while he hasn’t made his grand announcement tour, he has been working on his campaign since August. The former DNR secretary says he’s got the experience needed to be the state’s top cop.
“I believe I bring a lot to the table in terms of experience and judgment. I spent 22 years as a litigator…”
Hassett touts his experience in environmental protection while at the DNR. He adds, water is the oil of the 21st Century, and he has done a lot with water regulation. Regardless of voters’s dissatisfaction with the DNR, including its management of the deer population, Hassett believes he’s widely respected for doing the job and making tough decisions. And, he has spent much of his career working with law enforcement, and is confident he’ll have their support.
Jackie Johnson report 1:34