Editorials

Alabama has enough of its own problems in matters of criminal justice. The state's attorney general and staff ought to fill their days with the various challenges of Alabama's legal system.

Sadly, though, recent Alabama attorneys general have treated the office as if it were a right-wing think tank, sticking their noses into legal matters far outside the state. One AG who is now a federal judge, William Pryor, even filed a “friend of the court” brief taking George W. Bush's side in the 2000 presidential election case. The case might be relevant to a partisan politician, but not to the state's highest law enforcer.

Unfortunately, Pryor's replacement, Troy King, whom Gov. Bob Riley appointed to the office in 2004, has kept up this highly ideological practice.

What Alabama needs is an attorney general capable of representing the state in legal matters as well as overseeing a staff charged with pursuing justice for Alabamians. Because of his experience as Mobile County's district attorney and his record of innovative ways of combating crime, John Tyson Jr. is the right candidate for the job.

In a dozen years leading Mobile County DA's office, Tyson has overseen thousands of convictions, won a statewide award for his performance, pursued officeholders who have gone afoul of the law without regard to party affiliation and instituted several programs that have successfully attacked the root causes of crime.

A mix of tough-but-fair prosecutions and innovative ways to prevent crimes before they happen is appealing and just the prescription for Alabama's attorney general. In fact, it makes the Democrat Tyson the best candidate in this race.

What we hear from Tyson regarding targeting at-risk schoolchildren and intervening in their lives to keep them out of a life of crime is similar to what we hear from Gov. Riley and Richard Allen, the state's prisons commissioner. All three men recognize that senseless tough-guy punishments are not enough to reduce crime. King, on the other hand, has derided Tyson's ideas as useless social programs. Call them what you want; if they keep Alabamians from turning to a life of crime, this page endorses them.

King's political grandstanding and lack of experience make him a highly unattractive candidate. He continues to stand by anti-gay statements he made almost 15 years ago while he was a law student at the University of Alabama.

On the campaign trail this year, King has been too sweeping in his characterizations of illegal immigrants and the separation of church and state. Such extremism is out of step with Alabama voters. That's particularly true for someone we will elect to pursue justice under the law in a rational and even-handed manner.

This page endorses John Tyson Jr. because he has a record of operating a prosecutors' office in an evenhanded and generally nonpartisan fashion. Beyond that, his experience and fresh ideas are just what the state needs.