Could you talk about the rapid intervention community court program, which you helped implement? We have to take a public health model — holding people accountable, but giving them the opportunity to re-do. The recidivism rate is 40-50 percent, and a lot of these issues are drug-related. The program diverts non-violent offenders to mental health or substance abuse counseling, and eases the burden on the corrections system. We’ve had success with it here in Chittenden County, and Governor Shumlin wants to implement it statewide.
“You could be walking around lucky and not even know it.”
LET IT RIDE / 1989
all these different state boards, county vs. county. Why is Bennington doing it one way? Why is Chittenden doing it one way? How do we develop a consistent approach? And we were spinning our tires. There’s only one person in this state that can utilize that statewide jurisdiction and build that consensus and implement the best practices, and that’s the attorney general.
We need to identify people for screening; we need to create care and accountability. We’ve had success with the program — an 80 percent compliance rate in the first 18 months. It’s also an issue of fairness — unlike poverty, substance abuse and men- And this was really a time when it was tal illness don’t discriminate. county vs. county. This is really about leadership. It’s about utilizing technolCrime and corrections reform were big ogy, it is about having those partnerships issues in the 2010 gubernatorial race. Do so we share resources. It is really about you think they will be again this election? coming up with new ideas to address new challenges in the 21st century. When I They’re important issues. This recession was in these meetings it was clear to me brings new challenges. We must change – the top cop/chief law enforcement officer how we operate, and produce outcomes in needs to be involved and needs to be leada more efficient way. ing on these issues. Do you think that’s a third rail issue? Crime? Absolutely. I give Governor Shumlin tons of credit - most politicians are afraid of looking soft on crime. We have to build infrastructure on the front end. I want to be a partner to the governor on that issue. It’s time to be tough on crime but also smart on crime — we can’t arrest our way out of the problem. We have to find the best practices for enforcement. We need to bring in the medical community, bring in social services, discuss treatment options, open methadone clinics. It’s about intervention and prevention — we need to get to the root of the problem. We have to reform the criminal justice system. We have 14 different counties with 14 different ways of approaching crime. That’s something I would address as attorney general. The last couple years with the economic recession I was in these meetings with
dent loans. How do we attract new jobs to Vermont? This is about the future — safety, infrastructure. Public safety equals economic development. It’s as simple as that. We have to do more with less. The traditional method isn’t working. Safety keeps people in Vermont. You’re 27 years younger than your opponent. Do you think the young vote will be critical for you? Obviously, we want a high turnout in the primary. I need young people to vote; it’s always important for young people to participate. A lot of our efforts will be getting out the vote.
Have you always seen yourself working in public service? You were in private Do you think that the winner of this race practice and then you left to work in the will be determined in the Democratic pri- state’s attorney’s office six years ago. mary? Do you think any Republican candidate would be inconsequential? I love being a prosecutor. It’s a really rewarding job because you can help a lot of This primary is the race, for all intents and people. There’s a lot of interaction with purposes. No Republican has filed to be a people from all walks of life, policy issues, candidate yet. obviously legal issues. Some of the stories you deal with truly are stranger than fic(Editor’s note: since this interview was tion. There’s never been a dull moment — conducted, Republican Jack McMullen de- it’s been a great lesson in crisis manageclared his candidacy.) ment. Usually you have a crisis by 8:30 every day. You learn how to lead and you Does that make the campaign tougher for learn how to manage and delegate, and you, since it effectively shortens the race you learn how to get things done. by two months? That, coupled with lower turnout in the primary compared to the You learn to set priorities. When you talk general? about a vision, you gotta say “well, this is important.” We can do these ten things in It definitely informs our strategy — you a day, but what’s the one thing we have have to be skillful in getting out the vote. to be committed to over the course of the This is a changing world — I don’t think our next six months to a year to really make a generation will accept the way things have difference? That all goes back to the comalways been done. We struggle with who munity court thing. I’ve seen people in and can afford a starter home, if that even ex- out of the criminal justice system time and ists anymore, and how to pay to back stu- time again. Some of these people I grew