In The News
Rabago cites efforts to battle violence, fraud
Jun. 28, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic- Opinion
A conversation with Vince Rabago, Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General.
1. Mr. Rabago, you worked in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for eight years before stepping down to run for attorney general. What do you view as your biggest accomplishments? As a career 16-year prosecutor, as an assistant Arizona attorney general since 2002 and as a California deputy attorney general from 1994 through 2002, my accomplishments include working on successful national and statewide fraud cases and criminal cases. I have sued and obtained a court injunction against a major payday lender for deceptive practices, fought mortgage fraud and enforced justice against violent and hardened criminals, including death-penalty cases.
2. Why are you running for attorney general?
Arizona needs an attorney general with the common-sense experience to fight for Arizonans and against the criminal traffickers, financial crooks and fraudsters.
3. What is your position on Senate Bill 1070?
Having been born and raised on the border, I will be the first to say that our border must be secured. But SB 1070 is a misguided solution to a serious problem and doesn’t provide border security.
4. What would be your top priorities as attorney general?
As for some specific plans:
1. Fighting financial fraud such as cracking down on predatory bankers, payday lenders and mortgage fraud.
2. Improving border security – escalating the battle against cartels, trafficking and continuing to choke off the money supply that funds these criminal syndicates.
3. Increase the focus on protecting seniors, children and consumer protection.
4. And fighting identity theft by working with law enforcement to close the technology gap that allows this crime to occur.
5. What would be the first thing you would do as attorney general?
I would put together the best possible legal staff and bring together law enforcement from all across the state to coordinate all law-enforcement efforts, from Phoenix and Tucson to our rural counties, to have a comprehensive strategy for fighting all crime and border trafficking.
