Bob Wallace Interview
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1st Disclaimer: I am not a member of any political party. I personally agree and disagree with aspects of both Republican and Democrat platforms.
2nd Disclaimer: I took notes during and after this interview. Since the conversation was not recorded, I gave a site business card to the interviewee and offered them to contact me if they felt I misquoted or mischaracterized them.
Bob Wallace is the Democratic candidate running for state Attorney General against incumbent Lawrence Wasden. I asked the following question:
What do you plan to do about sex offenders?
Bob replied that as a lawyer he would not take any domestic abuse or sex-crime cases. He knew he could not give the zealous advocacy needed to defendants when he personally despised the crime involved. Bob said Wasden is a mandatory minimum sentence believer, but he feels judges should have discretion to address victim’s needs. Bob expressed he was sorry sex crimes were discussed at all in politics, because nobody disagrees it is a problem.
I asked what Bob’s professional experience was? He attended Hastings College, a top-ranked school, and he worked three years for the Idaho Attorney General’s office and an Idaho judge. He worked a private practice from 1979-89, then semi-retired. He became Boise prosecutor for nine years, then since 1998 went into private practice again. He has been active in the state bar association, and his favorite activity has been the IVLP, which organizes volunteer lawyer services. Basically Bob says he has been working hard to make money and solve problems for Idahoans.
He said as Attorney General he would give clear legal reality checks to the legislature, and pointed to Wasden’s ambiguous warnings that some legislation may not stand up in court challenges. Bob said Wasden has a great staff, he knows them all, and he would make no staff changes.
I asked the following question:
What do you plan to do about Idaho’s meth-addict problem?
Bob said that a person’s moral compass evaporates under meth influence, and that person has a no sense of accountability. Therefore, meth use is always a criminal problem. However, he felt that meth addicts should not be sent to prison where they just learn how to be a better criminal. He felt the chemical addiction needs to be treated, in a place the person can be made accountable and put to work. Bob felt it is a criminal problem, but can’t be fixed with a criminal solution.
Bob also talked about stopping gang activity with recruitment of kids. He advocated involving kids in more community situations to lessen the allure of gang lifestyles, and pointed that out as a non-traditional way of solving criminal problems.
My impression of Bob Wallace is he’s very passionate about Idaho. He certainly has the legal experience to do the job. His wife is a minister, so I can’t see anyone labeling him as a radical liberal. Bob’s final comment marked the biggest distinction between him and Wasden:
“Does Idaho want a lawyer or a politician for their Attorney General?”
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Way to go on the sex offender issue! It really is a disgrace that this is even being discussed - manditory ten year sentances for all convicted, I say. Let’s keep the recreational weed smoker on probation and give the sex offender his place in jail!
As for his interest in addressing gangs - if you get the chance to speak with him again, you should ask what he plans to do about the growing straightedge problem in our high schools.