The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

July 21, 2010

Experience makes Ryan Leonard a solid AG choice in upcoming GOP primary

Enid News and Eagle

Two men touting their conservative credentials will be on Tuesday’s Republican ballot for Oklahoma attorney general.

Ryan Leonard and Scott Pruitt will vie for their party’s nomination to replace Drew Edmondson, who has been attorney general for 16 years. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Jim Priest in November.

We urge Republicans to vote Tuesday for Leonard.

While both candidates have strong conservative values, there are differences in their backgrounds.

Leonard has valuable experience as a prosecutor in Canadian County and has tried cases in both state and federal courts. That’s important because the attorney general is, first and foremost, the state’s attorney. Solid legal advice, effective prosecution and strong ethical standards are far more important in our next attorney general than sharp political rhetoric and grandstanding.

The attorney general also must be a champion for transparency and openness in government throughout the state, a role where education and information can be as powerful as litigation.

Leonard was born and raised in northwest Oklahoma, where he gained his work ethic and values and became an Eagle Scout. He seems less caught up in the glamour of statehouse politics than Pruitt, a former state senator and unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor four years ago.

Leonard and Pruitt share similar views on immigration enforcement, state’s rights and other key issues.

Pruitt, from Broken Arrow, gained much of his political experience as a state legislator and 2006 candidate. Leonard worked four years in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Sen. Don Nickles, serving as the senator’s chief aide for issues involving agriculture, transportation, the federal judiciary, natural resources and Indian affairs.

Ryan Leonard has the experience to be Oklahoma’s next attorney general. We urge Republicans to vote for him Tuesday.

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