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November 4, 2009

Leonard wants to be next attorney general

Curbing flow of drugs tops list of priorities

Ron Booth

DUNCAN — Ryan Leonard stopped in Duncan Monday to try to win support for his 2010 campaign, to be the next Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma.

Leonard, a Republican, is a native of Beaver, but resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Carrie, and three children.

Leonard is an attorney, former state prosecutor in Canadian County and former senior aide to U.S. Senator Don Nickles for four years in the 1990s.

“The job of the attorney general is to show up at the office every day and fight for the people of this state and do what is right,” Leonard said. “I believe my background in the civil side of law and the criminal side of law has prepared me to be a strong advocate of the people, and that is ultimately the job — to stand up and fight every day for what is right.”

Leonard is especially concerned with methamphetamine problem in the state.

“Methamphetamine is a scourge on this state, he said. “I know it affects not only the urban areas, but also the rural areas like southern Oklahoma. Nobody is immune. My belief is that the job of the attorney general, through the multi-county grand jury, is to crack down on these drug-distribution networks that have cropped up.

“In 2004, the state moved pseudoephedrine behind the counter. The next year our meth lab arrests dropped 95 percent. What has taken its place are these very sophisticated drug-distribution networks. A lot of the methamphetamine is now coming in from Mexico,” Leonard said. “They are also finding ways to cook it in smaller batches. Methamphetamine, from a law standpoint, I believe, is one of the state’s, if not the state’s top priority.”

Another issue that is on the radar of Leonard is public officials abusing their power.

“We still have far too much public corruption in this state. In the last several months we’ve had three instances of public funds being embezzled from state agencies. In the last 10 years we’ve sent two state-wide elected officials to prison.”

Leonard said that he feels that being an advocate for economic development is also part of the job of the attorney general.

“With respect to economic development, we need an attorney general who understands the importance of economic development in this state of both fostering our existing businesses, small business is the backbone of this state’s economy, and also creating an environment where we can attract businesses to come to Oklahoma,” he said. “I think these are exciting times for Oklahoma. These are obviously challenging times, but I think these are exciting times. I think these are times of great opportunity for Oklahoma.”

Making sure that there is some balance between the federal government and state government is also something that Leonard said he feels will be important in the coming years.

“Nationally, in light of what is going on in congress, I think you’ll see with health care and ‘cap and trade’ there are constitutional and legal problems that will arise from some of the steps that congress is taking,” Leonard said. “When congress overreaches, I think it is important that we preserve the balance of power between the state and federal government. I think the attorney generals around the country will be playing a very active role.”

During his time as a lawyer, Leonard has taken part in the “Lawyer for Children” program, which does work pro bono for children in the Department of Human Services.

“I’m very pro-family,” Leonard said. “The family is the core of our society. We must have a strong family unit. Obviously, we must take every step to combat domestic violence and child abuse. At the core of those issues often times, are substance-abuse related issues.”

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