Laslovich puts consumer protection, violent crime as top agenda items

Jesse Laslovich, a Democratic candidate for state attorney general, said in an interview that one of his top priorities if elected will be strengthening the consumer protection section of the office.

"It's about protecting Montanans who have been victimized by unfair or deceptive practices, " he said Wednesday.

Laslovich, who is now working as the lead counsel for the office of State Auditor Monica Lindeen, faces Administrative Council for the state Department of Labor and Industry Pam Bucy in the June 2012 Democratic primary.

The only Republican candidate in the race is state Sen. Jim Shockley of Victor.

Laslovich, who served as lead counsel in the consumer protection office under Attorney General Mike McGrath, said that office costs the taxpayers nothing. It is funded through settlements with in-state and out-of-state companies and individuals prosecuted by the office, and multi-party settlements.

"The money is there, and I think we can use it to put more resources in the office to help more people in Montana, " he said.

One issue he has found out about since starting his campaign is repeat embezzlers.

Laslovich said he was surprised when prosecutors throughout the state told him a major problem is people convicted of embezzling from an employer, doing their punishment, then finding a job and doing it again.

He said he would like to start an online database so employers can check that part of the background of their job applicants. It wouldn't stop people from being hired, but it might keep them away from positions where they handled money, he said.

"Eventually, we would try to get these folks out of the criminal justice system, which is already overburdened, and I think it would be a good thing, " he said.

He said another goal of his is to continue to update and improve the sexual offender registry, which often has gaps or fails to accurately track all registered there.

That was an issue he also worked on as a state legislator, in his four years as a state representative and six as a senator, he said.

"In particular, sexual predators and folks who are repeat offenders and threats to society and to children, " he said. "I want to make sure, when they are convicted and on the registry, that we are able to follow them. "

He said, as the chief law enforcement officer in the state, one of the main duties of the attorney general is to make certain violent offenders are prosecuted, and, if convicted, to support the conviction in the Supreme Court.

"We need to make sure that we are successful so predators aren't out on the streets, " Laslovich said.

Laslovich, a fourth-generation Anacondan, received a degree in political science with a minor in economics from the University of Montana in Missoula, and later his law degree from UM.

While a student, he was elected to the Legislature, the second-youngest representative elected in the state.

He and his wife, Cindy, also an attorney, are raising their 2-year-old son, Cooper, in Helena.

Laslovich said his experience in the Legislature will help with two major duties of the attorney general, working with the lawmakers during the legislative session and drafting a budget.

Two of his priorities in legislation will be asking the Legislature to increase the number of attorneys in the consumer protection office and working on strengthening drunk-driving laws, he said, as well as supporting the bills now-Attorney General Steve Bullok, who is running for governor, will submit.

He said his experience working on five budgets in the Legislature and his experience with budgeting in both the attorney general's office and the auditor's office would help him in that arena.

"(When drafting a budget) you're turning over every rock to see where you can find savings, " Laslovich said. "You try to do great work and be efficient in your work, and do it with less taxpayer dollars. "