Republican

Candidate name: Scott L. Rolle

Place of residence: Frederick

Date of birth: June 30, 1961

Place of birth: Washington, D.C.

Current occupation: Frederick County state’s attorney; captain, U.S. Army Reserve

Education: FBI National Law Institute; J.D., Ohio Northern University School of Law, 1986; B.A., University of Dayton, 1984

Community associations, involvement: American Legion, Francis Scott Key Post; Habitat for Humanity; Rotary Club of Carroll Creek

Professional associations: Maryland State and Frederick County Bar Associations; Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association; JAG Corps, U.S. Army; International Association of Narcotics Enforcement Officers; Youthful Offender Program (founder)

Family: Married, Mary Rolle; three children: Dawn, Scott Jr. and Devon

Campaign office and telephone: P.O. Box 172, Baughman’s Lane, Frederick, MD 21702, 240-818-8804

Web site: www.scottrolle2006.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

Our children need to be protected from sexual offenders who are getting out of prison too early and preying on them. As Attorney General, I’ll lead the fight to ensure that child sex offenders serve all of their time.

The increasing threat of gangs is also one of the most urgent issues facing Maryland. Gangs are no longer a city problem, with groups such as MS-13 bleeding into suburban and rural areas, bringing with them gun violence. The Attorney General must take the lead on this issue before our window of opportunity to combat this growing problem closes.

Combating computer-based sex crimes against our children and financial fraud against us all is a priority as well.

How would you rate the performance of the current attorney general: excellent, good, fair or poor?

Excellent. The current Attorney General has strongly advocated for the people of Maryland on a number of fronts, especially in consumer protection. As Attorney General, I will continue this tradition and build upon these achievements.

However, my specific priorities for the office will differ from those of the current Attorney General. I will put the chief law enforcement duties of the Attorney General on the front burner, in order to protect our children from sexual predators and to stop gang violence.

What administrative skills will you bring to a job that manages more than 400 lawyers in the Attorney General’s Office?

For the last twelve years, I have efficiently managed the State’s Attorney’s Office in Frederick County and demonstrated effective leadership My approach is to select highly qualified individuals for key positions, let them do their jobs, and hold them accountable. My years in the Army Reserve have taught me the necessity of disciplined management and leadership in large organizations, and I will bring this approach to the Office of Attorney General.

As attorney general, how would you protect consumers?

The Office of Attorney General has done a good job of protecting consumers and keeping Marylanders informed of consumer issues. I will continue that tradition. Still, more needs to be done: For example, I will work to stop consumer rip-offs and misleading advertising by expanding the Consumer Protection Division and help to educate seniors about where to get the best price for prescription drugs.

What steps are needed to tighten Maryland’s identity theft laws?

Because we are in an age where computers, the Internet, and electronic banking are necessities, it is vitally important that we tighten Maryland’s identity theft laws. Anyone who has been a victim of identity theft knows what a nightmare it is. The people of Maryland are fortunate to be able to request their credit reports to ensure that they have not been victims of identity theft, and I applaud the current Attorney General for his efforts on this. As Maryland’s next Attorney General, I will fervently enforce the current laws on identity theft and will work with the Governor and General Assembly to craft additional protections in the law.

Do you think the office needs to do more to investigate claims of gasoline price gouging?

Yes. Gasoline prices have risen tremendously over the last several years, and this has been a burden especially on working folks and small businesses. But the Maryland public has not been given an adequate answer on why gas prices are so high. We know that gas prices at the pump are in large part determined by the market price of oil, but further investigation is necessary to protect citizens, small business owners who rely on steady gas prices, and local gas stations owners who play virtually no role in the price we as consumers pay.

Are Maryland’s laws tough enough on sexual predators? If not, how would you toughen them?

No, Maryland does not have tough enough laws on sexual predators. Our children are our most precious resource, and we must do everything we can to protect them from those in the community seeking to do them harm. Child sex offenders have very high rates of recidivism — the only way to make sure these offenders do not hurt our children again is to keep them in prison longer and to closely monitor them when, and if, they are released.

As State’s Attorney, I have a demonstrated record of fighting for children on this issue, securing the longest sentence for a child sex offender in Maryland history. As Attorney General, I would similarly fight for increased sentences for child sex offenders, including implementation of Jessica’s Law, which includes no-parole for child sex offenders, longer prison sentences for all sex offenders, and increased supervision following release from prison for these criminals. We simply can not place the safety of our children in the hands of few appointed individuals on the Parole Commission.

As Attorney General, I’ll also use my office to educate the public about how to protect children from pedophiles and work to actually enforce our sex offender registration laws.

Do you support the death penalty? Why or why not?

I support the death penalty in heinous crimes such as the killing of police officers, murder of children involving sexual assault, and deaths resulting from terrorist attacks. There are some crimes where society must just draw the line and say ‘‘enough is enough,” and where the death penalty is necessary. I share the concerns of those who fear that this penalty is not fairly handed out. As Attorney General, I will advocate for the death penalty in appropriate cases, but my office will undertake an in-depth internal examination of each death penalty case, in order to ensure fairness.