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Name:
Jean Welch Hill
Registered Party: Democrat
District: Attorney General
Address: 610 S. South Temple, SLC, UT 84111
Phone: (801)803-98843
Email:
jwhill4ag@comcast.net
Website: www.jeanwelchhill.com
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Candidate Background Information
Occupation: Attorney, Utah State Board of Education-general counsel and prosecutor of educator misconduct cases
Education: J.D. University of Utah
Prior Experience: High school history teacher, columnist and editorial writer
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Questions
The League of Women Voters has made every effort to present accurately the candidates' responses as they were submitted.
1. Whatedoes the State Attorney General do?
The Attorney General should be a public watchdog--protecting the public interest and representing state agencies in legal proceedings. She advocates for necessary laws, provides information to legislators to ensure passage of legally defensible laws, and prosecutes those who violate state law.
2. As Attorney General, what would be your highest priorities?
Education, ethics, and equity.
- Education: I was one of the attorneys who argued successfully against the state's ill-conceived voucher program at the Utah Supreme Court. Vouchers are on the agenda again for Republican leadership and the state needs an attorney general who will provide sound legal advice on the issue.
We also need an attorney general who can and will explain the effect of hastily drafted education legislation on public education to stem the tide of rash reforms and attempts to dismantle and privatize public education.
- Ethics: We also need an attorney general who will promote ethics and campaign finance reform legislation, and implement personal ethical practices as an officeholder regardless of whether she is statutorily required to do so. Simple steps, such as imposing a limit on the amount of any corporate contribution the candidate will accept, help raise the ethical bar for all public officials.
- Equity: We need to ensure that consumers, seniors, and other individuals have equal power at whatever bargaining table they may find themselves. This means enacting a usury law to prevent predatory pay day lenders from charging 520% interest on loans, defending workers' rights to collective bargaining, and providing education and protection for seniors targeted by mail and phone scams.
It also means providing greater representation for women to ensure that our issues are addressed. For example, Utah still has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the nation. As attorney general, I will implement policies and programs to combat this appalling statistic.
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