Show Attorney General Files For Election Re-Election Term Utah's Attorney General A. A Pratt Kesler this week announced announced announced ced his candidacy to succeed himself as the States State's chief legal legal legal leg leg- al officer Mr Kesler a Republican Re Republican publican pub pub- lican has been General General Gen Gen- eral since December 1961 Prior to assuming his present position Mr Kesler served for eight years years years' as United States Attorney for Utah during the I administration of President Eis Eis- In addition to his services services services ser ser- ser ser- vices on both the state and federal levels of government Mr Kesler also represented Salt Lake City for a number of years as city prosecutor and assistant city attorney In the private practice of law he has been a member of the la law v firms of Hanson Kesler and Hanson and Callister land and Kesler Kesler Kes Kes- ler both of Salt Lake City He tie is a past president of both the Utah State and Salt Lake County Bar nar Associations and Is currently a member of the House of Delegates of the American American Am Am- Bar Ilar ar Association He lie Is also chairman of the Utah Com Come Commission mission on Uniform State Laws In Republican party affairs Mr Kessler has a record of long and active service lIe He served serve ed two terms as Republican State chairman has been a member of the Republican National National Na Nay Committee and has held heM numerous other positions on a state and county level Mr Kesler Is a native of Salt Lake City lIe He received both his undergraduate and law training at t the University of Utah lIe He Heis lIeIs lieis is a member of the Church of J Jesus e s u s Christ of Latter-day Latter Saints having served as a missionary missionary mis mis- In France for that org org- He Ire Is married to the former Ellen They have two children and reside at 1875 Yale Avenue Salt Lake Lesko City Utah Mr Kesler Issued the followIng following following follow follow- ing statement with his announcement cement With the possible exception of the governorship itself there is no office under the Utah constitution constitution con con- that is as Important and vital to the efficient and orderly conduct of state government government government govern govern- ment nor to the protection of the rights interests and well well- being of the citizens of the Ut Uth h than that of the Attorney Gen Gen- eral His duties and responsibilities are many the powers and influence of his office are wide wide- spread lIe He is first of all the attorney for the State of Utah its chief legal officer As such he is responsible for handling all legal matters of a civil nature nature na na- na ture with which the State is is' is concerned This Is a considerable considerable considerable consider consider- able task particularly when one I considers the broad scope of af affairs affairs affairs af- af fairs with which state government government government govern govern- ment is today concerned These affairs affairs' run affairs run the gamut from the building of a super-highway super system system system tem that crisscrosses the State to the various problems that relate to education taxation U public welfare parks ax and d recreation recreation rec rec- public health and many others In conducting its affairs the State is Involved in the expenditures expenditures expenditures ex ex- ex- ex of some million dollars annually an and l employs about people The Attorney General is con con- directly or indirectly with the operation of practically practical practical- ly all of the programs of state government He must advise all departments ts and agencies on matters of a legal nature that come before them It is his duty to render written legal opinions opinions opine ions tons to them when so required lIe He represents them in court lIe He prosecutes t the their h e i r claims against other parties lIe He approves approves approves ap ap- ap- ap proves all contracts as to l legality leg leg- g- g aiRy aUty of which any department or agency is a party lIe He represents represents represents the State in legal matters in which It is involved with other other other oth oth- er states or the federal govern govern- ment In this regard he has the highly important responsibility of protecting Utah's interests In the waters of the Colorado river certain phases of which are v no now pending before the United United United Un Un- States Supreme Court He lie is charged with enforcement enforcement enforcement enforce enforce- ment of regulatory laws of the State and prosecution of violators violat violat- ors thereof He lie handles all crimInal criminal crim crim- inal appeals before the Supreme Court and renders legal assistance assistance assist assist- crIminal criminal criminal crimi crImi- ance ane in connection with nal cases as well weIl as civil to county and district attorneys In addition to his duties as state attorney he is also by statute made a member of a number of boards and commissions commissions commissions commis commis- of state government including including in including in- in the important Board of Examiners which passes upon all claims against the State Quite clearly a strong alert and active attorney general can through the power and in influence influence In- In fluence of his office play a large role in shaping the policy I and direction of state govern govern- ment Any aspirant to this office should be a person of considerable considerable considerable consid consid- erable legal legat experience As theoffice the theoffice theoffice office requires demonstrated executive and administrative ability experience In those fields is likewise a site I believe my background of long legal experience both bothIn In private practice and In three levels of government s service provides me with the necessary necessary sary legal qualifications Likewise Liked Like wise my activity in connection with the American State and County Bar nar associations coupled cpu cou pled with years of experience in iny my political party furnishes me with a background in leadership leadership lead lead- and administration c es ca essential to the office I believe strongly in my state and it its people and would like to continue continue continue con con- to serve them as Attorney Attorney Attorney ney General I urge the voters of the State to give serious thought fo to the Importance of ot this office for which I am a candidate and to examine my qualifications and record In respect respect respect re re- re- re thereto |