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Show Athay recounts needs of Attorney General j N Kj-C'' CAMPAIGNS IN CEDAR CITY. Gil Athay, right, Democratic candidate for Attorney General discusses campaign and plans to meet with residents in the southern Utah area with Rod Decker, Iron County Democratic Chairman. Athay made swing through southern Utah Monday. area at the present time and the people, the citizens are not being properly represented in these important hearings," he declared. Athay further declared "that we need a coordinated effort initiated at the Attorney General's office to coordinate drug enforcement throughout the state. We need to organize both time and manpower to develop an effective drug prevention program and make it effective." The candidate challenged the growth that has occurred in the Attorney General's office over the past eight years declaring that the budget has increased some 240 percent from $460,000 to 1.6 million this past year and that cannot be justified," Athay stated. Likewise the staff has increased proportionately and without justification. "We need to remove politics from the office of Attorney General, and the Attorney General needs to assume the responsibilities of signing each opinion. The office of Attorney General is not a 9 to 5 job, but a position of public office and trust. The Attorney General needs to be accountable to the public," he concluded. Athay and members of his staff spent most of Monday visiting in communities in southern Utah area. They plan further stops along Highway 89 enroute back to Salt Lake during the latter part of the week. "I for one do not believe that the state ends at Utah County. I'm touching base with all counties now and would continue to visit all the counties of the state if elected," Athay declared. The Attorney General Office needs revamping and reorganization, Gil Athay, Democratic candidate for that office stated Monday while on a swing through 11 southern Utah counties. "We need to return the office of Attorney General back to the State of Utah--the Private Citizen," he declared. There are several specialists needed in the Attorney General's office that could provide specialized services to the smaller counties, he advocated. These would be made available oh a request basis only but would fit the needs of and meet the requirements of the office, Athay stated. He proposed that four trial lawyers, lawyers with experience ex-perience in prosecution should be on the staff to assist the smaller counties. In addition he proposed that the staff" would also have Investigative specialists on staff that would be available "on a request only basis or in the event of a total breakdown in law enforcement," en-forcement," he declared. "We need someone at the state level-in the Attorney General office - to specialize in Utility rate problems. We have a void in this |