WOLFF HOPES '88 RUN WILL PUSH HIM OVER TOP IN ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE

Mike Wolff is hoping to turn the success he had in 1988 and a broad base of legal experience into a successful campaign for attorney general.

Four years ago Wolff, a St. Louis University law professor, challenged popular incumbent William Webster for the post and ran a closer race than many expected. That success caused many Democrats to take notice in 1992 as they choose a nominee for November in hopes of giving them an office they have not held in 24 years.

Wolff, 47, says he is excited about the opportunities of being attorney general and he would not use the office as a stepping stone for higher office as most predecessors have.

"I approach this from the standpoint of trying to do good things," Wolff said during a visit to Cape Girardeau this week. He said the office has been a "stepping stone." But, he said: "When it is used as a stepping stone, some of our interests get stepped on. In terms of how government does its business, this office is the most important next to governor."

With 22 years of legal experience, Wolff said his background gives him the ability to decide where government has a role and where it does not.

For example, Wolff said he would not have gotten the state involved in the highly publicized Nancy Cruzan case. In that case the attorney general challenged the probate court's ruling that the woman could be taken off a life-support system at her parents' request. Wolff said the case was little more than a "side show" and only added to the agony of the Cruzan family.

"I have a set of priorities about what government should do and stay out of," said Wolff.

There are three other Democratic candidates in the primary race: Sen. Jay Nixon, D-Hillsboro; Neal Quitno, Vernon County prosecuting attorney; and Mike Reardon, prosecuting attorney of Clay County.

Comparing himself with the others, Wolff said: "I have a whole lot more and broader legal experience than the others. The attorney general's office has a broad range of responsibilities, and it is important that the person elected have a varied background."

Wolff said he believes his good showing against Webster in 1988 is evidence that he can win the office in November. Wolff has been endorsed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. He pointed to over 70 group and ward endorsements around the state.

"Those are the kinds of things I am building on from having run a respectable race in 1988," said Wolff.

In that campaign, Wolff began talking about improprieties in handling the Second Injury Fund of workers' compensation and having contract attorneys contribute to Webster. That has become a major issue in the Republican governor's race this year.

"I plan to evaluate the whole business of outside attorneys," said Wolff. "Much of that work can be done more economically in-house."

Wolff proposes a code of ethics for staff members and contract attorneys.

"The worst part of the scandal is that people who were approving Second Injury Fund settlements are acting as campaign solicitors for the attorney general," said Wolff.

Another conflict, he said, is that attorneys were both suing and defending the fund. He said he believes an entire law firm should be disqualified from suing the fund if an attorney in the firm has a contract with the state to defend the fund.

To deal with court-ordered desegregation, Wolff said he would start planning where the state needs to be in five years and 10 years in complying with the orders. "The Supreme Court has given us a road map where, if we follow it, it can lead us out from under those court orders," said Wolff.

As attorney general, Wolff said he would keep pressure on all parties to bring an end to cases, including some suburban school districts that are relying on desegregation money for up to 10 percent of their budgets.

"Unless they fear an end is coming, they have no incentive to resolve this," said Wolff. "There is an end point and we need to be moving in that direction."

Above all, he said, the focus needs to be on providing quality education.

Wolff said past attorneys general have not leveled with people and have acted like they could overturn the orders. They also have offered simply "racially divisive rhetoric," he said. "We've been outmaneuvered by our own political rhetoric," he said.

He criticized approaches taken by Webster and proposed by Republican candidate David Steelman, which he said are harmful to the state.

Said Wolff: "To exploit the anti-desegregation feelings of the people for political advantage is to tell the courts, in effect, that the state is not acting in good faith with respect to its constitutional responsibilities. Strategic legal decisions in this case have been governed by politics, not law, by the reading of polls rather than the pertinent case law.

"I believe that I can implement a process to resolve these issues and to restore the state and its school districts to operating without court intervention."

Wolff said he has outlined major platforms for reform of the criminal justice system, a more aggressive role in dealing with environmental litigation, and consumer protection reforms.

Wolff said he would also establish units within the office to focus on the elderly and children, which, he said, "are two groups of people that need the help and protection of the state."

He said the attorney general needs to be a "watch dog" for the interests of people. "I'm telling voters that if you want a watch dog get Wolff."