
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 23, 1994                   TAG: 9401230075
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

GILMORE'S GOAL IS MORE CRIME-FIGHTING

Attorney General Jim Gilmore has begun a staff reorganization he says is aimed at making his office more of a crime-fighting agency.

Gilmore said Virginians made it clear in the November election that "they want their attorney general to do more in the war against crime. The changes I am making will enable the people's law firm to be better organized and more effective taking criminals head-on."

The office has little authority in the prosecution of cases but represents the state in appeals by criminal defendants.

Gilmore said the office's traditional duties in consumer protection, environmental safeguarding and representation of state agencies "will continue to be priorities. But we must control the crime threatening our commonwealth."

Gilmore noted that former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry reduced the number of attorneys devoted full time to crime-related matters at the same time capital cases doubled and overall criminal litigation tripled.

Gilmore's reorganization probably means some attorneys will be shifted from other assignments to handle criminal matters, said Mark Miner, the attorney general's spokesman. But no decision has been made on how many lawyers might be assigned to each function, Miner said.

Separate divisions will be created for civil and criminal matters. Gary Aronhalt, 44, who was Gilmore's chief deputy when Gilmore was Henrico County's top prosecutor, will be the deputy for criminal law. The lawyer who will head the office's civil litigation efforts has not been hired.

Other appointments announced by Gilmore include:

David Anderson, 37, chief deputy attorney general. Anderson was chief minority counsel to the District of Columbia Committee of the House of Representatives.

Frank Ferguson, 40, counsel to the attorney general, a position that involves drafting legislation and developing policy. Ferguson worked as an assistant attorney general under three previous attorneys general.

Bryan Slater, 32, director of administration. Slater worked on Gilmore's campaign for attorney general and in congressional affairs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

by CNB