Rob McKenna
Party: Republican
Age: 42
Personal: Married, with four children
Education: The son of an Army officer, McKenna grew up at posts in Germany, Bangkok, San Francisco and Kansas. He graduated from Sammamish High School in Bellevue in 1980, and earned dual bachelor's degrees in economics and international studies from the University of Washington in 1985. He got his law degree in 1988 from the University of Chicago law school.
Professional: McKenna worked for the Seattle law firm Perkins Coie from 1988 to 1995, doing mostly business and regulatory law.
Political: McKenna was elected to the King County Council in 1996, running unopposed in 1999 and 2003.
Key issues: “Protecting people’s rights, protecting public safety and protecting taxpayers’ pocketbooks.” The specifics: As the state’s lawyer, McKenna said he’d make sure that state government follows the law. He’s annoyed, for example, at state agencies’ violations of the state public records laws. He said he would protect public safety by being the state’s “top advocate for law enforcement.” And he said he would protect taxpayers by reducing lawsuits against the state and pushing for changes to reduce liability lawsuits against anyone, not just the state. He would strengthen the AG’s consumer protection division. He said he would also make sure state agencies stay within their legal mandates, “that they’re not constantly expanding their regulatory reach beyond what the Legislature intended.”
Money raised/spent: By June 20, $559,000 raised and $230,000 spent
Top contributors: Donors include builders, doctors, farmers, state troopers, Seattle’s William Boeing, Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman Jr., and Liberty Lake tire dealer Duane Alton.
Quote: “You’re voting for a leader as well as a lawyer…I’m not a government-basher, but the job of elected officials is to make sure government is as efficient as possible, as fair as possible, and doesn’t do more than the public really needs.”
Key influence: His parents, teachers and his Boy Scout leaders
Favorite book: Biographies of Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt
First priority if elected: “To restore full confidence in the Attorney General’s office.”
