State Sen. Ken Stolle launched his bid for Virginia
attorney general Monday, declaring a war on drug abuse.
''As far as I'm concerned, the No. 1 challenge facing
Virginia is ending the drug abuse among our children,''
said the Virginia Beach Republican, on home turf at the
Clarion Hotel off Bonney Road. ''Virginia's next generation
of students must be prepared to lead productive lives in
the 21st century.'' Stolle is competing for the GOP
nomination for attorney general on June 10 against three
other candidates, including Sen. Mark Earley, a Chesapeake
lawmaker. At the Clarion, more than 250 people, including a
number of elected officials from across the area, rallied
to support Stolle's bid. Many shook redandwhite placards
that proclaimed Stolle's name and the office he seeks.
Stolle starts a 30day tour of Virginia today to garner
support, both financial and political, for his attorney
general bid. The tour will culminate with his campaign's
statewide announcement some time next month. Stolle, a
former Virginia Beach police officer turned lawyer and
legislator, said he will announce specifics of his ''Get
Real Virginia'' program to stop children from using drugs.
''We simply cannot allow another generation of Virginians
to grow up feeling the peer pressure to do drugs,'' Stolle
said before a standingroomonly crowd as his wife and
three children watched. ''We simply cannot allow another
generation of Virginians to be the victims of random drug
violence. ''We simply cannot allow another generation of
Virginians to grow up knowing that pot is for sale in their
schools and crack cocaine is just a phone call away.''
Stolle said intervention, rehabilitation and education are
just as important as prevention in stopping children from
using drugs. He cited these statistics: Since 1990, the
number of juveniles arrested for possessing drugs is up 385
percent. Since 1990, the number of juveniles arrested for
distributing drugs is up 194 percent. Virginians have to
look at the demand side of the drug equation, not just the
supply side, Stolle said. Other issues Stolle declared as
high on his priority list included: Upholding Virginia's
righttowork law. Opposing unnecessary, burdensome
regulations on businesses. Protecting the state's natural
resources. Fighting to ensure that quality education is
available to all Virginians. Virginia Fraternal Order of
Police President Garth Wheeler said that Stolle, as
attorney general, would be a criminal's worst nightmare but
a friend to business and a compassionate chief law
enforcement officer for the state.