Heated exchanges mark attorney general’s race

Phill Kline

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo Democratic Attorney General candidate Paul Morrison, along with his wife Joyce, left, speak with supporter Judy Langley of Hutchinson, Friday evening at the Democratic Party's Washington Days event in Topeka.

From the start, the campaign for Kansas attorney general has been a political slugfest.

Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, the darling of conservative Republicans, is seeking a second four-year term against challenger Paul Morrison, the Johnson County district attorney for 18 years. Morrison switched to the Democratic Party for the race.

“When the dust settles, it may go down as the most negative statewide campaign in recent Kansas history,” said Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University.

Kline and Morrison have pounded each other in debates and television advertising. Kline has gained national exposure for his anti-abortion views, and much of the race has focused on his record.

Kline launched a secret inquisition to get medical records from abortion clinics, saying he was investigating allegations of child rape and illegal late-term abortions. The clinics challenged Kline’s subpoenas, saying he was on a fishing expedition.

Morrison said the investigation was a politically motivated “abuse of authority.”

Kline also hired anti-abortion advocate Bryan Brown to head his consumer affairs division. Brown had been arrested 12 times and fined $61,000 during anti-abortion protests.

In response to Morrison’s criticism, Kline compared Brown’s activism to that of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

The day a poll showed Morrison was pulling ahead in the race, Kline publicized a 15-year-old allegation by a woman who said Morrison sexually harassed her.

Morrison said the allegation was falsely lodged by a disgruntled ex-employee. The woman’s accusations were dismissed in legal proceedings.

Kline then launched an ad in which actors re-created the allegations based on the woman’s 15-year-old deposition.

Kline also accused Morrison of being soft on crime because in 2000 he was part of a commission that recommended Senate Bill 323, reducing the supervision time of some inmates after release from prison.

Morrison said the law eased prison overcrowding, making room for more violent criminals.

During the campaign, Kline was criticized about an internal memo he wrote detailing efforts to raise money at churches.

Later, two former attorneys general, both Republicans, criticized Kline. Bob Stephan resigned as an assistant to Kline over the church fundraising, saying he was especially concerned with churches giving money to a business owned by Kline’s wife.

Carla Stovall Steckline endorsed Morrison, saying Kline had violated the “sacred trust” of the office.

Steckline said she was backing Morrison because of Kline’s reduction in consumer protection actions and his misrepresentation of SB 323.

According to July reports, Morrison had raised more than $1 million and had $764,389 on hand. Kline raised $832,000 and had $418,492 left to finish the campaign.