McKenna
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna was unanimously elected last week by the members of the National Association of Attorneys General to become its 104th president.
Elections were held Wednesday during NAAG's summer meeting in Chicago.
Also elected to key positions were: Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, president-elect; Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, vice president; and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, immediate past president.
McKenna, who earlier this month announced his candidacy for governor, said human trafficking will be his top priority.
"Traffickers use modern slavery to victimize the voiceless -- including millions of children -- and don't respect state, national or international borders," he said in a statement.
"State attorneys general are in a unique position to rally public support for combating traffickers, while using our legal expertise to help protect the vulnerable. That's what this initiative is about."
Cooper, NAAG's outgoing president, delivered his final remarks.
"It's been an honor to serve as president for the past year and I look forward to staying active with NAAG in the future. By working together, attorneys general are making real progress on fighting fraud and that work must continue," he said.
The association elects its four officers yearly, through geographical rotation by region.
The president appoints all standing and special committee chairs. Committees are charged with studying all substantive matters within their jurisdiction and recommending policy positions and other matters to the attorneys general for action by the full association.
The executive committee is charged with the management of association operations and yearly approval of a program plan of goals, objectives and activities to guide its work. The executive committee comprises the four NAAG officers, four regional delegates and three presidential appointees and the chair of the NAAG Mission Foundation, which supports the work of the association.
McKenna is running for governor.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail atjessica@legalnewsline.com.