John Kroger
SALEM -- A former federal prosecutor with courtroom victories over "mafia killers, corrupt government officials and drug kingpins" has entered the race for Oregon attorney general. John Kroger, a professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, announced his candidacy at events across Oregon on Sept. 20-21. Kroger is the second Democrat to announce his candidacy for the position being vacated by the retirement of three-term Attorney General Hardy Myers. Three-term state Rep. Greg Macpherson, vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced his plans to run for attorney general in August. State Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene is also expected to run, the Statesman Journal reported today. No Republicans have announced plans to run for the office. The only leading likely candidate among Republicans is thought to be Kevin Mannix, who has lost two successive gubernatorial elections in Oregon after serving five terms as a state representative. Kroger has never run for political office, but he begins the campaign with a list of endorsements that include Portland City Commissioners Randy Leonard, Erik Sten and Dan Saltzman, as well as four Oregon district attorneys. Kroger has won awards and commendations from Attorney General Janet Reno, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the State Department, according to his campaign website. A former U.S. Marine, Kroger served as a campaign aide to President Bill Clinton. Macpherson, a state legislator since 2002, says he helped develop and pass the country's toughest restrictions on methamphetamine production and internet sex predators and worked on bills promoting renewable energy and protecting farm lands and open space. He is an attorney with Stoel Rivas, the same firm as Myers.