Letter to the editor: Auron is the one for county attorney

Talk about it

This letter serves as my full endorsement of Laura Auron for Lake County Attorney. As the wife of long-term Lake County Attorney Bruce Anderson, I am left with his ongoing passion, dedication, and love of the office. Bruce loved his job, and the office was “his baby.”

About six months before Bruce died, he came home and made this statement: “When Conrow decides to move on, Laura will make a hell of a county attorney. Laura has the experience, legal skills, compassion, dedication and she is a bulldog in the courtroom. Lake County was so lucky to get someone of her caliber in the office.”

As most of you know, Bruce never really retired. Although his body knew it was time, his heart, compassion, and love for Lake County would not allow him to quit. This afforded him the opportunity to work with Laura Auron on the idiosyncrasies in Lake County. Bruce was on the committee that hired Laura and he admired her greatly.

Bruce would often explain, to anyone who would listen, that in the big cities it did not matter much who was elected, as their job was essentially administrative. Large offices employ hundreds of experienced lawyers to perform the legal tasks and they do not have to step into a courtroom. Bruce knew that if they were using the attorney’s office as a stepping stone to the governorship or the senate, they would often take on high profile cases for the publicity and could cause a great deal of damage. He had nothing but disdain for such politicians.

In small places like Lake County, it is a different ballgame. Bruce believed the learning curve for a county attorney required at least six to eight years serving as an assistant. A newly elected county attorney, eager and zealous but lacking the experience, is inefficient and can inadvertently cause personal pain and suffering. Decisions made without the history or experience will result in financial hardship to the taxpayers of Lake County.

I have heard rumor that if Laura is elected, she will circumvent the hiring process and appoint Russ Conrow as the assistant county attorney. This is not factual as Russ Conrow is not interested in the position.

In light of Laura’s experience, I believe she is the only logical candidate for the job. She has been a licensed attorney for 26 years and has served Lake County for five years. Laura has 18 years of public service as a prosecutor, 15 of those in a county attorney office. She has vast experience as a trial attorney with more than 70 criminal jury trials and hundreds of court trials. Her background includes all areas of a small county attorney’s office, including, but not limited to child protection, criminal, civil, and environment.

I urge you to join me in continuing the dedication of my late husband, Bruce, by electing Laura Auron as the Lake County Attorney.

From Sharon A. Anderson, Two Harbors

Tags: two harbors, letters to the editor, laura auron, county attorney, election 2010, opinion