EDITORS' NOTE: Candidate JB Van Hollen did not respond to column request by press time.

The attorney general's position might seem pretty distant from many people's lives, including students, but it's critically important.

Especially significant to students, young people and all those who will play important roles in the future of our state and our country is the democratic process — the way our elections run and the fashion in which our government functions serve as the foundation for our society. One issue that the attorney general can and must address is the integrity and ethical conduct of public officials, elected or otherwise.

Wisconsin is sick of "business as usual" politics and needs an attorney general who is willing to investigate possible infractions by politicians and officials. That is the principal reason I have teamed with state Senator Mike Ellis to develop legislation that would form a new and independent ethics board. The legislation we proposed would merge the state Ethics Board and Elections Board. This new entity would have enforcement power, unlike the current boards. Thus, they could prosecute politicians for criminal violations.

Additionally, I would create a tough Government Fraud and Corruption Bureau. The current public integrity unit would be disbanded, and its open records and open meetings complaints transferred to the civil division. The new bureau would deal with campaign finances, election fraud and other public corruption.

The state crime lab backlog is another problem that has gone unaddressed. If it sounds remote to your lives, it's not. The crime lab backlog has hampered the ability of law enforcement officers all over the state to solve crimes, and it's slowed the prosecution of cases. It happened in Beloit, it happened in Racine, and, tragically, it happened in Milwaukee, where DNA from a rape case wasn't processed for 7 months, during which time the rapist remained on the streets and was involved in the murder of a law enforcement officer.

We should increase the state's "crime laboratory/drug law enforcement surcharge" from $8 to $50 and remove most of the exemptions, including those for drunken drivers. This can fund more DNA analysts, among other solutions.

Illegal immigration is another issue of concern. I am the only candidate in the race who believes the attorney general should get the legal power to crack down on illegal immigrants who commit crimes. It's outrageous that we have illegal immigrants in this state dealing cocaine, committing robberies and sex offenses, even getting involved in homicide, and they often are not sent home even after conviction. The state's top cop should draw a line. In Waukesha County we are doing what no one else has done in the state and what few have done nationwide — requesting rare federal authority to enforce immigration laws. We can also lead the way as a state.

We need a cop as Wisconsin's chief law enforcement official, not another insider politician. We need someone who will roll up his or her sleeves and fix problems.

Paul Bucher is Waukesha County's District Attorney. He plans to run for attorney general this fall.