Cuccinelli: 'I like this job'

Elected in 2009 in a statewide Republican landslide, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli immediately stepped into action, pursuing cases and issuing legal opinions that have garnered him both praise and criticism on the national stage.

Cuccinelli, 42, of Fairfax County, oversees a staff of about 300. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from U.Va., a law degree from George Mason University and a master’s from GMU in international commerce and policy.

Cuccinelli married his wife Teiro in 1991; they have five daughters and two sons. He spoke at length at Friday’s events on his court challenge to the federal health care mandate. Here’s what he had to say about some other issues:

CSE: Are there any other issues on the horizon that mirror the concerns you have with the federal health care mandate?

Cuccinelli: “(The health care mandate) is a really unique piece of legislation in terms of compulsion to citizens. There are some other problems but nothing at this level.

“The problem with the EPA and some other agencies — I use the EPA as an example because we’ve sued them — is that they aren’t following their own rules or the law. That’s very similar to the health care matter, but in the health care case, it’s a violation of the constitution.”

CSE: Would you like to serve another term as attorney general?

Cuccinelli: “Oh yes. If I had to give you odds right now, that’s what I’d probably do or try to do — it’s up to the people of Virginia.”

CSE: Would you like to pursue election to a higher office?

Cuccinelli: “That’s possible. I don’t want to foreclose those options but I’m delaying decisions as to what to do next. The expectation is that I’ll run for reelection … but I don’t want to say definitely to anything.”

“I think one thing that has differentiated my tenure from some predecessors is that some of my predecessors showed up on day one running for office. I wasn’t and am not and won’t for some time in the future. The earliest I can imagine coming with some thoughts … is the end of this year. I don’t feel rushed. I have plenty to do where I am. I like this job. This is the best job I’ve ever had.”

“I like being a lawyer. I enjoy the opportunity to participate in policy. It’s not the same as it was when I was in the Senate and I’m not a governor, so I’m not completely enmeshed in the policy side and I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the political area and run a law firm — a great law firm.”

CSE: What other work during your tenure so far are you proud of?

Cuccinelli: “Our continuing work on aiding the mentally ill — it’s something I did long before I was in the senate and was the leader in the general assembly and I have carried that into the attorney general’s office.”

“Local jails have become the mental institution of last resort unfortunately and we’re looking for cost effective ways to get people treated and out of the cycle of recidivism and on their feet so they can become productive citizens again and care for themselves.”

“Attacking health care fraud is another. That’s something we have ramped up more and faster. There’s unfortunately more work to do there than we can throw manpower at.”

CSE: How do you respond to your critics?

Cuccinelli: “I pay attention to all my constituents whether they agree with me or not. I work for them. At the same time, my model of leadership is to lead — is to do what I believe is right, explain why I’m doing it and answer for that as I go along.

“I’ve been called a lot of things in the last year and a half but no one has said I pulled the wool over anybody’s eyes. We told them exactly what we were going to do and we’ve been doing it.”

CSE: Because of a transportation project, some homeowners in the Stevensburg area might lose their property due to eminent domain. What would you say to them?

Cuccinelli: “First of all, I feel for them. Thomas Jefferson didn’t think government should be able to take private property for any reason whatsoever.

“So long as VDOT isn’t being frivolous about what they’re doing, it’s an appropriate taking. My concern there on behalf of those citizens is to make sure they’re paid every dollar their property is worth.

“Make no mistake about it — government is a bully and it knows that it can force you to sell to them through eminent domain, so they use that sometimes to try and push down the negotiation point to save money. But they’re saving that money on the back of a private homeowner who’s bearing a cost on behalf of the whole community.

“I don’t think for true public uses it’s inappropriate to exercise eminent domain, but if it’s your house in the way, it certainly feels a lot different. 

CSE: Looking back, would you have done anything differently? Any regrets?

Cuccinelli: “Not over any of our legal work, but I need to communicate what we’re doing in ways that are more sensitive to the human impact for people. Your last question — for the people whose home is in the way — it’s about their lives. It isn’t just some philosophical discussion … it’s the real world for them and I’m aware of that, but I need to internalize that more.

“I would rewrite some of what I’ve communicated, I’d do it a little bit differently, but again, none of the legal conclusions would be any different. We’re very conscientious of getting the law right.”