ST. LOUIS — Elad Gross, the Democratic candidate for Missouri’s Attorney General, promises a hands-on approach to the office, citing his experience as a former Assistant Attorney General if elected.
Gross said the office has suffered under current Attorney General Andrew Bailey and wants to restore functionality and accountability, focusing on consumer protection, violent crime prosecution and civil rights.
Gross noted the significant decline in staffing levels within the office since his tenure, which he believes has led to failures in addressing major issues like scam callers, violent crime and the testing of rape kits.
"When I worked there, we had about 200 assistant attorneys general working for Missouri," Gross said in an interview with The St. Louis Record. "Right now, we’re about half of that number."
Gross said that has led to a steep decline in services.
Gross envisions his role as highly active, particularly in restructuring the office's approach to consumer protection, public corruption and violent crime.
He wants to restore staffing levels, tackle issues like enforcing Missouri’s do-not-call list, and address corruption at both state and local levels.
Gross said he plans to establish a civil rights division that would "protect Missourians from government abuse," and create a public corruption unit to ensure transparency and proper use of taxpayer money.
Gross believes the challenges facing the Attorney General’s office are primarily managerial.
He argues that the current office has failed to act on many critical issues, including prosecuting scammers and polluters.
"There’s a lot of money we are wasting as a state," Gross said, adding that addressing corruption would save taxpayers money and bring financial benefits to the state by targeting offenders.
Gross also positions himself as uniquely qualified for the role due to his legal background, as he has served as a special public defender and worked as a constitutional and civil rights attorney.
Gross said he has actively fought on behalf of Missouri communities on issues ranging from environmental contamination to education. His involvement in the fight against nuclear waste pollution near St. Louis has been particularly prominent, criticizing Bailey’s inaction on the matter.
"Our current attorney general is doing absolutely nothing about the nuclear waste that was left here by the federal government," Gross said.
A major point of distinction between Gross and Bailey is their approach to justice. Gross criticized Bailey for his handling of wrongful convictions and claimed Bailey has focused more on gaining national attention than on serving Missourians. Gross alleged that Bailey has turned the office into "a television studio to get him more national attention."
Gross also acknowledged his Libertarian opponent, Ryan Munrue, saying they share some common principles.
However, he emphasized that his experience working within the Attorney General’s office would make him more effective from day one. He expressed frustration with Bailey’s absence from the campaign trail, calling it “a very big red flag” for Missourians.
Gross stressed that Missouri needs an attorney general who serves the people, not political or personal ambitions.
"If folks are ready for an attorney general who’s going to bring good government back to the state of Missouri, I’m their guy," he said.