Gregg aims to crack down on cyber crime in campaign for state AG

If you need a way to remember Adam Gregg and his campaign, just think “AG for AG.” Gregg is running for the state’s attorney general in the November elections.

Gregg, 31, is the Republican candidate who will face Democratic incumbent Tom Miller.

“I think it’s time we have an attorney general who served as Iowa’s lawyer instead of Washington, D.C.’s, lawyer,” Gregg said during an interview at the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune office. “I think our current attorney general, over his 32 years in office, has kind of lost touch with what Iowan’s care about. It’s because he doesn’t travel the state and doesn’t make him accessible to Iowans.”

According to Gregg, he has outlined his ideas for Iowa families, farmers and constitutional freedoms.

Cyber crimes

One of his the goals is to create a division within the attorney general’s office focused on prosecuting cyber crimes and crimes against children.

“Almost everything in our lives is moving online, from campaigns to banking to commerce to our personal lives through social media,” Gregg said. “But, that’s also been true of crime, as well, unfortunately.”

He said people don’t always recognize the triggers that classify something as a scam.

Gregg said he doesn’t think Miller understands the trend of cyber crime, especially concerning the fact that Miller doesn’t even have email.

Full Grassley

Visiting 99 counties is another one of Gregg’s goals with Clarke County being the 83rd county he has visited.

He said he often sits down with county attorneys and sheriffs. Gregg said he would travel to 99 counties every single year after he’s elected.

For politicians, this is also known as the “Full Grassley.” The term comes from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and his many campaign travels throughout the state during his years in office.

Background

According to Gregg’s online bio, he is a sixth generation Iowan from Hawarden in Sioux County. He is married to his high school sweetheart Cari and they have two children.

Gregg graduated at the top of his class from Central College in Pella, where he played football for four years. Then, he received the most prestigious scholarship to Drake University Law School.

After graduating with high honors from Drake Law, he joined one of the premier law firms in Iowa.

While Gregg was in the private practice of law, he helped individuals, farmers and businesses with a variety of legal matters – from litigation to the lawmaking process, from contracts to forming new companies.

In 2012, Gregg ventured public service and became a top advisor to Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Gregg touted the record from the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions. He said he was proud of 2013 session, which saw reforms in property tax and education, as well as an Iowa based alternative to the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.

Attorney general

When he heard no one had filed to run against Miller, he thought it really could be an opportunity for him.

Miller is the longest continuous serving attorney general in the United States. He was first elected to the position in 1978.

“To me, it’s not going to be a question of age. It’s not going to be a question of length of service. It’s going to be a question of the quality of service,” Gregg said. “And, so, what I challenge Iowans to do is look at his record in 32 years, and ask yourself, what is his primary accomplishment? I would submit that the only accomplishments he can point to are suing people. I would submit that my legacy and my plan is to protect more Iowans.”