Father of slain Calif. girl criticizes candidate

The father of California murder victim Polly Klaas visited Boston yesterday to speak out against Democratic candidate Deval L. Patrick, saying that Patrick's advocacy on behalf of convicted rapist Benjamin LaGuer makes him "philosophically unqualified" to be governor.

"I can't even believe that this character is running for governor of this state," said Marc Klaas, whose 12-year-old daughter was kidnapped from her bedroom, raped, and killed on Oct. 1, 1993. "I'm sorry -- this just absolutely blows my mind."

Klaas appeared yesterday at a news conference with lawyer Wendy Murphy and victims rights advocates Laurie Myers and Debbie Savoia, who said they are supporting Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey because of her record on fighting crime and supporting victims.

Klaas said he decided to come here after looking into Patrick's involvement with LaGuer, who was convicted of raping a 59-year-old woman in 1983.

"I become very concerned whenever a candidate for higher office advocates for the rights of known sexual predators," said Klaas, who travels the country advocating for children and victims of crime.

"Every fiber of my being cries out to beware any individual who prioritizes the rights of a violent sexual sadist like Ben LaGuer ahead of the rights of a crime victim like the 59-year-old woman he repeatedly raped over the course of eight hours," Klaas added.

Patrick campaign adviser Doug Rubin, responding to Klaas's comments, said: "Deval Patrick has fought very hard on behalf of victims in his career, both as the head of the Civil Rights Division in the Clinton White House and as a pro bono lawyer in private practice. He sympathizes what with what these families are going through."