PORTLAND (AP) — Oregon’s next attorney general has completed his top appointments and signaled again his intent to be an activist in office.

Democrat John Kroger is a law professor and former federal prosecutor who has taken on the mob and Enron during his career.

The hires he announced Monday are designed to help him back up campaign pledges to go after polluters, deadbeat parents and companies that rip off consumers.

One of his new special counsels is Brent Foster, an environmental attorney who has been one of the strongest opponents of liquefied natural gas terminals in Oregon.

As head of Columbia Riverkeeper, he participated in lawsuits against businesses, utilities and Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, which he’ll now work with on enforcement matters.

Kroger plans to ask the Legislature for $500,000 to hire two prosecutors, an investigator and support staff focused specifically on environmental crimes.

“Most of the people out there are playing by the rules,” Foster said, “but people who don’t need to be held accountable.”

Other appointments:

n Margaret Olney to oversee child support and elections-law reform.

Her clients have included the Oregon Education Association and, to a lesser degree, the Service Employees International Union, both big contributors to Kroger’s campaign. She and Kroger say the connection didn’t influence her hiring.

n Business lawyer Keith Dubanevich, as special counsel to oversee civil rights and consumer protection, including pursuing mortgage fraud.

n Don Arnold, an attorney general’s office veteran, as counsel to the attorney general, a new position designed to help the office better serve other state agencies.

Earlier, Kroger appointed Ashbel “Tony” Green, a longtime legal affairs reporter for The Oregonian, as his communications and policy director.