Taggart intends ‘crusade’ against drugs as attorney general

FLOWOOD, Miss. (AP) – Republican Andy Taggart says he’s running for Mississippi attorney general to wage a “crusade” against illegal drugs.

Taggart says prosecutors need to treat “predators and victims” differently in drug cases. He acknowledges that’s already happening in parts of Mississippi, where drug courts focus on treatment.

Taggart and his wife, Karen, have spoken publicly about one of their three sons struggling with drug problems and taking his own life nearly seven years ago.

Now in private law practice, Taggart was chief of staff for Republican Gov. Kirk Fordice in the 1990s. He faces state Rep. Mark Baker and Treasurer Lynn Fitch in the Aug. 6 Republican primary for attorney general. The nominee faces Democrat Jennifer Riley Collins in November.

The fourth-term attorney general, Democrat Jim Hood, is running for governor.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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