Parker, a deputy Cascade County attorney, drew the backing of several top law enforcement officials.
“John Parker is a hard-working prosecutor who truly understands the problem of crime in Montana,” Cascade County Attorney Brant Light said.
Assistant Attorney General John Connor, chief criminal counsel for Attorney General Mike McGrath, said for the past six years, Parker has been the Montana Justice Department's “go-to guy” on criminal justice issues at the Legislature.
“He has steadily fought Montana's meth epidemic and consumer fraud,” Connor said. “His work in this area makes him the most qualified candidate, hands down.”
Parker said he has prosecuted hundreds of felony cases and won jury trials on charges involving the operation of a clandestine meth lab, sexual abuse of children and deliberate homicide.
As a legislator, Parker said he has passed bills increasing penalties for operating a meth lab, establishing a jurisdictional basis for drug treatment courts, closing loopholes in Montana's child pornography law and prohibiting criminals from profiting from their own crimes.
He sponsored the bill that moved the state Consumer Protection Office to the attorney general's office, with the support of AARP.
Thirty-six of the 75 Democratic legislators from around Montana endorsed Parker.
His campaign Web site is www.parkermontana.com. Lewis and Clark County Attorney Leo Gallagher is the campaign treasurer.
Parker is one of three Democrats seeking the attorney general's post held by McGrath. The others are Steve Bullock, a Helena lawyer, and former state Sen. Mike Wheat, who is in private practice in Bozeman.
Two Republicans have entered the race. They are Lee Bruner, a Butte attorney, and Tim Fox, a Helena lawyer.
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