Hurst to Run for Role of Attorney General Against Hood

Public corruption seems to be a never ending cycle in Mississippi. Every time one scandal ends, another one surfaces.

Mike Hurst was the U.S. attorney responsible for bringing down Sean Anthony, Kamran Pahlavan, and Kim Savant for their roles leading to federal bribery charges in the Harrison County Utility Authority scandal. He’s now after the role of attorney general, and says in his eight and a half years as a federal prosecutor, he’s never seen the attorney general’s office get involved in public corruption cases. Hurst says, "I just think Mississippi needs an attorney general who will be present, who will fight for Mississippi, and I think if we do that, we can take Mississippi back."

Hurst says Jim Hood’s absence from corruption cases is ultimately what prompted him to run for attorney general. He plans on using his experience as a federal prosecutor, along with the relationships he’s fostered along the way, to more effectively and efficiently bring corrupt public officials to justice. Hurst also says, "I already have the relationships with the U.S. attorney’s office and the F.B.I. and by doing that, we can double our efforts in Mississippi and clean up Mississippi quicker."

Hurst tells News 25 it’s going to take a real prosecutor in the attorney general’s office to fight the overwhelming issue of public corruption in the Magnolia State and he firmly believes he’s the man for the job. Hurst closes, "The thing I keep hearing is it’s time for a change and I think we’re the ones to do that. It’s not about me, it’s about the state. It’s about taking the state back over for Mississippi, not for the corrupt politicians."

News 25 did reach out to incumbent, Jim Hood. His campaign managers tell us at this time his main focus is with the attorney general’s office and will not entertain any questions regarding anything campaign related until later this summer.