Swallow
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) - Utah attorney general hopeful John Swallow, a Republican looking to take over for the state's current top lawyer, Mark Shurtleff, has the backing of more than a dozen state attorneys general.
According to Swallow's campaign website, 14 attorneys general have endorsed him.
They include: Washington's Rob McKenna, Colorado's John Suthers, Idaho's Lawrence Wasden, South Dakota's Marty Jackley, North Dakota's Wayne Stenehjem, South Carolina's Alan Wilson, Florida's Pam Bondi, Nebraska's Jon Brunning, Georgia's Sam Olens, Indiana's Greg Zoeller, Alabama's Luther Strange, Louisiana's James "Buddy" Caldwell, Wisconsin's J.B. Van Hollen and Shurtleff, himself.
"John's advice and counsel has been indispensable to efforts challenging Obamacare. He will make a great attorney general and I look forward to working with him on conservative causes for years to come," Wilson, of South Carolina, said in a statement.
Swallow, who is currently the chief deputy attorney general of Utah's civil division, announced his candidacy in February.
He was appointed by Shurtleff in 2009, and served in the state Legislature from 1997 to 2002.
He is currently overseeing the state's effort to strike down President Barack Obama's federal health care law, in addition to spearheading the state's legal land battles against the federal government.
"My goal is to protect Utah's families, lands and freedoms. As attorney general, whenever Washington D.C. attempts to hamper our rights to life, liberty or our property, I will fight against it," Swallow said in February.
"I have seen the federal government's intrusion into our lives at almost every level and am committed to putting an end to it. From seizure of our lands and resources, to unconstitutional mandates, I want to fight for Utahn's freedoms. I pledge to use the resources and tools available to the office to push back against this violation of freedom at every turn."
Shurtleff, a Republican, is not seeking reelection this year.
He was elected in November 2000 and was re-elected in November 2004 and November 2008, making him the first attorney general in Utah to win re-election for a third term.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.