Tolbert: Republican Cody Hiland Preparing To Enter AG Race

It appears the Republican primary for Attorney General will soon get another candidate.

Multiple sources confirmed to the Tolbert Report that Prosecutor Cody Hiland has been meeting with key groups and lining up campaign commitments in anticipation of a likely entry in early October.

In 2010, Hiland was elected prosecutor as the Republican nominee for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Faulkner, Searcy, and Van Buren counties. Prior to that, he was an attorney with Hiland, Thomas & Cox law firm in Conway.

Since being elected to office, he has made a name for himself cleaning up the “good ole boy” system and taking on members of both parties. Last year, his office prosecuted a case where Faulkner County administrator Jeff Johnston used county funds to pave his own driveway.  Most recently, he served as the special prosecutor in a high-profile case against Republican Saline County Sheriff Bruce Pennington and is currently investigating related issues in that department.

Two Republicans have already announced, including former RNC attorney Leslie Rutledge and North Little Rock attorney David Sterling.  Little Rock attorney Marvin Childers, who heads up the Poultry Federation, briefly considered running for the post, but decided against it earlier this month.

State Rep. Nate Steel from Nashville is the only announced Democrat in the race, although former DPA Chairman Will Bond is rumored to be considering a run as well.