NATCHEZ &045; Republican candidate for attorney general Scott Newton apparently believes in the value of hard work.

Not only did Newton make that point Thursday evening during a regular session of the Adams County Republican Party, but he also demonstrated it with a never-ending day of shaking hands and campaigning throughout Natchez and the surrounding area Thursday.

Scott, a former federal prosecutor and agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations, has been traveling throughout the state sharing his ideas about why he is the best candidate for the position.

&uot;We need somebody to prosecute instead of litigate,&uot; Scott said Thursday night.

During the meeting Newton accused the current attorney general, Mike Moore, who is not running for another term, of focusing too much on litigation issues and not enough time on other issues that Newton feels are important, like tort reform, redistricting and voter ID.

&uot;We need to bring a focus on drug cases and public corruption,&uot; Scott said.

As a FBI agent, Scott worked on numerous cases that focused on crime and fraud, including &uot;Operation Disconnect,&uot; the agency’s largest national undercover effort aimed at telemarketing fraud.

As a federal prosecutor, Scott has also been involved in the prosecution of one of the nation’s largest drug traffickers and has helped recover over $20 million from healthcare providers who have defrauded taxpayers.

&uot;I believe more than anything else that crime results from a breakdown in the family,&uot; Newton said.

Children in broken homes, Newton said, &uot; are oppressed by crime and indifference. We need to focus on the family and family values.&uot;

Mississippi Republican Party Chairman James Herring couldn’t agree more. Herring, who also attended Thursday’s meeting, followed Newton’s remarks by stressing the importance of voting for candidates of &uot;impeccable character.&uot;

&uot;Scott is highly qualified and a young man,&uot; Herrin said, &uot;I know nobody more sincere for wanting good things for Mississippi than Scott Newton.&uot;