TUPELO, Miss. - Al Hopkins, a retired Major General and personal injury attorney in Gulfport, Miss., announced that he plans on opposing incumbent Democrat Jim Hood during this year's general election.

Hopkins will be unopposed in the August primary, and will provide voters with an alternative to the controversial Hood.

Tuesday in Tupelo, Hopkins had some harsh words for Hood, according to Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

"Our governor (Republican Haley Barbour) is doing a great job," Hopkins said, according the report. "He needs an attorney general who gives good legal advice to stand by him and back him up. We don't have that right now."

Hopkins, 66, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is currently serving his six-year term as chief judge of the Court of Military Appeals for the Mississippi Military Department.

"I'm running for Attorney General because I believe public service is a high and noble calling," Hopkins said. "I believe the future can be better than the present, and that each of us has a personal, moral responsibility to make it so.

"That's why it's time to get the politics out of the Attorney General's office. It's time to hire an experienced attorney who will be fair but tough. And one whose sole ambition is justice for all Mississippians."

Hood has been criticized for, among other things, his use of outside counsel that also pops up on his campaign contributors list.

As a result of a 2005 settlement with MCI, Hood contributor Joey Langston's firm received $14 million, though he paid $7 million of that to a Louisiana firm for first noticing the problem over which Hood sued.

Hopkins also believes Hood has not been tough enough pursuing criminals.

"It's time to expect more out of the Attorney General's office," Hopkins said. "If you put a real General in the Attorney General's office, you can count on me to stand up to corporate misconduct, punish public corruption, and crack down on crime -- particularly the growing drug crisis. I give you my word that I'll put Mississippians first, not political cronies. Mississippi deserves no less."

Hopkins began his legal practice in 1965 in Jackson with the firm Daniel, Coker and Horton. In 1977, he started his own firm, Hopkins, Barvie and Hopkins.