BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline)-North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem plans this year to seek a fourth term in office, the state Republican Party said Wednesday.

Stenehjem will ask the North Dakota Republican Party for its endorsement at the party's convention this weekend in Grand Forks, the statement said.

First elected as attorney general in 2000, Stenehjem served 24 years as a state legislator from Grand Forks. As the state's chief legal officer, he was reelected handily in 2004 and 2006.

In the GOP-issued statement, Stenehjem said if reelected he will continue to focus attention on the rising trend of prescription drug abuse in the state and repeat driving under the influence cases.

"We can be proud that year after year North Dakota ranks at or near the top of the list as the nation's safest state," Stenehjem said."Still, there is always more to do. Fortunately for North Dakota, we have well trained and dedicated law enforcement, and I'm proud to be a part of those efforts."

Democrat John Mahoney, a former Oliver County state's attorney and state lawmaker, is considering running against Stenehjem.

Mahoney ran for attorney general in 1992, but lost his party's nomination to Heidi Keitkamp, who went on to serve as AG from 1993 to 2001.

Stenehjem is the brother of North Dakota Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.