HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) - For a second time, Tim Fox is running for Montana attorney general.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Fox has announced his intention to seek the office, which is being vacated by Democrat Steve Bullock. Fox lost to Bullock in the 2008 general election by five percent.

His competition in this year's Republican primary will be state Sen. Jim Shockley. The state has had a Democratic attorney general since 1993.

Fox is a partner in the law firm Gough Shanahan Johnson & Waterman, specializing in the areas of banking, commercial construction, real estate, corporate, bankruptcy, foreclosures and collections, oil and gas, mining, nonprofit and environmental law.

Previously, he was vice president and counsel for Mountain West Bank and was appointed to the state Banking Board by former Gov. Judy Martz. He was also the chair of the Montana Bar's Environmental, Natural Resource and Energy law section for 10 years.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.