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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Former Utah Attorney General Paul Van Dam on Friday filed paperwork stating his intent to run next year for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Sen. Bob Bennett.
Van Dam, a Democrat, served as attorney general 1989-1993. He retired from law practice four years ago.
But "developments in the country as a whole with this administration have not allowed me to enjoy my retirement, so I thought I'd do something about it," said Van Dam, 65.
While in office, Van Dam established a consumer fraud unit to protect state residents from scam artists and swindler.
Before he was attorney general, Van Dam served as Salt Lake County Attorney, where he successfully prosecuted notorious serial killer Ted Bundy.
Van Dam is one of only four Democrats to hold statewide office in the past 30 years. The others were former Gov. Scott M. Matheson, former Attorney General Jan Graham and former state Treasurer Linn Baker.
Bennett won his 1998 election against Democrat Scott Leckman by a 2-1 margin.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
