- [Announcer] "Montana PBS, Equal Time," offering unedited time to candidates for Attorney General.

As Attorney General, what changes, if any, would you make to best address Montana's rising fentanyl and drug trafficking crisis?

- The Attorney General needs to focus on issues inside the state of Montana.

The southern border is an issue, but it's a federal one.

We need to do a better job with basic law enforcement that affects our communities.

For example, one area that needs help is the Montana Highway Patrol.

The Attorney General supervises the Montana Highway Patrol, which is understaffed and has low morale.

Almost half of troopers are not optimistic about leadership.

Those troopers are on the front lines, fighting drug traffickers, and need more support.

A second area, supporting local prosecutors and law enforcement officers.

The Attorney General needs to make sure they have the support they need from the Montana Department of Justice.

Those issues will vary from county to county.

Some counties do not have enough jail capacity.

The bottom line is the Attorney General needs to work with local law enforcement to ensure they have the resources they need to get drug dealers and dangerous criminals off the streets.

- [Announcer] Incumbent Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, declined to participate in this election's "Montana PBS Equal Time" program.

"Montana PBS Equal Time" was made possible by the Greater Montana Foundation.

All "Equal Time" segments are available online at MontanaPBS.org/equaltime.