[Lt. Gov] Lots Riding on the Lt. Gov. Race
The lieutenant governor’s race looks to be the most unpredictable in the upcoming state elections. While Phil Bryant is the most well-known of the candidates, Charlie Ross is leading in campaign fundraising. Nevertheless, the outcome of the elections will undoubtedly affect Gov. Haley Barbour, who most say will be easily re-elected.
Which party holds the lieutenant governor seat can help or hurt Gov. Haley Barbour - who all political watchers say will glide easily into re-election securing at least 60 percent of the vote - in the Republican-controlled Senate, which has given the governor the extra leverage he’s needed to move his agenda through a state government that tilts power toward the legislative branch and away from the executive.
And for this governor, a Republican tilt - which started when Tuck left the Democratic Party - has paid off.
Posted by kate at 10:43 AM on 05/23/07. Discuss (0)
[D-J]Steve Holland Advises Dipping in to the Rainy Day Fund, Not Increasing College Tuition
According to The Daily Journal, State Rep. Steve Holland suggested holding a special legislative session to discuss an alternative option to increasing college tuition prices to pay for operating costs. Holland advises dipping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which will hold nearly $300 million by the end of the summer.
“This tuition increase is nothing but a hidden taxes on students and their families,” Holland said. “We’re not opposed to the colleges getting their money. We just think there is a better way to do it.”
Posted by kate at 10:37 AM on 05/23/07. Discuss (4)
[Lt. Gov] Ross Camp Trying to Push DebateGate Issue On Bryant
The following release is being mailed out to media by the Charlie Ross campaign, which continues to beat a drum that Phil Bryant refuses “simple, open, free-flowing Republican debates” a term used nearly verbatim in repeated releases. (Note the use of the term “alleged” in the line “Below is Bryant’s ‘alleged’ debate schedule.") 
Here’s their latest salvo:
[Verbatim Release]WHY WON’T PHIL BRYANT DEBATE?
We all know Phil Bryant is a talented speaker. So why is he refusing to debate his opponent Charlie Ross in a one-on-one debate? Sen. Ross has asked Bryant to join him in simple, open, free-flowing Republican debates. Not only has Bryant refused, he is attempting to “cheat” and claim that civic club speeches are good enough to satisfy the public’s right to real debates. The voters deserve better. It’s time to stop stalling. Let’s debate.
Posted by admin at 05:50 PM on 05/22/07. Discuss (4)
[Release] Lt. Gov Candidate Phil Bryant Releases Debate Schedule
Phil Bryant, a Republican candidate for Lt. Governor who is currently serving as State Auditor of Mississippi, announced his debate schedule yesterday. Bryant says he looks forward to these debates as an opportunity to discuss concerns and issues that all Mississippians face today.
Posted by kate at 10:54 AM on 05/22/07. Discuss (0)
[C-L] Public and private colleges in Mississippi increase tuition
The Clarion Ledger reports that colleges in the Jackson area such as Millsaps, Tougaloo and Belhaven are increasing their tuition anywhere from 1.7 percent to 6 percent. Mississippi’s eight public universities are raising tuition an average of 6 percent. College tuitions are being raised to keep up with the increasing cost of campus utilities.
Posted by kate at 10:45 AM on 05/22/07. Discuss (0)
[S-H] Harrison County Goes Back to Paper Balloting
The Sun Herald announces that Harrison County will be going back to paper balloting because of problems with touch screen machines:
County supervisors on Monday voted to spend almost $240,000 for 85 optical scan voting machines and to sell some of the widely criticized touch-screen machines to offset costs.
Circuit Clerk Gayle Parker pushed for a return to the paper balloting system after a spate of problems reported with the touch screens used in recent elections. Some machines wouldn’t work and some had battery malfunctions. Several counties reported similar difficulties. The county must keep at least one touch-screen machine for disabled voters at each of its 68 precincts.
Posted by kate at 10:27 AM on 05/22/07. Discuss (0)
[Gov] Barbour and Mississippi Manufacturing Association Hold Results of Workforce Training Study
The governor’s office announces:
Governor Haley Barbour; Jay C. Moon, president
and CEO of Mississippi Manufacturers Association; and F. Clarke Holmes,
CEO of the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District and
member of the State Workforce Investment Board, will hold a press
conference to present the results of a comprehensive study of
Mississippi manufacturers workforce training needs and an overview of
workforce development initiatives in the state.
The presentation coincides with Manufacturing Week, which Governor
Barbour proclaimed as May 21-25, 2007.
The press conference will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22,
2007, at Double G Coatings, 1096 Mendell Davis Dr., Jackson, MS 39272
(phone: 601-371-3460). Attendees should park to the south of the
building and enter door No. 4.
Posted by kate at 10:10 AM on 05/22/07. Discuss (0)
[DA] Hinds DA Candidate Michele Purvis Launches Blog
Democrat Michele Purvis, a candidate for Hinds County district attorney, has launched a campaign blog. Purvis also appeared on Radio JFP on WLEZ on Friday. You can listen to that program here.
Posted by ladd at 12:21 PM on 05/21/07. Discuss (5)
[Release] Barbour Declares ‘Emergency’ for Jeff Davis County Schools
Via verbatim release:
Governor Haley Barbour today declared a state of emergency exists in the Jefferson Davis County School District,
authorizing the state Department of Education to take immediate corrective action.
“After reviewing documentation provided by the state Department of Education, I am convinced that existing conditions in the Jefferson Davis County School District jeopardize the educational interests of the children enrolled there. My declaration of an emergency will give the department the authority to take immediate steps, including appointing a conservator, so the district can begin to recover from serious leadership and management deficiencies, Governor Barbour said.
Posted by ladd at 12:16 PM on 05/21/07. Discuss (4)
[C-D] Judge Orders Democratic Party to Put Dale on Ballot
Judge Henry Lackey reversed the Mississippi Democratic Party decision to block longtime insurance commissioner George Dale from the Aug. 7 party primary. From The Commercial Dispatch:
Mississippi’s longtime insurance commissioner, George Dale, will be on the Democratic Party primary ballot.
Calhoun County Circuit Judge Henry Lackey on Monday reversed a Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee decision that had blocked Dale from the Aug. 7 party primary.
Lackey said he does not have the power to let Dale run as an independent - a request Dale made after the Democratic Executive Committee, in a 16-6 vote, said in March the commissioner can’t run under the party label because he publicly supported President Bush for re-election in 2004.
Posted by kate at 11:59 AM on 05/16/07. Discuss (3)
[S-H] Jamie Franks: I’m Conservative on Social Issues
The Associated Press is reporting that Democrat Jaimie Franks is saying that he is conservative on social issues such as abortionbut that his campaign will focus on economic issues:
State Rep. Jamie Franks, the only Democrat running for lieutenant governor this year, says that on social issues such as banning abortion and same-sex marriage, he’s at least as conservative as the two Republicans in the race. “The real issues that we are going to talk about once you set those aside, are economics, education and things of that nature that affect the everyday lives of the people of this state,” Franks, 34, said during a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol.
“You can count on Jamie Franks, when it comes to social issues, to be on the conservative side,” he said.
Posted by ladd at 11:47 AM on 05/16/07. Discuss (0)
[Release] Ross Raises $441k in Q1 2007
[Verbatim Release] State Senator Charlie Ross, the conservative candidate for lieutenant governor, today reported over $1.1 million in campaign funds on hand. Senator Ross surpassed the benchmark for cash on hand set in 2003 by current Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck.
“Though we have been fortunate to raise a substantial amount of money, it is important to remember that this campaign is not about money-it is about the future of Mississippi,” Ross said. “The real value of the money that we have raised is that we will be better able to reach every Mississippian with our conservative, Republican message.”
Senator Ross reported a total of $1,113,838.90 in cash on hand, including $441,154.75 in donations since the beginning of the year. The campaign has collected contributions from more than 750 donors since January.
Posted by admin at 02:22 PM on 05/11/07. Discuss (0)
[Event] Ag Commissioner Candidate Ricky Cole to Address Dems
[Verbatim Release] The Mississippi Democratic Club will host speaker Rickey Cole, Democratic Candidate for Commissioner Agriculture and Commerce, Saturday, at 9:45 am, May 12, 2007, at the Jackson Municipal Art Gallery, 839 North State Street. He will speak about the importance of Democratic wins in the upcoming Mississippi elections. Cole, a native of Ovett, and a seventh generation Mississippi farmer and scholar, is also expected to discuss the needs of Mississippi farmers and businesses.
Posted by admin at 02:14 PM on 05/11/07. Discuss (0)
[Release] AG Candidate Hopkins Reports $329k in Contributions
[Verbatim Release] JACKSON, MS - In a strong showing of early support from Mississippians across the state, retired Major General Al Hopkins reported yesterday a total of $329,315 raised in 45 days since entering the race. In his first periodic financial report filed with the Secretary of State, Hopkins received contributions from 340 donors and saved $319,539 cash on hand.
Posted by admin at 02:08 PM on 05/11/07. Discuss (0)
[PR] Barbour Raised $3.4 Mil in Q1 2007
[Verbatim Release] JACKSON, MS - Governor Haley Barbour today filed a campaign finance report showing he raised more than $3.4 million in the first four months of 2007 and had more than $6.1 million cash on hand as of April 30.
The report, filed with the Secretary of State’s office, combined with previous records show that Barbour for Governor has raised nearly $7.69 million since 2004.
“I am grateful for the broad support I have received - contributions small and large - from thousands of donors,” Governor Barbour said. According to the campaign finance report Barbour had over 2,500 individual donors between January and April 2007.
Governor Barbour formally filed for re-election in February and has said he plans to officially kick off his reelection campaign this summer.
Posted by admin at 04:37 PM on 05/10/07. Discuss (2)
